An Active Learning Mode For Laboratory Education

Thermal Systems Laboratory is a required course in the Mechanical Engineering curriculum at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The course is offered to senior students after they have completed four required engineering science courses in thermofluid area. The goals of the course are to: (1) consolidate and integrate knowledge covered in the four courses, i.e. , Thermodynamics, Fluid Dynamics, Applied Thermodynamics, and Heat Transfer; (2) broaden knowledge through applications to solve “realworld” problems; (3) nurture students’ creativity and ability in conduct ing experiments; and (4) develop written and oral communication skills. However, due to the limitations i-n the traditional instruction method, the potential benefits of the course were not fully realized in the past.