Educational Research on a
Platform for LearningTM
Terri Fiez, Roger Traylor and Don Heer
July 13, 2005
Outline
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Background on Oregon State University
Motivation Behind Educational Changes
Program Overview
Partnering with FIT
Oregon State University
• ~20,000 Students from all over
the world
• 20% students study
engineering
• Agriculture, Oceanography,
Forestry, Science,
Pharmacy, Liberal arts
• Approximately $200M in
external research funding
per year
Oregon State University College of Engineering
22nd Largest in United States ~570 B.S. graduates
Student Union
In Central Campus
Corvallis is located in the area known as the
Willamette Valley.
Corvallis is 40 miles from the coast
Scenic areas exist all throughout Oregon
Here is Crater Lake – center of ancient volcano
View from Campus of Mary’s Peak
OSU’s Engineering Top 25 Goal
People.
Ideas.
Innovation.
OUR FOCUS
Work Ready Graduates
Collaborative Research
School of EECS will Move into new
Kelley Engineering Center in August
142,000 sq. ft.
Specialized Research & Eduction Labs Throughout Building
Building Designed to Promote Collaboration
School of EECS
Electrical & Computer
Engr.
• 700 Undergrads
• 200 Graduate
Students (about ¼
Ph.D. students)
• Typically 150-200
freshmen/sophomores
Computer Science
• 600 Undergrads
• 120 Graduate
Students (about 1/3
Ph.D. students)
• Typically 150
freshmen
Motivation Behind Educational
Changes
The Global Need
Knowledge integration should
be at the core of an engineering
education...”
Engineers must be enablers to
"wealth creation" …through
innovation… rather than simply
be a commodity on the global
market
Joseph Bordogna, NSF Deputy Director
Our Constituent Needs
Community, Problem Solving and Innovation
100
Problem
Community Solving
Depth
Importance
Professional
50
0
Breadth
Innovation
A Platform for Learning Integrated
Across the Curriculum
Key Features of the Platform for
Learning
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Personal Ownership
Curriculum Continuity
Contextual Learning
Fun Factor
Hands-on/Active Learning
TekBots
• TekBot evolves through 4 year curriculum
• Knowledge integration by building on TekBot
• Challenge problems enhance innovation
In the Beginning…
There was Sparky!
Sparky Made ECE Fun!
But it ended there …
Until we introduced layering on the robot
It grows and matures as the student does
☺ The fun continues
Introducing the TekBots Platform
Motor
Controller
Analog
Board
Proto Board
TekBots Program Overview
Integrated Curriculum
Electronics
Intro to ECE
Hardware
Circuits I Circuits II
Digital
Systems I
Digital
Systems II
Signals
Electronics I
Computer
Computer
Architecture I Networks
Signals &
Systems I
Signals &
Systems II
Electronics II
Computer
Architecture II
Signal
Integrity
Software
C/C++
Data
Software
Programming Structures I Engineering
Freshmen
Sophomore
Operating
Systems
Compiler
Construction
Junior
Platform Evolution
Advanced
DigitalDesign
Digital VLSI
Design
FPGASy stem
FPGASy stem
Basic Robot
Basic Robot
Embedded
Systems
Introto
ECE
Digital
Design I
Digital
DesignII
Computer
ArchitectureI
Computer
ArchitectureII
DigitalController
DigitalController
uController Board
uController Board
uController Board
Basic Robot
Basic Robot
Basic Robot
Basic Robot
Basic Robot
Basic Robot
CircuitsII
Signals &
SystemsI
Signals &
Systems II
Comm. Sy stem
Adv . Sensors
Adv . Sensors
uController Board
uController Board
Basic Robot
Basic Robot
CircuitsI
Base Station
Base Station
Basic Robot
Basic Robot
ElectronicsI ElectronicsII
Signal
Integrity
Sensor Board
IR Comm board
uController Board
Electronics Board
Electronics Board
Electronics Board
Basic Robot
Basic Robot
Sy stems Board
SeniorDesign SeniorDesign SeniorDesign
I
II
I II
FPGASy stem
FPGASy stem
FPGASy stem
uController Board
uController Board
uController Board
Comunication
Networks
RF Comm Board
uController Board
Basic Robot
Computer
Software
DataStructures
Programming
Engineering
uController Board
uController Board
Operating
Systems
Compiler
Construction
uController Board
Basic Robot
Basic robot
32-bit uP Board
32-bit uP Board
TekBots Courses
Senior Design
Signals & Systems
Basic Circuits
Intro to Mech.
Engr.
Microcomputer
System Design
Microcomputer
Arch.
Digital Logic
Intro to ECE
Introducing the TekBots Platform
Motor
Controller
Analog
Board
Proto Board
Bridging the Analog-Digital Divide
Introduction to Digital Design
Digital
PLD Board
Electrical Engineering for NonMajors
• Electrical Fundamentals
• Taken by all engineering majors at OSU (150200 students each quarter)
– DC Circuit Analysis
• Introduced Data Logger with
sensor interface capability
ECE 375: Microcomputer
Architectures
• Custom board introduced that
allows hands-on experiences
• Key platform to be leveraged
in other courses
• Biggest challenge was
consistency in instructor
teaching
Signals and Systems (ECE 352)
• Significant Matlab component
• Camera allows capturing and
processing real images
• Students enjoy the application
ECE473 Microcontroller System Design
Expensive, Laborious, Little learning
Enhanced learning with system focus –
leverages previously build mC board
High level of knowledge integration
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mC architecture
C programming
The HW/SW interface
Analog design
System level debugging
The Mechatronics Platform
• The Platform for Learning targeted at
Mechanical Engineering
• Heavy emphasis on mechanical design and
‘scaffolding’ for electrical and programming
concepts.
– Mech_lib
– Mx_ctlr
– Lots of examples
Impact
• More than 3000 Students using TekBots
– Oregon State, Texas A&M, U Nebraska, Linn
Benton Community College
• 300 Students using Mechatronics Platform
• 3 Journal and 7 Conference Papers
• Three Active University Partners – We look
forward to adding FIT
• Kids attracted to engineering because of
TekBots
Making Connections Between
Topics and Classes
Challenge Problems
Creating Innovation Opportunities
Lab Title
Challenge Question
Robot Gymnastics
Speed and Accuracy Challenge: Set your TekBots robot to make as
many laps as possible without straying from a defined circle in a
minute.
Ohm’s Law in
Practice
Make a ‘Resistor’: Build a PWM from a 555 timer chip that models
a resistor in series with your motors. Make a simple cruise
control.
KVL: Friend or Foe?
Exploring Power: Explore why power consumption is important on
cell phones, Martian rovers, and vacuums.
Working Together
Works
All Powered Up: Explore the differences if any of various
series/parallel circuits made from motors and batteries.
Transistors
Can you Feel the Noise: Build a simple amplifier and inspect the
noise on your robot’s motors. Find how to reduce this noise.
Go Towards the Light
Reverse Psychology: Can you make your light-loving robot scared
of the light?
Design Research Model
Tom Thompson
Assessment of TekBots
Drives Education Innovation
Student Evaluations
Active
Observers
Pilot
Interviews
Lab Aid
Evaluations
Class
Survey
Industry Evaluations
TekBots Enhances Community
and Idea Generation
Subscales and scales
Pre survey score
Mentoring
10.5
Leadership
9.8
Total Community
20.3
Novel Ideas
Post survey score
Percent
Change
Probability that measured quality
changed from TekBots.
12.2
/20
15.9%
99.87%
11.4
/20
16.1%
98.72%
/40
23.6
/40
16.0%
99.8%
11.3
/20
10.5
/20
2.7%
94.57%
Many Solutions
10.5
/20
10.8
/20
1.5%
35.18%
Technical Competence
8.8
/20
10
13.6%
84.66%
Likes Problems
9.8
/20
10.3
5.1%
58.7%
Valuable Answers
8.7
/20
9.7
11.4%
82.39%
Total Innovation
49.1
2.4%
50.49%
/20
/20
/100
/20
/20
/20
51.3
/100
Activating Learning in the Classroom
Roger Traylor
• What is Active Learning?
– Learner is the driving force, instructor is facilitator
– Can include cooperative learning, hands-on
instruction
• Why use it?
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Students fall asleep in lecture (duh!)
90 yrs of research, 600 studies show it works
Big classes need it badly
How it can be done?
How can I cover the material?
Outreach Programs
Gale Sumida
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DaVinci Days
Saturday Academy
Data Pod Recovery Race
Engineering Expo
ISEF
Educating Work Ready Engineers for
the Next Decade
Platform
For
Learning
Context
Innovation
Lab
Knowledge
Integration
Troubleshooting
and
Hands-on Learning
Lecture
Depth and Breadth
Partnering with FIT
• Understand interest
• Identify local challenges (if there are
any)
• Identify pilot to “try” concept
• Continue to build the connection
between our programs – joint
competitions? Collaborative projects?
Summary
• We welcome collaborators on TekBots
• Share innovations and passion for
education
• TekBots is still early in development
• International community of innovators
will only enhance each of our programs
TekBots Sponsors
National Science Foundation