2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This work in progress describes the implementation of a newly created battery and renewable energy laboratory experiment (i.e., battery experiment) utilized to enhance concept learning in lecture-based courses and promote the development of research skills within laboratory courses in chemical engineering through project-based learning (PBL).

Gaining hands-on, interactive experience is invaluable for improving students’ active learning and their understanding of complex engineering concepts, particularly those of an interdisciplinary nature. It has been proposed that the integration of practical learning experiences through the use of experimental equipment within engineering courses can enhance the understanding of concepts, challenge misconceptions, and increase student engagement. Demonstrations are increasingly used in engineering education as a pedagogical strategy to promote conceptual understanding and facilitate connections between theory and applications. In addition, project-based learning can be an effective educational approach that enables students to learn by solving complex open-ended problems. Thus, we have developed a simple, cost-effective battery fabrication and testing module that can be configured for both lecture-length demonstrations in our Chemical Engineering Materials course (CHE-350, lecture-based course) and extended research-driven projects in our senior year Chemical Engineering Laboratory course (CHE-264, laboratory-based course) within our undergraduate program. The module is highly configurable and offers an intuitive, engaging learning experience for engineering students. It provides not only insight into the science underlying battery technology but also valuable practice in critical reasoning and hypothesis-driven research.

In this manuscript, we detail the design and development of the experiment, its expected contribution to promote learning in chemical engineering courses, and its use as a tool to introduce students to the practical applications of engineering. We evaluate possible implementations of the experiment and we discuss possible avenues to explore students learning and perception. In addition, we share our early observations highlighting how the practical elements of this experiment can contribute to the overall educational experience.