A Cohesive Program Of Experimental Modules Distributed Throughout The ECE Curriculum

工程-电气(55)该项目正在开发一个连贯的项目，将实验引入到广泛选择的电气和计算机工程课程中，这些课程通常没有相关的实验室。大多数实验使用低成本的便携式设备，这有助于建立一个分散的实验室环境，让学生在专用实验室之外进行实验。该方法正由12名教授15门课程的教职员工进行测试，其中一些课程是在远程学习环境中提供的。为了实现这一目标，研究人员正在开发：(1)便携式、低成本的实验平台，足够多用途，可以在多门课程中使用；(2)每个实验的网络模块，包含信息，帮助教师将实验纳入他们的课程，并帮助学生理解实验教授的基本概念；(3)协调框架，包括程序，用于将这些模块整合到电气和计算机工程课程，包括远程学习课程。该项目以当地和其他学校开发的实验为基础，并将其扩大。所有实验都使用现成的组件，如乐高积木、PIC处理器套件，以及业余爱好机器人和K-12科学实验中使用的组件。评估包括控制组和实验组，并使用特殊的测试题来监控学生的学习情况，并进行调查，以确定新实验对学生对材料的态度以及他们对课程内容的兴趣和动机的影响。正在利用焦点小组和其他调查来获得更详细的知识。项目团队正在工程教育会议以及特定学科的会议上宣传这项工作，特别是那些与IEEE控制系统学会相关的会议。该项目的更广泛影响包括在其他学科和一系列不同的大学测试这种方法，在针对代表性不足的群体的大学前推广计划中使用实验和设备，以及向社区传播这种方法。

Engineering - Electrical (55)The project is developing a cohesive program in which experiments are introduced into a wide selection of Electrical and Computer Engineering courses that typically do not have associated laboratories. Most of the experiments use low cost, portable equipment, which facilitates a decentralized laboratory environment where students perform the experiments outside of dedicated laboratories. The approach is being tested by twelve faculty members teaching fifteen courses, some of which are offered in distance learning settings. To achieve this, the investigators are developing: (1) portable, low-cost experimental platforms that are versatile enough to be in used in multiple courses, (2) web modules for each experiment that contain information both to help instructors incorporate the experiment into their courses and to help students understand the fundamental concepts that are being taught by the experiment, and (3) a coordinated framework, including procedures, for incorporating these modules across the Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum, including distance learning courses. The project is building upon and expanding experiments developed locally and at other schools. All experiments use readily available components, such as LEGOS, PIC processor kits, and components that are used in hobby robotics and K-12 science experiments. The evaluation involves control and experimental groups and is using special test questions to monitor student learning and surveys to determine the impact of the new experiments on the students' attitudes about the material and their interest and motivation about the course content. Focus groups and other surveys are being used to gain more detailed knowledge. The project team is publicizing the work at engineering education conferences as well as at discipline-specific conferences, particularly those associated with the IEEE Control Systems Society. The broader impacts of the project include testing the approach in other disciplines and at a set of diverse universities, using the experiments and equipment in pre-college outreach programs directed toward underrepresented groups, and disseminating the approaches to the community.