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Section 3432

Implementation and assessment of a studio-style laboratory course in real-time digital signal processing

Nathaniel A. Whitmal, III Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, Massachusetts

Abstract This paper describes the implementation and assessment of EE 3703, a new lab course in real- time digital signal processing (DSP). The goals of the course are (i) to extend DSP -related concepts taught in core courses, (ii) to provide students with design experience that supports the goals of ABET Engineering Criteria 2000, (iii) to prepare students for further work in DSP, particularly in their “Major Qualifying Project (MQP),” a one-year capstone design experience providing credit equivalent to three courses. EE 3703 has two features that distinguish it from previous real-time DSP courses: its use of the interactive “studio” format, and its use of software engineering principles. Assessment data for the course was derived from student grades, lab reports, identical pre/post- course assessment exams, and MQP reports. The pre/post -course exams focused on topics covered in both the present and prerequisite courses, and were used to gauge the preparation and progress of each student. The data indicate that the course was generally successful in meeting its goals, and also point to areas of improvement for future offerings.

1. Introduction DSP has, in recent years, become a driving force in the advancement of multimedia and telecommunications technology. In many applications requiring embedded computing (e.g., fax machines, modems, cellular telephones, disk drives), DSP platforms can provide lower cost and higher computational efficiency than general-purpose microprocessors can. Many students have responded to this demand by pursuing additional training in DSP. Munson and Jones [1], for example, note that the percentage of electrical and computer engineering (ECE) students at the University of Illinois choosing DSP for one of their three required e lective courses rose from 50% to 80% over a four-year period. For this reason, DSP-oriented labs and senior design courses have become very popular in recent years. A number of these courses focus on programming of DSP chips: typical examples are given in [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. This paper describes the implementation and assessment of a DSP-based laboratory course that is tailored to the particular needs of students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). In 1970, WPI developed a unique outcome-oriented, project-based engineering curriculum, referred to locally as the WPI Plan [9]. The WPI Plan is distinguished by several features: · Courses are offered in four seven-week terms, identified by the letters A, B, C, and D. Students typically take three courses per term.

Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2002, American Society for Engineering Education

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Whitmal, N. (2002, June), Implementation And Assessment Of A Studio Style Laboratory Course On Real Time Digital Signal Processing Paper presented at 2002 Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada. 10.18260/1-2--10829