Migration of a robotics platform from a freshman introduction to engineering course sequence to a sophomore circuits course

Abstract

Thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation, Louisiana Tech University has implemented a new freshman engineering sequence of three courses focused on boosting hands-on learning, student confidence and innovation. Every engineering student purchases a robotics kit with a programmable microcontroller, sensors, servos and software along with a toolkit to provide the basis for a mobile laboratory and design platform. An aspect of this Phase II CCLI grant involves the migration of components from the freshmen sequence into our sophomore engineering sequence of courses comprised of statics, circuits and thermodynamics. Three laboratory exercises have been developed for the sophomore circuits course utilizing the robotics platform from the freshman sequence. These three exercises provide additional practice in using hardware and tools introduced in the freshman year and provide important hands-on applications to support fundamental concepts covered in an introductory circuits course. This paper presents details of the three exercises that have been developed, faculty training activities and assessment results.

Uma abordagem utilizando LEGO Mindstorms Education EV3 para verificar o desempenho acadêmico dos estudantes do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Mato Grosso do Sul do Câmpus Aquidauana

“…O estudo utilizou as obras de Oliver et. al., (2010); Summet et al, (2009);Touretzky;Tira-Thompson, (2010) em Ciência da Computação e Engenharia de Computação, e Ecebot MAHER et al,(2005) e Harbour;Hummel, (2010). Quanto às ferramentas educacionais remotas, existem várias soluções, como as descritas em Khamis et.…”

Systematic Review of Rigorous Research in Teaching Introductory Circuits

“…Research methods Findings to be highlighted Harbour and Hummel (2010). Migration of a robotics platform from a freshman introduction to engineering course sequence to a sophomore circuits course.…”

“…The latter does not draw any conclusions about the impact on student learning, but all three studies observe increased student motivation and interest in the project-based courses. Many studies on laboratory learning revolve around the use of a specific tool, rather than a pedagogical technique, making it difficult to establish consensus across the studies [9], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25].…”

Project-based Robotics Courses for the Students of Mechanical Engineering Technology

“…Generally, the fresh and sophomore are given the fundamental courses. For example, reference [17] introduced an implementation to migrate the components from the freshmen sequence into the sophomore engineering courses comprised of statics, circuits, and thermodynamics. Reference [18] used Lego Mindstorms kits to introduce the knowledge of robotics.…”