Workshop - how to teach and assess design of experiments

The ability to design experiments is a new requirement for engineering graduates introduced by ABET Engineering Criteria 2000 (Criterion 3, Outcome b). This requirement presents new challenges for engineering educators and students alike. The challenge for educators lies in the fact that traditional laboratory experiences typically include well-structured experiments that leave little room for design. Hence, there is a need to re-design at least some of these experiences, to make them more open-ended. The challenge for students lies in the fact that they are used to "cookbook" experiments, hence they find open-ended laboratories difficult. The Inquiry Continuum will be used as a tool to define the process and the skills necessary for the design of engineering experiments. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to apply this process in one of their laboratory courses. Results from the successful implementation of such a process in a variety of engineering disciplines will also be presented. The workshop format will combine direct instruction, individual practice, interaction among the participants, and discussion.