An Approach to Using Undergraduate Student Teams to Develop Undergraduate Laboratory Experiences

The technical information presented in many undergraduate engineering courses is emphasized and solidified by using laboratory experiences. As new, interesting technology is introduced into undergraduate courses or new courses introduced into the curriculum, some professors find themselves wanting to provide new hands-on exercises for their students to support their course objectives. At the same time, they often find they are short on time, money, or resources needed to develop their ideas into meaningful, level-appropriate learning events meant to timely support their students’ learning. In this effort, a senior-level mechanical engineering student group in a mechanical instrumentation and measurements course at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) was tasked to develop an engaging, relevant laboratory learning experience for other undergraduate students while they met the learning objectives of their instrumentation course. The intention was to use this student-designed lab in a newly implemented undergraduate renewable energy course. The development process, benefits, as well as difficulties encountered in this approach are discussed and recommendations provided. An example “lab experience” developed by undergraduates, guided by staff, during this process is included. This example could be implemented as is or modified with minimal time and money investment for relevant courses.