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

该项目正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。该项目是弗吉尼亚理工大学（VT）和弗吉尼亚西部社区学院（VWCC）之间的合作伙伴关系，使用动机的期望价值理论调查学生的动机。 它主要采用现象学方法研究实验室对学生问题解决能力的影响。研究结果指导可持续发展学习模块的开发和实施，纳入本科课程。该项目使用了一个远程实验室，称为LabVIEW支持的流域评估系统（LEWAS），该系统能够感测，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斯特劳溪的水质和水量数据。 该项目正在为佛蒙特大学和弗吉尼亚世界气候中心的大一工程课程和一个高年级水文课程开发和实施基于LEWAS的学习模块。 项目活动包括三个学术级别的独特课程开发，实施和评估活动。这个4年制和2年制机构之间的合作项目向不同学术水平的学生介绍了寻找解决两大挑战之一的关键问题（即，提供清洁用水）。实践水的可持续性经验有可能吸引学生进入工程专业从社会的广泛部分。

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.