Development of Open-Source Comprehensive Circuit Analysis Laboratory Instructional Resources for Improved Student Competence

Sandip Das; Craig Chin; Sheila Hill

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Conference: 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Start Date: June 26, 2022
End Date: June 29, 2022
Conference Session: Electrical and Computer Engineering Laboratory and SoC Developments
Page Count: 13
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--40925
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/40925
Download Count: 424

Paper Authors

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Sandip Das Kennesaw State University

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Dr. Sandip Das is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Kennesaw State University (KSU). Dr. Das received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from University of South Carolina, Columbia. His current research interests include photovoltaic solar cells for sustainable and renewable energy generation, semiconductor thin-films and nanocrystals for optoelectronic devices, hybrid piezo and triboelectric energy harvesting devices, applied electronics for measurement and instrumentation, and development of technology enhanced teaching tools and pedagogical framework for improved engineering education. Dr. Das has published more than 30 research articles in international journals and conference proceedings. He has designed and developed various hands-on teaching and learning tools for electrical engineering students. Dr. Das has lead several research projects as a Principal Investigator and has been funded by the Office of Undergraduate Research, Office of the Vice President for Research at KSU, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He has also led two projects for the development of open access laboratory instructional resources for Electronics and Circuit Analysis, funded by the Board of Regents, University System of GA.

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Craig Chin Kennesaw State University

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Craig A. Chin, Ph.D. is currently an associate professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Kennesaw State University. His research interests include biomedical signal processing, machine learning, and engineering education.

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Sheila Hill Kennesaw State University

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Over 25 years of teaching experience in Electrical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Technology, primarily Circuit Analysis and Electronics. Specializing in online/hybrid classes for the past five years.

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Abstract

Introductory Circuit Analysis laboratory exercises are critical for future student success in Electrical Engineering. Through circuit analysis labs, students are expected to grow and improve many important skills, such as being able to read and interpret written instructions, to recognize physical circuit components, to place those components properly on a breadboard and to build physical circuits by following circuit schematics. These labs will also serve to reinforce concepts and theories through experiments and enable students to apply the knowledge necessary to design circuits to meet specifications, followed by building and testing them. In addition, to accomplish these tasks in the lab, students must learn to operate different electronic power and measurement instruments. Over many semesters of instructional experience, we have observed that a significant proportion of students struggle to effectively translate and apply their understanding of electric circuit theories gained in the classroom environment to the practical lab environment. Students often struggle and display incompetence in building circuits correctly and in some instances, fail to complete experiments within the given time. As a result, the student learning experience and learning outcomes are adversely impacted. We believe that the main cause of such inefficiency and incompetence is the lack of preparedness to conduct experiments in the lab. In this work, we attempt to improve student competence and learning outcomes associated with ABET criterion 6 (an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze, and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions) related to a Circuit Analysis lab at our university. We aim to achieve improved student learning through the development of enhanced comprehensive laboratory instructional resources including revised and redesigned lab-manuals, a series of virtual lab tutorials/audiovisual instructions to complement the written instructional materials, integrating industry-standard LTspice-based simulation exercises invoked through mandatory pre-laboratory exercises, developing lab exercises with more design emphasis, and creating lab datasheets to streamline and support efficient data collection process for students. In this funded project, all our developed resources will be open-sourced and made available to the public freely. In a pilot study, the enhanced lab instructional materials are implemented in two lab sections (treatment group) for four lab exercises. Two control lab sections are presented with the legacy lab materials. Instructional materials’ quality and impacts are compared through a survey that solicits student perception of the lab learning experience. Details on the design of these comprehensive lab instructional resources and our observations on the improvement of student competence and learning outcomes are presented.

Citation
Format

Das, S., & Chin, C., & Hill, S. (2022, August), Development of Open-Source Comprehensive Circuit Analysis Laboratory Instructional Resources for Improved Student Competence Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--40925

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Introductory Circuit Analysis laboratory exercises are critical for future student success in Electrical Engineering. Through circuit analysis labs, students are expected to grow and improve many important skills, such as being able to read and interpret written instructions, to recognize physical circuit components, to place those components properly on a breadboard and to build physical circuits by following circuit schematics. These labs will also serve to reinforce concepts and theories through experiments and enable students to apply the knowledge necessary to design circuits to meet specifications, followed by building and testing them. In addition, to accomplish these tasks in the lab, students must learn to operate different electronic power and measurement instruments. Over many semesters of instructional experience, we have observed that a significant proportion of students struggle to effectively translate and apply their understanding of electric circuit theories gained in the classroom environment to the practical lab environment. Students often struggle and display incompetence in building circuits correctly and in some instances, fail to complete experiments within the given time. As a result, the student learning experience and learning outcomes are adversely impacted. We believe that the main cause of such inefficiency and incompetence is the lack of preparedness to conduct experiments in the lab. In this work, we attempt to improve student competence and learning outcomes associated with ABET criterion 6 (an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze, and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions) related to a Circuit Analysis lab at our university. We aim to achieve improved student learning through the development of enhanced comprehensive laboratory instructional resources including revised and redesigned lab-manuals, a series of virtual lab tutorials/audiovisual instructions to complement the written instructional materials, integrating industry-standard LTspice-based simulation exercises invoked through mandatory pre-laboratory exercises, developing lab exercises with more design emphasis, and creating lab datasheets to streamline and support efficient data collection process for students. In this funded project, all our developed resources will be open-sourced and made available to the public freely. In a pilot study, the enhanced lab instructional materials are implemented in two lab sections (treatment group) for four lab exercises. Two control lab sections are presented with the legacy lab materials. Instructional materials’ quality and impacts are compared through a survey that solicits student perception of the lab learning experience. Details on the design of these comprehensive lab instructional resources and our observations on the improvement of student competence and learning outcomes are presented.
AU  - Sandip Das
AU  - Craig Chin
AU  - Sheila Hill
CY  - Minneapolis, MN
DA  - 2022/08/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Development of Open-Source Comprehensive Circuit Analysis Laboratory Instructional Resources for Improved Student Competence
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/40925
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--40925
ER  -