Experiential Learning Utilizing Class and Lab Demos in a Material Science and Manufacturing Course

Students are typically introduced to material science concepts through PowerPoint lecture slides combined with online videos.Students are passively absorbing information and concepts from class.This approach does not provide students the opportunity to interact with introduced topics.Class demos are used to help students understand and link the effect of processing on material's microstructure and thus its mechanical properties.Creating class-props helps in presenting various items of the material microstructure evolution and how it is linked to mechanical properties.These props will be utilized during class sessions as inclass work.The aim is to encourage students to ask their questions, examine their understanding in an inviting environment within smaller groups.This will allow all students including disadvantaged and URM ones an opportunity to learn first-hand without the anxiety feeling of asking a question in the general class setting.Basic props were built over summer 2023.These were used in demos as part of measuring initial reactions and modifying them as needed.A baseline was established using some of these demos.These props and demos showed a positive trend helping to encourage and motivate students.This paper will go over the process of developing these props for both class and lab demos that utilizes previously developed kits.A baseline material concept inventory is also introduced.