The enhancement of students learning through COMSOL simulation projects

Research has shown that student participation in research activities increases faculty/student interactions outside the classroom, increases student involvement in their learning, addresses different learning styles, provides opportunities to see the entire academic pipeline, and makes difficult coursework more relevant. As educators, we are always looking for ways students can enhance their learning; one possibility is to link the theoretical knowledge we provide to them in the classroom with, not only real life applications, but also with job market requirements they will face once they graduate. This paper describes how the use of computer simulation was introduced in Thermodynamics class to supplement and help students visualize theoretical knowledge they learned in the classroom. Two energy related projects to be simulated using COMSOL software were assigned to students; post-class reports and survey highlighted how the inclusion of the computer simulation projects in the class enhanced students´ learning.