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CE151: Environmental Engineering Practice

Review, Visualization, Practical

Reflection on Instructional Change:

After completing the ACUE course, I revised my CE151 Environmental Engineering Practice course to focus more on the practical aspects of environmental engineering. I used GoogleMap to navigate through water and wastewater treatment plants around the Sacramento region to better engage students when discussing treatment processes. At the beginning of each class, I used visualization technique to draw process flow diagram of drinking water or wastewater treatment on the board to review course materials from the previous few lectures with the class. I also replaced one midterm exam with a group presentation project to help students focus more on water/wastewater treatment in the real world and practice technical communication.

I received positive feedback from students on the enhanced practical aspects of the class. Students enjoyed navigating through water and wastewater treatment plants on Google Map as this visualized the technical concept with real word facilities.

I found that the Observe and Analyze session with my colleagues were particularly helpful. It broadened my horizon on the variety of techniques that can be used to improve students learning after class. I learned that micromodules consist of a series of short videos can help students use their limited time more efficiently to understand challenging concepts. Discussion with my colleagues also gave me the opportunity to observe good practices to identify some areas of improvement. For example, I learned that we can help students better learn process flow concepts by playing puzzle arrange games.

The key take away from my Observe and Analyze Session with my colleagues was that it is better to have students participate in-class activities in groups to avoid overwhelming individual student.

**Evidence of Instructional Change**
Screenshot of lecture showing the instructor using visualization to review course contents with the class.	Screenshot of a student's homework on understanding the cross-section of a bioretention facility for rainwater management.	Screenshot of term project instructions that help students practice technical communication skills on water/wastewater facilities.

Changes in Course Syllabus and Schedules:

Pre FLC - Syllabus and Schedule

Post FLC - Syllabus and Schedule

**Faculty Bio**
	Tongren Zhu, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at California State University, Sacramento. His teaching and research interests focus on water and wastewater treatment.

**Program Sponsors**
	This work was supported by: US Department of Education Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions Project Degree with a Purpose P031S210061 US Department of Education Hispanic Serving Institution STEM Project STEM4Equity: P031C210012 National Science Foundation Hispanic Serving Institution Project STEMZone 1832335 *Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Department of Education or the National Science Foundation.