Evaluation of on-line simulation tools to teach Chemical Processes

Engineering educators have been driven to develop practical approaches to supplement scientific background to further develop the capacity for autonomous and critical thinking in students, which has to lead to new teaching methodologies. In 2009, the University of Coimbra has made available on-line a virtual platform with a wide scope, directed towards the learning of Chemical Processes. The platform is divided into four different sections: Unit Operations and Separations, Chemical Reaction, Process Systems Engineering and Biological Processes. These sections include simulators, applications and case studies to better understand the chemical/biochemical processes. This paper presents an assessment of the use of that platform by two different groups of students: a group of students from the 3^rd year of the 1^st cycle of Chemical Engineering, and another group from a Project Design course (2^nd year of the 2^nd cycle degree, MSc, of Chemical Engineering), both from the University of Coimbra. The results presented reveal that the students are willing to use and feel positive and interested in using the platform.