Water Quality Laboratory for Large Civil Engineering Classes
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 128, Issue 2
Abstract
In New Zealand, civil engineering classes are getting larger every year, which means that innovative ways must be sought to enable an increasing number of students to fulfill the laboratory requirements of the degree. With respect to water quality laboratories in introductory environmental engineering courses, it is advocated that it is more important that a civil engineering student be able to interpret water quality data, rather than to be acquainted in detail with the actual mechanics of water quality tests. As such, this paper describes a water quality laboratory that allows the student to gain an appreciation of a water quality data set without necessarily becoming fully conversant with the routine water quality tests. The laboratory’s emphasis on data interpretation instructs students on the importance of examining data sets for patterns, correlations and/or potential errors, while at the same time providing a stimulating and active hands-on learning environment for both students and staff.
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Copyright
Copyright © 2002 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 20, 2000
Accepted: Jun 13, 2001
Published online: Apr 1, 2002
Published in print: Apr 2002
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