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IJLT 2024 Vol.10(1): 102-106
doi: 10.18178/ijlt.10.1.102-106

Teaching Thermofluids Sciences from an Interdisciplinary Perspective

Alejandro Guajardo-Cuéllar1,*, Carlos R. Vázquez1, and Manuel Navarro-Gutiérrez2
1. Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Zapopan, Mexico
2. Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Zapopan, Mexico
Email: alejandro.guajardo@tec.mx (A.G.-C.); cr.vazquez@tec.mx (C.R.V.); manuel.navarro.gtz@tec.mx (M.N.-G.)
*Corresponding author

Manuscript received March 31, 2023; revised May 8, 2023; accepted August 17, 2023; published January 30, 2024.

Abstract—Thermal and fluid sciences, as taught in Mechanical Engineering undergraduate programs, have traditionally followed an intrinsic separation. Typically, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics are delivered as separate courses. The leap from the fundamental thermofluids subjects to the application courses, in which the aforementioned subjects must be involved to obtain optimal thermal systems, demands significant effort from the students to combine all of them together. In this framework, this work presents an innovative approach that combines these subjects following a different learning path, adopting a Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) approach by solving a real and relevant challenge in partnership with both industry and NGO partners. The results, observations, and conclusions of implementing this novel approach for teaching thermal sciences are presented. 
 
Keywords—educational innovation, energy, higher education, interdisciplinary, mechanical engineering, professional education, thermal sciences 

Cite: Alejandro Guajardo-Cuéllar, Carlos R. Vázquez, and Manuel Navarro-Gutiérrez, "Teaching Thermofluids Sciences from an Interdisciplinary Perspective," International Journal of Learning and Teaching, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 102-106, 2024.

Copyright © 2024 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the article is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.