Board 36: Work in Progress: Assessment of Google Docs and Drive for Enhanced Communication and Data Dissemination in a Unit Operations Laboratory

Unit Operations (UO) Laboratories serve as a valuable hands-on setting for the application of the theory learned in multiple lecture-based chemical engineering courses. These labs build practical knowledge of equipment and design, encourage good engineering practices such as traceability and reproducibility of data, and help develop skills such as interpersonal and technical communication skills. Our senior UO laboratory is comprised of interconnected experiments in a “pilot-plant” scale as well as interconnected rotational objectives for the experiments. As a result, dissemination of information amongst current project group members, amongst group members of the next rotation, and amongst lab personnel is extremely important. In previous years, students have been asked to use pen-and-paper lab notebooks and/or binders to record their data. This author has seen a decline in the use of traditional laboratory notebooks from students over the past couple years in both our junior and senior UO laboratories. It is unknown to this author if the students are just not using the pen-and-paper lab notebook or if they are using some alternate not given by the laboratory. To teach the importance of data record keeping for the UO labs, especially as industry shifts towards electronic record keeping, we have implemented electronic laboratory notebooks using Google Drive and Google Docs in Fall 2017. This Cloud-based storage not only allows easy sharing and tracking of changes by group members but also sharing of analytical results and tracking of progress by lab personnel. This talk will discuss the implementation of the electronic lab notebooks as well as benefits and difficulties in the use of cloud-based programs within the UO Laboratories. Student usage of the electronic laboratory notebooks will be assessed by observational data and student satisfaction will be assessed by a survey. Due to changes in lecturer leadership every semester, a correlation of electronic lab notebook implementation to grade improvements is not possible.