University Learning and Teaching Committee
Teaching Development Grants
Final Report
Grant Holder Details
Name
Dr Steve Weddell
Position
Senior Lecturer
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Name of other participating staff
Professor Phil Bones
Date of Application
5 November 2012
Category of Grant (please tick)
One √
Funds Awarded
$4,500
(max $5,000)
Two
(max $10,000)
Funds Spent
Project Details
Title of Project
Remote Laboratory for Embedded Systems 1
Give a brief description of the project (no more than 100 words)
This will be published on the UC website.
The motivation for this teaching project is the implementation of a remote laboratory based
on a capstone embedded systems project in the Department of Electrical & Computer
Engineering at UC. A remote laboratory essentially allows students and educators to access
real laboratory apparatus over the internet. An upload facility allows students to submit code
to execute on a real-time system; cameras, microphones and data acquisition equipment are
used to provide students with feedback and to interact with the experiment through a clientbased web browser. Evidence from Australasian universities, such as the University of
Technology Sydney (UTS) and RMIT, suggest significant student benefits by using similar
remote-based learning systems. A capstone avionics project was successfully introduced in
our new Embedded Systems computer hardware course in 2012. High demands by students
to access specialist-built equipment resulted in damage and down-time that consumed
precious technical resources. We are confident that adaptation of this equipment to a remote
lab environment will not only better protect sensitive equipment but also enhance student
learning by ensuring extended access times. Subsequently, a UC remote learning resource
can be extended to further enhance student learning.
Please comment on the following (indicate N/A where not applicable):
1. The positive impact the outcomes of this
project have had on your teaching and/or
the teaching in your department/school/
area.
Extended collaborative links with the University of
Technology Sydney and we are cooperatively building
a new remote lab for use across our ANZ region.
2. The positive impact the outcomes of this
project have had on student engagement
and student learning at the University.
My 3rd Professional Year student, Nicholas Wareing,
wrote a paper on this project and presented this at
ENZCon’13 conference in Auckland in November 2013.
3. How you have shared the findings of this
initiative within the wider university
community/nationally/ internationally.
Again, we wrote a paper and this accepted for
publication. I’m keen to write a longer journal article
once the project has been extended later this year.
4. If you plan to sustain/extend this initiative
within the department/school beyond the
finding period and if so, why or why not?
Yes, because remote laboratory learning is an ongoing
development. This year we will be using a remote
learning lab for ENCE361!
5. Outline any difficulties or problems you
encountered during the course of the
project/while attending the conference
covered by the grant.
None really. We have support from the top (PVC),
down.
6. Comment on any differences in outcome
of the project/conference from those you
predicted or expected when you applied for
the grant.
Again, none that I can think of.
7. Any further comments.
This award was a great opportunity to fund a
worthwhile and extremely useful project. The results of
this Learning & Teaching project will be used in our
teaching (ENCE361) in S1 this year (2014).
(Advice to future grant applicants is
welcome here, as are any suggestions for
the better handling of the application
process or administration of grants.)
Sign off
Name & Signature: Steve Weddell
Date:
24 Jan, 14