2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

In a an upper-level, undergraduate, elective fundamental Aerodynamics engineering course, engaging students, and ensuring the learning is impactful is supported through an eight-week project that incorporates analytical, numerical, and experimental analysis of an airfoil. This project allows students to apply what they have learned in lectures, including thin-airfoil theory, dimensional analysis, and wind tunnel operations. This undergraduate research project, a “high-impact practice”, introduces the students to the variety of research methods in a way that typically cannot be accomplished in one class with a specific focus outside of research methods. Basic airfoil analysis allows for a simplified approach to undergraduate research. The project results show that many students need further exposure and repetition to understand and appreciate research methods, non-dimensional numbers, and comparison techniques. However, all students showed a tremendous interest in approaching this project and were much more knowledgeable about the methods after the project.

The pedagogical theory used is experiential learning theory. Rather than tell the students about the types of research methods available, the students were asked to do those methods as part of the project. Research has shown that this is an effective way to increase retention of knowledge and is one of the recommended approaches to increase inclusion in the classroom by diversifying teaching methods. The work was done individually, but not independently, so that the students could work together answering each other’s questions. This project was determined to be easily incorporated into the lecture-style course, at a manageable level for the students, and providing students with an introduction to the three research methods of analytical, numerical, and experimental.