Developing Process Control Labs and Simulations to Increase Student Comprehension
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Event Website
https://source2022.sched.com/
Start Date
18-5-2022
End Date
18-5-2022
Keywords
Feedback, State-Space, Simulation
Abstract
The consensus between students and faculty in the EET program concerning the state of the course Process Control is that the class is complex and difficult to understand. This complexity, paired with labs that are disconnected from both the lecture material and prerequisite information, needs to be mitigated. The goal of this project is to increase student comprehension by relating the lecture material and mathematic concepts of prerequisite courses to the circuits and mechanical systems that are used in the real world. I studied the course material and supporting concepts comprehensively and obtained feedback from students and instructors that have participated in the class. This allowed me to develop supporting material across several platforms, including videos, mathematic models, circuit simulations, and updated lab instructions. Through research and feedback from both students and instructors, I have determined that the topics of greatest concern in the course are first-order, second-order, and state-space systems. To develop an understanding of these topics, the Multisim, MATLAB, Simulink, and LabVIEW programs are utilized. Additionally, the current labs have been reworked to be more readable and consistent, clarifying the student’s responsibilities and providing logical pathways to understand the material. Throughout this project I have vastly increased my own understanding of Process Control technologies and concepts, developed ideas and strategies to support the curriculum of the course, and built a foundation of labs and programs for future offerings to implement.
College of Education and Professional Studies Presentation Award Winner.
Recommended Citation
McKee, Aidan, "Developing Process Control Labs and Simulations to Increase Student Comprehension" (2022). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 43.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2022/CEPS/43
Department/Program
Electronic Engineering Technology
Additional Mentoring Department
Electronic Engineering Technology
Developing Process Control Labs and Simulations to Increase Student Comprehension
The consensus between students and faculty in the EET program concerning the state of the course Process Control is that the class is complex and difficult to understand. This complexity, paired with labs that are disconnected from both the lecture material and prerequisite information, needs to be mitigated. The goal of this project is to increase student comprehension by relating the lecture material and mathematic concepts of prerequisite courses to the circuits and mechanical systems that are used in the real world. I studied the course material and supporting concepts comprehensively and obtained feedback from students and instructors that have participated in the class. This allowed me to develop supporting material across several platforms, including videos, mathematic models, circuit simulations, and updated lab instructions. Through research and feedback from both students and instructors, I have determined that the topics of greatest concern in the course are first-order, second-order, and state-space systems. To develop an understanding of these topics, the Multisim, MATLAB, Simulink, and LabVIEW programs are utilized. Additionally, the current labs have been reworked to be more readable and consistent, clarifying the student’s responsibilities and providing logical pathways to understand the material. Throughout this project I have vastly increased my own understanding of Process Control technologies and concepts, developed ideas and strategies to support the curriculum of the course, and built a foundation of labs and programs for future offerings to implement.
College of Education and Professional Studies Presentation Award Winner.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2022/CEPS/43
Faculty Mentor(s)
Greg Lyman, Jeff Wilcox, Lad Holden