Work in Progress - The Kolb Learning Model Applied to an Advanced Energy Systems Laboratory

An Advanced Electric Power and Energy Systems Laboratory was offered for the first time at Colorado School of Mines (CSM) during the spring 2005 semester. The pilot course represents an innovative approach to lab instruction. This paper describes the course materials developed to introduce the power flow problem to a group of senior level undergraduate students using the Kolb learning model. The Kolb model is helpful for conceptualizing how people learn and for developing course curriculum that will accommodate the various learning styles. A special feature of this laboratory experience was the utilization of industrial contacts to provide the students with added motivation to learn. Initial feedback from students and industry representatives has been very positive. Based on the success of the pilot program, the course will now become a permanent part of the undergraduate power engineering curriculum at CSM