Engineering
Playing with food in class: Not optional
What do a slinky and a water noodle have in common? How about surgical gloves, erasers, pretzels, licorice and soup cans?
Okay — give up?
Answer: They're all visual aids that instructor Renee Petersen uses in class to demonstrate engineering concepts in action.
More than just attention-grabbers
"I try to get my students actively involved with engineering concepts, so that they can see and feel the reaction of different materials to stress and strain," says Professor Petersen.
"I use water noodles to teach the concepts of torsion, and a slinky to show the concepts of strain on a hanging object," she explains. "I’ll use asparagus and pretzels, which fail in tension when you twist them. Then we twist red licorice, which fails in a completely different way. Then you get to eat the licorice, which is always popular."
Her innovative way of teaching earned her an outstanding teaching faculty award in 2009.
One student asked Professor Petersen if she sees the whole world through mechanics and materials.Professor Petersen's answer: “Yeah, pretty much, and I’m hoping you will, too."
Beams of balsa wood
Students in Petersen’s class also get to build things, like beams made of balsa wood that need to be designed to hold 25 pounds.
Students figure out the cross section and build the beam to span a gap while supporting the weight. Some of the beams fail, and some do not. But whatever the fate of their balsa-wood beams, you can be sure that, students understand what happened and why.
“I get a lot of positive feedback,” said Petersen. “I try to make engineering concepts as clear as possible and encourage my students to be engaged. It’s exciting to see their responses when they really get it.”
