Excellence in Engineering Education

In efforts supported by the NSF, the chemical engineering department at NC State has taken a position of national leadership in developing innovative and effective instructional methods for undergraduate and graduate engineering education. The primary contributors to these efforts are Professors Felder, Ollis, and Peretti.

Professors Felder and Peretti have revised the undergraduate laboratory course to include a blend of simulation and hands-on experimentation, as well as structured cooperative learning. Professor Ollis developed a novel freshman process and product design laboratory that provides first-year students with a positive and realistic introduction to engineering design and analysis. Elements of Professor Felder's and Professor Ollis' experimental first-year courses are currently being incorporated into the first-year engineering course taken by all freshmen at NC State. Professor Felder works on developing and evaluating methods to help students learn at a deep level and to help students improve their critical problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills. The main components of his instructional approach include active and cooperative (team-based) learning, integration of fundamentals and applications throughout the curriculum, and other methods designed to address a full spectrum of student learning styles. Specific projects include a longitudinal study of the effectiveness of alternative instructional methods, and the design and pilot-testing of an integrated first-year engineering curriculum.

Professors Felder and Peretti have revised the undergraduate laboratory course to include a blend of simulation and hands-on experimentation, as well as structured cooperative learning. Professor Ollis developed a novel freshman process and product design laboratory that provides first-year students with a positive and realistic introduction to engineering design and analysis. Elements of Professor Felder's and Professor Ollis' experimental first-year courses are currently being incorporated into the first-year engineering course taken by all freshmen at NC State.