Assisting Virtual Sessions with Spreadsheets in Chemical Engineering Education

Proceedings of ‏The 3rd International Conference on Applied Research in Education

Year: 2021

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/3rd.areconf.2021.06.175

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Assisting Virtual Sessions with Spreadsheets in Chemical Engineering Education

Claudia Roman, Yusuf Makarfi Isa and Moisés García-Morales

 

ABSTRACT: 

Since the COVID19 outbreak, the normal development of the lectures has been considerably affected. Under this less engaging scenario of 100 % virtual learning, teachers have felt compelled to readjust their methodology. In subjects with large loads of calculations, the use of spreadsheets can be a better option than using a drawing tablet for just presenting the problem results. Spreadsheets allow theoretical contents to be applied on specific exercises, thereby improving students’ motivation. On these grounds, we report the use of Microsoft Excel built-in functions in Chemical Engineering core matters such as Mass/Energy Balances and Mass Transfer Separations. The experience was based on a collaboration at an international level between the Durban University of Technology (South Africa) and the University of Huelva (Spain). Conclusions were drawn on the creative use of Microsoft Excel built-in functions which yielded results that improved by far hand calculations and enabled to look into the effect of the main process variables.

Keywords: Virtual Learning, Chemical Engineering, Spreadsheets, Microsoft Excel.