Improving Students' Problem-Solving Abilities in Thermodynamics

研究和评估（89）和工程-其他（59）正如一项有影响力的国家工程学院评估所指出的那样，工程师的两项技能属性越来越重要，即利用科学和实践创造力来发现问题并解决问题的能力，以及非常强的分析能力（2020年的工程师：新世纪的工程愿景，国家科学院出版社，2004年）。 这个项目致力于在热力学基础领域的本科工程课程中开发这些属性。 该项目的第一步是研究学生在这一领域有效运作的能力，建立在同一个工程师和教育心理学家团队最近在工程力学-特别是静力学方面完成的研究基础上。 本项目的研究将通过设计教育干预措施和创建一个评估工具来增强，该工具侧重于学生解决热力学问题的能力。 该研究侧重于热力学问题解决的建模步骤，要求学生阅读问题，抽象的系统模型进行分析，通常是热力学过程图或能量流图，然后使用过程描述符和状态关系或应用能量守恒来创建系统的数学模型。 研究的第一步是解决问题：“学生在解决热力学问题时遇到的主要困难是什么？”学生们对自由体图的了解是否可以作为建立能量流或过程图的支架来发展技能？“为了探索这些问题，该团队正在制定书面和口头协议，并以其在静力学方面的工作和有关该主题的广泛出版文献为指导。这项工作的结果是打算用于设计初步干预措施，以提高学生的解决问题的能力。将对这些初步干预措施进行试点和完善。 评估工具和干预措施的设计适合大规模使用、评估和传播。 计划传播该项目成果的方法之一是利用剑桥大学出版社的网站向全世界传播。

Research and Assessment (89) and Engineering - Other (59)As noted in an influential National Academy of Engineering assessment, two skill attributes of engineers that are of growing importance are the ability to use science and practical ingenuity to identify problems and solve them and very strong analytical skills (The Engineer of 2020: Visions for Engineering in a New Century, National Academy Press, 2004). This project is working to develop these attributes in undergraduate engineering programs in the foundational area of thermodynamics. The project's initial step is research into the ability of students to function effectively in this area, building on research that the same team of engineers and educational psychologists has recently completed in engineering mechanics - specifically statics. The research in this project will be augmented by designing educational interventions and the creation of an assessment tool focused on student ability to problem solve in thermodynamics. The research focuses on the modeling steps in thermodynamics problem solving that require students to read the problem, to abstract a model of the system to be analyzed, typically a thermodynamic process plot or an energy-flow diagram, and then to create a mathematical model of the system using process descriptors and state relations or applying energy conservation. The first step in the research is addressing the questions: "What major difficulties do students encounter in solving problems in thermodynamics?" and "Can what students know about free-body diagrams be used as scaffolding to develop skills in creating energy flow or process diagrams?" To explore these questions, written and verbal protocols are being developed by the team, guided by its work in statics and the extensive published literature on this subject. The results of this work are intended for use in designing initial interventions to improve students' problem-solving abilities. These initial interventions will be piloted and refined. The assessment instruments and interventions are being designed to be suitable for large-scale use, evaluation, and dissemination. Among the methods planned for disseminating the results of this project is the use of the Cambridge University Press's website for worldwide dissemination.