Song, J., & Dow, D. E., & Ma, L. (2019, June), In-Class Laboratory Exercises to Improve a Signals and Systems Course  Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32955

\bibitem{asee_peer_32955}
  Song, J., \& Dow, D. E., \& Ma, L. (2019, June), \emph{In-Class Laboratory Exercises to Improve a Signals and Systems Course}
  Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition , Tampa, Florida.
  10.18260/1-2--32955

Jiahui Song, Douglas Eric Dow, and Lili Ma.  "In-Class Laboratory Exercises to Improve a Signals and Systems Course".  2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida, 2019, June.  ASEE Conferences, 2019.  https://peer.asee.org/32955 Internet.  15 Dec, 2024

\bibitem{asee_peer_32955}
  Jiahui Song, Douglas Eric Dow, and Lili Ma.
  "In-Class Laboratory Exercises to Improve a Signals and Systems Course".
  \emph{2019 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition , Tampa, Florida, 2019, June}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2019.
  https://peer.asee.org/32955 Internet.  15 Dec, 2024

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_32955
author = "Jiahui Song, Douglas Eric Dow, and Lili Ma"
title = "In-Class Laboratory Exercises to Improve a Signals and Systems Course"
booktitle = "2019 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition "
year = "2019"
month = "June"
address = "Tampa, Florida"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/32955}
number = {10.18260/1-2--32955}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - In-Class Laboratory Exercises to Improve Signals and Systems Course

Signals and systems is a course that introduces students to mathematical concepts that are used to analyze systems or signals. Conventional courses in signals and systems use lecture and readings to explain the theory, and assign paper based problem sets of theory and math. Conceptual understanding of the course content remains a challenge for many undergraduate students. A series of exercises was developed to help students visualize the complex mathematical concepts and gain a better appreciation for how the concepts are useful in real-world situations. Some of the exercises were hardware based hands-on activities and others were software based simulations.

Similar to the curriculum at many universities, our program has signals and systems course for junior students in electrical engineering and computer engineering. This course is a 4 hour lecture, 4 credit course. The following topics are introduced to students: signal operations, classifications of signals and systems, time-domain analysis of continuous-time systems, Laplace transform, Fourier series, Fourier transform, sampling and discrete-time signal analysis.  Problem sets related to these topics were assigned. In order to improve motivation and learning, application-oriented and hands-on active-learning opportunities were created. Hardware based hands-on included AM modulation and demodulation by Telecommunication Instructional Modelling System (TIMS). Software based simulation exercises included filter design to strengthen understanding of the frequency response. 

Evaluations were based on student surveys (course evaluations) and student work (assigned homework, exams and in class lab exercises). Recent offerings of this course taught in the traditional way by the same instructors resulted in only 51% of the students receiving a “B-” or higher grade for the course. In the first iteration of in-class laboratory exercises, the number of students who received a “B-” or better increased to 76%. Moreover, 86% of students “agree” or “strongly agree” that in class laboratory exercises helped them to better learn the course content. 81% “of the students agree” or “strongly agree” that laboratory exercises increased their interest in the subject. 

AU  - Jiahui Song
AU  - Douglas Eric Dow
AU  - Lili Ma
CY  - Tampa, Florida
DA  - 2019/06/15
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - In-Class Laboratory Exercises to Improve a Signals and Systems Course
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/32955
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--32955
ER  -