Simulation Approach to Learning Polymer Science

• Autores: Harith H. Al-Moameri, Luay A. Jaf, Galen J. Suppes
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 95, Nº 9, 2018, págs. 1554-1561
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Traditional engineering textbooks are substantially limited by approaches relying on analytical solutions where most of the applications are described by differential equations without simple analytical solutions. An alternative is to design a textbook around computer-program-based simulations, where the simulations progressively evolve through the textbook with the complexity of the content. Simulations can solve more complex problems with immediate utility in practical applications, and these capabilities are able to achieve higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy with quiz-based methods that can be performed in a few minutes. By example, the polymer engineering topic of thermoset polymerization has a global market of tens of billions of dollars; yet, the textbook coverage of the subject is sparse due to the inability of simple analytical solutions to provide useful solutions to practical applications. This paper provides a foundation and approach for a simulation-based-learning textbook to cover the important topic of polymer engineering which will also bridge the gap between student and researcher. A questionnaire was passed to two groups of college students to identify their response to the simulation-based learning of the subject of polymer engineering. The majority of students recommended this method.