Seeing the unseen: An investigation of heat transfer using infrared thermography and LabVIEW(TM

In this thesis work, the capacity of the infrared (IR) camera as a potential tool for creating excitement and engagement among students in the investigation of heat transfer concepts in the classroom is evaluated. Thermal videos of various heat transfer mechanisms captured with an IR camera help students visualize the abstract and invisible heat transfer processes. An interactive program was developed in LabVIEW(TM) that displays thermal videos captured by an IR camera and allows students to record thermal videos of experiments, plot temperature changes of any point on the thermal video and save their graphical results. To gain insight into the toolkit's ability to generate enthusiasm and engagement among students, preliminary usability testing of the toolkit was conducted with twelve middle school students. Based on oral and written feedback and observed interactions, the toolkit was successful in creating excitement and engagement towards heat transfer among the students. The IR camera, the interactive program and its use by students with emphasis on the advantages of these tools and some of the challenges for their integration in a classroom are discussed.