Development and Utilization of an E-learning Course on Heat Exchangers at ENSIC

This paper deals with the development and utilization of an e-learning course at ENSIC in France. Some definitions and examples of problem based learning (PBL) or e-learning utilizations in the world of chemical engineering are first given. This survey results from discussions held in the frame of the Working Party on Education of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering. The e-learning course developed at ENSIC is described and its use, according to an original pedagogy mixing e-learning and PBL, is detailed. The results show that this new pedagogy does not reduce the time of training but induces much more active learning, a better comprehension of technology and the possibility for the students to progress at their own rhythm.