Development and evaluation of a mass conservation lab module in a microfluidics environment

This thesis presents a mass conservation laboratory module developed for use in the undergraduate mechanical engineering curriculum. The module investigates mass conservation fundamentals in a simple T-junction microfluidic device and exposes students to the rapidly developing fields of microfluidics and optical diagnostics. The module is a novel application of microfluidics-based instruction, is highly repeatable, and can be conducted at relatively low cost. A benchmark study was also conducted to evaluate the laboratory module’s efficacy as a teaching tool. This was accomplished through utilizing knowledge assessments before and after student exposure to the laboratory module.