STEM activities for heat transfer learning: Integrating simulation, mathematical modeling, and experimental validation in transport phenomena education

Abstract

This communication showcases teaching strategies implemented in a Transport Phenomena course at the undergraduate level to understand heat transfer by conduction, incorporating elements of STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The educational proposal focused on designing four STEM Workshops under the design-based research methodology. In the first one, interactive simulations were designed using the PDEtool of MATLAB so that the student could visualize the heat transfer phenomenon using color palettes to build the corresponding isotherms. In the second workshop, a hands-on laboratory kit based on ARDUINO was designed in which the student could experimentally validate the studied phenomenon, while in the third workshop, MATLAB was used to visualize the analytical solution of the heat equation. Finally, in a fourth workshop, a detailed mathematical modeling and simulation of the phenomenon was performed using COMSOL. The didactic strategy was evaluated in groups of Transport Phenomena in 2020 (n=42), 2021 (n=40), 2022 (n=21), and 2023 (n=32) terms for engineering students. Through its application, the students understood the basic concepts of computer-assisted process simulation and improved their skills, allowing the implementation of the B-Learning model in the Transport Phenomena course. In all cases, teaching materials, "ready-to-use" codes, and step-by-step instructions have been provided. Readers are invited to use the tools to contribute their evaluations.