Peer Review

Brief History of the Steam Engine

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Jul 28, 2021 by Engineering

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This website concerns the development of the steam engine from Savery's pump, Newcomen's engine, Watt's engine, to the Boulton-Watt double-acting engine. Includes photos and a movie demo of how condensation pulls a vacuum. Also includes a brief biography of James Watt.

Type of Material:

Open access website.

Presentation, videos attached.

Recommended Uses:

It could be recommended for courses on thermodynamics in mechanical engineering or chemical engineering degrees. Useful for traditional and hybrid/blended teaching

Technical Requirements:

Most of the site requires only a browser. The movies require QuickTime.

Chrome v 57 and Firefox were used to open the site and to run the video.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The website is addressed to engineers and students of engineering degrees interested in learning about the development of historical steam engines, as they are the basis on modern engines and power stations.

The material helps students / readers to have knowledge on how condensing steam was used to pump water out from the mines. The development and improvement of these steam engines is also described.

Target Student Population:

High School, College General Ed

First years of degree courses.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic knowledge of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The concepts of old steam engines are clearly explained, and the structure of contents is correct. The website contains a summary of the well-known inventions of steam engines along XVIII century. Links with the description of machines by means of drawings and photographs on ancient engines in museums are included. A video demonstration of vacuum power is included. The quality of this content is high. Descriptions are supported with videos and also with links to other sites in order to widen the information provided. Explanations are clear and concise.
Concerns:: Lack of references to any other Europeans or American contributors to the development of steam engines. The website follows the traditional British approach to the topic. Some additional comments or references on the social impact of the steam engine would be of value (patents, Industrial Revolution).

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The material brings valuable information on steam engines. This information is given in different formats (videos, images, text), which help students to better understand concepts. The material could be used for self-learning as well as a supplementary material in traditional or blended/hybrid courses on thermodynamics. Also useful for basic courses on history of technology. The learning objectives are clearly stated.
Concerns:: A final evaluation (test, quiz…) should be desirable to evaluate learning outcomes. Lack of more dynamic materials such as videos, animations…which can be found for free access in the Internet.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The material is interactive, since it includes some videos and links to other sites. QuickView is necessary to be installed in order to watch the videos. A link to the download site is attached to this purpose.
Concerns:: Visual design is not friendly, neither engaging. Very static website. The available videos require a specific software installation for their visualization

Other Issues and Comments:: The website is addressed to engineers and students of engineering degrees interested in learning about the history of the steam engine. It covers form the Savery's pump, the Newcomen's engine, the Watt's engine, to the Boulton-Watt double-acting engine. Links with the description of machines by means of drawings and photographs on ancient engines in museums are included. Links to a biography of James Watt and literature references on steam engines are included, which allows further research in the topic. There is room for visual and interaction improvement.
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