Integration of a Remote Water Sustainability Lab to Enhance Undergraduate Engineering Education

该项目旨在调查远程访问实时环境数据如何影响学生对环境意识的动机和认知。这个项目是弗吉尼亚理工大学（VT）和弗吉尼亚西部社区学院（VWCC）的合作项目，使用动机的期望值理论来研究学生的动机。它主要研究了使用现象学方法的实验室对学生解决问题能力的影响。研究结果对可持续学习模块在本科课程中的开发和实施具有指导意义。该项目使用了一个名为LabVIEW流域评估系统（LEWAS）的远程实验室，该实验室能够感知、存储和传输实时天气数据，以及流经弗吉尼亚理工大学校园的麻烦河的水质和水量数据。该项目正在开发和实施基于lewas的学习模块，用于VT和VWCC的大一工程课程和高级水文学课程。项目活动包括三个学术层面的独特课程开发、实施和评估活动。这个四年制大学和两年制大学之间的合作项目向不同学术水平的学生介绍了美国国家工程院两大挑战之一（即提供清洁水）的解决方案所涉及的关键问题。实践水可持续发展的经验有可能吸引学生进入工程专业从广泛的社会阶层。

This project is investigating how remote access to real-time environmental data impacts students' motivation and cognition about environmental awareness. This project, which is a partnership between Virginia Tech (VT) and Virginia Western Community College (VWCC), investigates student motivation using the expectancy-value theory of motivation. It primarily investigates the impact of the lab on students' problem solving skills using the phenomenology approach. The research results guide the development and implementation of sustainability learning modules into undergraduate curricula. The project uses a remote lab, called LabVIEW Enabled Watershed Assessment System (LEWAS), that has the capability to sense, store, and transmit real-time weather data, as well as water quality and quantity data from the Stroubles Creek that flows through the Virginia Tech campus. The project is developing and implementing LEWAS-based learning modules for a freshman engineering course at both VT and VWCC and a senior level hydrology course. Project activities include unique curriculum development, implementation, and assessment activities at three academic levels. This collaborative project between a 4-year and a 2-year institution introduces students at various academic levels to critical issues involved in finding solutions to one of the top two Grand Challenges (i.e., provide access to clean water) of the National Academy of Engineering. The hands-on water sustainability experiences have the potential to attract students into the engineering profession from a broad section of society.