Enhancing Student Engagement and Understanding in Chemical Engineering Through Simulation-Based Learning

Currently, traditional educational methodologies are not enough for engineering education. Active learning strategies are crucial for undergraduates' preparation and professional development. Simulation-based learning stands out as an effective approach to bridging the gap between theoretical and applied knowledge, providing students with practical experience and a deeper understanding of complex engineering concepts. In this context, an educational graphical interface called Flexloop was developed. The tool can be downloaded and run in any operating system without the requirements of a particular software. The Flexloop tool aims to enhance undergraduate chemical engineering students' learning process in the Automation and Control of Chemical Processes course. This application allows students to dynamically simulate and model different chemical processes, considering first-order, second-order, and high-order dynamic systems. The intrinsic parameters of each process, considered in this tool, can be modified in the platform, and the system's response can be observed in real-time, such that the students can analyze the effect of a particular parameter of design on the transient dynamics of the system. The application offers simulations for tank-level dynamic systems, heat-exchanger thermodynamics, the reaction kinetics of reactors, and imported data processes from experimental platforms, promoting active learning and a deeper understanding of control concepts for different dynamic systems. To assess the effectiveness of the platform, a study was conducted with a sample of 29 students. The students completed a set of identical tests with and without the use of the application and an opinion survey. The results showed a marked improvement in test scores when using the application, particularly in understanding complex control processes. Furthermore, the survey indicated that students found the application engaging and beneficial for their learning. The study demonstrates that simulation-based learning can significantly enhance student engagement and comprehension in engineering education, particularly the control theory courses in Chemical Engineering. Future work will focus on refining the graphical user interface to improve the user experience and expand its educational capabilities for different controller-design purposes.