Bringing industry in - Journal of Chemical Education (ACS Publications)

The author describes a recent attempt by the Department of Chemical Technology at the University of Dayton to bring the practical day to day requireme...
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G. William Lawless Deportment of Chemical Technology University of Dayton

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Bringing Industry In

Described herein is a recent attempt candidates for our Associate Degree in Chemical by the Department of Chemical Technology a t the Technology or for our Bachelor of Technology Degree. University of Dayton to bring the practical day to Several were part-time students with full time indusday requirements of industrial science and engineering trial positions and they found many aspects of the into the classroom. course to be of particular benefit-as the technician in water treatment who learned from the instructor in A four credit hour (trimester) lecture course was offeredin the evenings during the winter term, 1969-70, photographic chemistry that the lifetime of alkaline entitled Contemporary Research. A team of local phenolic solutions could be extended by small additions scientists and engineers, each a recognized authority of sodium sulfite. in his specific technical area, was recruited to teach the None of the instructors had any prior educational course. Each was allotted a continuous two-week teaching experience. By and large, however, this was period, four ll/,hr lectures, to discuss his own technimore than offset by several factors: the instructor's broad and in-depth knowledge of the material; his excal specialty. The instructors were informed of the educational backgrounds and interests of their students, perience in discussing his work with others less lmowland of our goals here in the University of Dayton edgeable, as with colleagues and management; and his desire to teach, the latter being the most important Technical Institute. The emphasis was placed upon factor. practicalfundamentals, commonindustrial research and engineering problems, and the methods and techniques At the end of the term the students were asked for required in their particular specialty. Mathematical and their reactions and evaluation. It was a voluntary theoretical aspects were held to a minimum. The subassignment and 25 out of the 32 responded. They jects covered and the participating organizations are were very much in favor of the idea behind the course listed in the table. but about one-half felt that fewer topics should be The instructors were compensated as part-time covered with additional time being allotted to each. faculty, and vere given complete freedom in the classroom. At the conclusion of their section they Subject Areas and Participating Personnel determined a grade for each student, either by way of Subject Area Instructor Organization a short examination, or a problem session, or a modest "term" paper. Each student was also required to Rain Erosion George Schmitt WrighGPatterson submit to the Department a summary report discussing AFB Materials the information -of the preceding two' weeks. ~ h & High Temperature Paul Hendricks was graded, and his final course grade was a composite Aircraft Structures "*", average. There was no final examination. Particle Technology Lowell D. Haws Monsanto ChemEach instructor made liberal use of teaching aids. ical Company It is accurate to say t'hat an academic department Photographic Chemistry Harry Parsonage Data Corporation Robert Wittman Wrieht Patterson could not possibly describe the varied subject matter, nor utilize, or even acquire, t,he lengt,h and variet,y of Lab. teaching aids used: films, slides, numerous before and Vacuum Technology Carl Schaab National Cash Register after specimens, classroom demonstrations, displays, Compttny article reprints, bibliographies. Encapsulation S. David Butz National Cash Register Thirty-two students completed the course, after an Company initial enrollment of thirty-five. They were all

Volume 48, Number 3, March 7 977

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