The TekBots
Platform for Learning:
Implementation and Practice
Curriculum Integration of the
TekBots Platform for Learning
within Oregon State University
and Partner Schools
Donald Heer
July 13, 2005
Fukuoka Institute of Technology
What will be presented
• What is a for Platform for Learning (short)
• Examples of how the TekBots Platform
connects two courses, Freshman
Orientation, and sophomore Digital Logic I
• Examples of the TekBots Platform from
other schools
• Some ideas for FIT and TekBots
What is a Platform for Learning
Any object, entity, or unifying theme
that when used in multiple courses
helps to both connect the topics of the
courses together, and gives a vehicle
for meaning and application to the
learner.
Rick Anderson – Software Quality
Engineering Manager – Tektronix
What are the core values of the
Platform for Learning
• Personal Ownership
• Curriculum
Continuity
• Contextual Learning
• Fun Factor
• Hands-on/Active
Learning
This is a TekBot
Curt Nilsen - Manager Shurety Design
Engineering – Sandia National Labs
Review of Freshman Orientation
course
•
•
•
•
First TekBots Course
Covers Basic Electronics
Lab and Lecture tightly joined
Student Retention Important
Lab Topic
Electrons ,
Current Flow,
Schematics,
Measurment
Assemble Base
Soldering Basics
Resistors,
Ohms Law,
Power,
Nodes/Loops/
Branches
DMM Usage
Making Measurements
Schematic Diagrams
Kirchoff’s Voltage
Law,
Circuit Analysis,
SPICE Simulations
Ohms Law in Practice
Models of Motors
Models of Batteries
Kirchoff’s Current
Law,
Circuit Analysis,
SPICE Simulations
Power and KVL
Power Consumption
Dynamometer
Diode Models,
Transistors,
Transistor Models
KCL, Resistor
networks
Robots working
together
“1” and “0” in analog,
BJT as an amplifier,
BJT as a switch
Motor Control with BJT
Amplified motor Noise
Binary Logic,
Combinational Gates,
Simple A/D Conv.
Photovore robot using
comparators
Memory Circuits,
Filp-Flops,
Special Topics
Final robot Assembly
Special Topics
Final robot assembly
The Lecture and
Lab is
CONNECTED
Levi Bennett – Class 2004
The Freshman Orientation TekBot
Digital Logic 1
•
•
•
•
Sophomore Course
Combinational and Sequential Logic
Karnaugh Maps
State Machines
Lecture
• Number Systems and codes: binary, octal,
hexadecimal representations,
• Analysis of gate networks:
• Karnaugh maps
• memory elements: latches, flip-flops
• Mealy and Moore machines, characteristic
equations, state diagram,
• Design of sequential networks
• Arithmetic combinational modules
• Addition and subtraction of signed integers.
Labs – Before TekBots
Labs – After TekBots
Labs – After TekBots
Section 1 - Logic with 7400-series chips
Section 2 - Basic Combinational Logic and the
d_logic Board
Section 3 - Combinational Systems: Binary to
Seven Segment Display Encoder
Section 4 - Combinational Systems: Custom
Remote Control
Section 5 - Sequential Systems: Remote Control
Robot with Memory
Section 6 - Sequential Systems: State Machines
Section 7 - Design Project: Semi-autonomous
Remote Controlled Vehicle
Section 8 - Design Project: Wireless Remote
The Lecture and Labs are
CONNECTED
Lecture Topic
Number Systems,
Binary Algebra,
CAD tools
Logic gates,
DeMorgans Law,
Logic design,
Karnaugh Maps
Combinational
Modules,
Unique gates,
PLAs and Logic
Arrays
Lab Topic
Software Tools,
Simple combinational
gates,
Hardware assembly
Simple gates,
Switching
Expressions,
Gate network
verification
ROV Project,
Combinational system
design
Sequential gates,
Clocked gates,
Transition tables
Sequential gates,
Transition tables
State machines,
State diagrams,
State encodings
Troubleshooting,
State machines,
State diagrams
Counters,
Arithmetic
operations,
ROMs and RAMs,
FPGAs
Bumper robot design,
State machine design
d_logic Hardware
Connection: Design
• Students are shown the same process of
design across different courses
• Brainstorm, Constraints, Resources,
Implement, Evaluate, Revise
• Example: Remote Control
Connection: Function
• Students are given some projects that they
already understand very well. This allows
them to focus on the new material they are
applying.
• Examples: BumpBot, Remote Control
Connection: Hardware
• Students are not allowed to forget
previous courses. The material form
previous course is directly used in later
courses.
• The base is reused for four years
• The d_logic board interfaces to the original
system
Connection: People
• Community has been shown to
encourage students.
• The teaching assistants that
help in labs are undergraduates.
• Students see some of the same
trusted faces across multiple
courses
Siv Fern Chang – Class 2005
Connection: Troubleshooting
• Troubleshooting is taught in a
novice -> expert fashion
• Early labs guide students
• Later labs remind students of earlier
experience, but do not guide
Craig Munsee – Graduate Student
What is happening at other
schools?
• Texas A&M University (TAMU), College
Station, Texas, USA
• University of Nebraska: Lincoln Omaha
(UNL), Omaha, Nebraska, USA
• Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC),
Albany, Oregon, USA
• Fukuoka Institute of Technology (FIT),
Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
Texas A&M University
• Freshman Engineering Orientation
Integrated
• Platform used as a ‘Black Box’
• System Level Design
• 250-400 Students yearly
• Digital Counter, PWM, Photovore
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
• Joined in 2004
• Integrated into Freshman Orientation, and
Introduction to Microcontrollers
(sophomore)
• Working on Junior Level Circuits
• 100-160 students yearly
Linn-Benton Community College
• Joined in 2004
• Developed programs for Electrical
Fundamentals (sophomore, 3 quarters)
• Customized experience to better reflect all
majors, not just Electrical and Computer
Engineering
• RC Control, Sonar, CAM
Fukuoka Institute of Technology
• First International Partner
• Should allow for active research into
globalization of the Platforms for Learning
concept
• Improvements to all levels of the existing
program
• Joint recognition of successes
• Possibilities of student exchange with
TekBots as a common thread
Summary
• Platforms for Learning
• Freshman Orientation <-> Digital Logic
• What other programs do with the platform
(versatile)