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Basic Electrical Parameters Measurement Laboratory: A K-12 Outreach Project

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Conference

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Salt Lake City, Utah

Publication Date

June 23, 2018

Start Date

June 23, 2018

End Date

July 27, 2018

Conference Session

Program Evaluation Studies

Tagged Division

Pre-College Engineering Education

Page Count

13

DOI

10.18260/1-2--29843

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/29843

Download Count

4281

Paper Authors

biography

Rohit Dua Missouri University of Science & Technology

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ROHIT DUA, Ph.D is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology and Missouri State University’s Cooperative Engineering Program. His research interests include engineering education. (http://web.mst.edu/~rdua/)

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Abstract

A basic laboratory exercise was designed and implemented for K-12 students that delves into the measurement of basics of electrical circuit parameters, such as resistance, current and voltage. This 2-3 hour lab exercise gives students a glimpse into basic electrical engineering concepts, which are covered in an undergraduate Sophomore level introductory Circuits-1 course that all Electrical Engineering majors are required to take. Laboratory participants cover the same material, in a small amount of time that the undergraduate students cover in 2-3 weeks. This paper outlines the laboratory exercise learning outcomes, implemented laboratory exercises, observations made, and results of a conducted exit survey. The laboratory has been implemented for senior K-12 students, who have shown an interest in pursuing a career in STEM fields. Answer to an open survey question showed that some of these students had already decided to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering. The lab has also been held for younger kids enrolled in the local public school gifted program. The lab exercise also includes an interactive exercise that helps students understand decimal to binary conversion for unsigned and signed decimal numbers via a tool already being used as part of interactive digital logic laboratory experience. In addition, students try their skill in generating power, under varying load conditions, using a bike-power generator. Overall, multiple interactive educational modules allow prospective students a glimpse into Electrical Engineering concepts with the aim to get them interested in pursuing a career in STEM fields.

Dua, R. (2018, June), Basic Electrical Parameters Measurement Laboratory: A K-12 Outreach Project Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--29843

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