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IoT in Project-Based Learning

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Engineering Technology Division (ETD) Technical Session 2

Tagged Division

Engineering Technology Division (ETD)

Page Count

19

DOI

10.18260/1-2--43884

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/43884

Download Count

618

Paper Authors

biography

Hugh Jack P. Eng. Western Carolina University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0003-4299-8561

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Dr. Jack is the Cass Ballenger Distinguished Professor of Engineering in the School of Engineering + Technology within Western Carolina University. His interests include robotics, automation, and product design.

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Adam Harris Western Carolina University

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Abstract

At Western Carolina University, a four-year Project-Based Learning (PBL) sequence is implemented across the undergraduate residential programs, culminating in a senior capstone project for industry partners. This interdisciplinary approach enables students to develop professional skills in project management, ethics, design, teamwork, and more through hands-on projects. With diverse team compositions, students focus on various technical aspects, such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), 3D printing, assembly, testing, electrical, and software components.

This paper highlights the incorporation of an Internet of Things (IoT) platform into the second-year PBL course. Students were introduced to a low-cost ($6) microcontroller with wireless internet access and provided with prototype Python programs. These programs enabled students to create their own wireless access points and simple web servers, facilitating interaction with the microcontroller and their projects using phones or laptops. By connecting the microcontroller to sensors and actuators, students were offered a wide range of design possibilities. The paper provides sufficient detail for educators to adopt a similar approach in their courses, promoting interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experience with IoT technologies.

Jack, H., & Harris, A. (2023, June), IoT in Project-Based Learning Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43884

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