The Implementation of Experimental Centric Pedagogy in 13 ECE Programs - The View from Students and Instructors

Abstract

Kenneth Connor is a professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (ECSE) where he teaches courses on electromagnetics, electronics and instrumentation, plasma physics, electric power, and general engineering. His research involves plasma physics, electromagnetics, photonics, biomedical sensors, engineering education, diversity in the engineering workforce, and technology enhanced learning. He learned problem solving from his father (ran a gray iron foundry), his mother (a nurse) and grandparents (dairy farmers). He has had the great good fortune to always work with amazing people, most recently professors teaching circuits and electronics from 13 HBCU ECE programs and the faculty, staff and students of the SMART LIGHTING ERC, where he is Education Director. Dr. Dianna Newman, University at Albany/SUNY Dr. Dianna Newman is a research professor at the Evaluation Consortium at the University at Albany/SUNY. Her major areas of study are program evaluation with an emphasis in STEM related programs. She has numerous chapters, articles, and papers on technology-supported teaching and learning as well as systems-change stages pertaining to technology adoption. He teaches courses in both analog and digital electronic circuit design and instrumentation, with a focus on wireless communication. He has more than 15 years experience in the development and delivery of synchronous and asynchronous web-based course supplements for electrical engineering courses. Dr. Astatke played a leading role in the development and implementation of the first completely online undergraduate ECE program in the State of Maryland. He has published over 50 papers and presented his research work at regional, national and international conferences. He also runs several exciting summer camps geared towards middle school, high school, and community college students to expose and increase their interest in pursuing Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Dr. Astatke travels to Ethiopia every summer to provide training and guest lectures related to the use of the mobile laboratory technology and pedagogy to enhance the ECE curriculum at five different universities. AbstractThis paper presents findings from a multi-year project that is initiating experimental centric approaches to learning in electrical engineering courses at 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The tool supporting to experimental student-centered learning at these institutions was an Analog Discovery Board (ADB). The content or setting of use reflect introductory, circuits, and supporting electrical engineering courses. The students were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year undergraduates enrolled in EE courses; the unique audience represents students enrolled in HBCU colleges. In this paper, the authors discuss how integration of the innovative Mobile Studio concept was used to increase the amount of student-centered learning and document its impact on student outcomes. The authors begin with an overview of theories that inspired the...

Engaging Electrical and Computer Engineering Freshman Students with an Electrical Engineering Practicum

“…From the survey results, it seems that the time allotted for use of the portable hands-on hardware is adequate (82%). Similar results have been obtained by thirteen institutions who used the ADB in a collaborative project 17,18 . Table 3 shows the effects of integration of the ADB and Electrical Engineering Practicum on the students in the freshman course.…”

Matched Assessment Data Set for Experiment-Centric Pedagogy Implementation in 13 HBCU ECE Programs

“…In-depth analysis identified that satisfaction with use and perceptions of positive outcomes increased as instructor familiarity with the ADBs and experimental pedagogy increased. As noted in previous reports 17,18 , first time student users and novice instructors indicated a need for more introductory materials, videos, and visual aids that would facilitate use.…”

An Online Approach to the Analog Electronics Laboratory

“…Faculty and students reported an increase in intrinsic motivation, interest in content, and confidence in their ability to learn with 88% of students mentioning that the Analog Discovery Board helped them learn. An increase of students expressing interest in graduate programs and research was also noted [6].…”

“…With the increase of current K-12 hands-on constructivist learning, students are entering STEM degree fields expecting to learn via hands-on technology support learning [6]. This mentality along with the increase of STEM enrollment poses a problem for current educators.…”