Development of an Innovative Integrated Learning Environment for Laboratory Instruction in Engineering

现行的工程课程教学范式建立在课堂前提结构的基础上，忽视了对实验前提结构的需要。教学质量因此降低，因为教师优化特定的实验室，但未能优化整体项目的实验室经验。这个项目的重点是创造一个学习环境，迫使学生不仅要使用概念和技能，还要在高年级实验室中使用来自低年级实验室的实际数据和模型。这种整合的发生是因为学生必须利用他们以前的实验室工作作为参考，因为他们在多个工程实验室中研究相同实验设置的不同方面。垂直整合的学习环境以低年级课程如电路为基础，以高年级课程如动力学和自动控制为目标。这种方法要求学生使用现代仪器电路的特定技能来验证动力学中的数学模型，然后在完成自动控制课程的实验练习时使用这些数学模型作为顺序的构建块。学习环境发生在一个新的集成系统工程实验室，除了动力学和控制之外，还支持机器设计，振动和数字信号处理实验室，以及高年级设计和本科生研究项目。该实验室使用的实验装置，如垂直摆和移动机器人，可以证明是理想的平台，以支持这种垂直整合的学习环境。一个全面的评估计划需要由工程学院院长协调内部和外部评估人员。此外，还概述了一项积极的传播计划，该计划严重依赖于现代技术，如互联网和可记录的CD ROM。该项目具有全国影响的潜力，因为它挑战了现有的实验室教学模式，并完全重新定义了大学发展教学实验室的方式。

The current paradigm in engineering course instruction builds on a lecture prerequisite structure but ignores the need for a laboratory prerequisite structure. Educational quality is therefore diminished as instructors optimize specific laboratories but fail to optimize the overall program laboratory experience. This project focuses on creating a learning environment that forces students to use not only concepts and skills but also actual data and models from lower division laboratories in upper division laboratories. The integration occurs because students must utilize their previous laboratory work as a reference as they study the different facets of the same experimental setups in multiple engineering laboratories. The vertically integrated learning environment builds on a lower division course such as electrical circuits and targets upper division courses such as dynamics and automatic controls. This approach requires the students to use specific skills in modern instrumentation from circuits to verify mathematical models in dynamics, and then use these mathematical models as sequential building blocks when completing laboratory exercises in the automatic controls course. The learning environment occurs in a new Integrated Systems Engineering Laboratory that, in addition to dynamics and controls, supports laboratories in machine design, vibrations, and digital signal processing, as well as projects in senior design and undergraduate student research. This laboratory uses experimental setups such as a vertical pendulum and a mobile robot that can be shown to be ideal platforms to support this vertically integrated learning environment. A comprehensive evaluation plan entails coordination of an internal and external evaluator by the Dean of Engineering. Further, an aggressive dissemination plan is outlined that relies heavily on modern technology such as the Internet and a recordable CD ROM. This project has the potential for national impact because it challenges the existing par adigm of laboratory instruction and completely redefines the way universities develop instructional laboratories.