Brief write-up
Project objectives
The project aims at developing a modularized hardware learning platform for first-year engineering students with minimal hardware implementation and software development experience. Since the students do not have prior programming experience, recent attempts in teaching them writing programmes to control the unfamiliar hardware had not been successful. The objective of the project is to compartmentalize the complex hardware system into independent plug-and-play modules, coupled with specifically developed graphical control interface. Individual hardware modules will be developed for relevant learning activities for learning specific concepts. Independent modules can be attached onto the hardware platform, and to be controlled by the central controller. On the other hand, control commands will be developed by students using a non-coding graphical interface, thus remove the hindrance of hardware learning without software experience. The proposed learning platform will be aiming at stimulating enthusiasm in hardware design and promoting engineering innovations.
Activities, process and outcomes
An application library, as well as the graphical control interface have been developed. A group of secondary school students had attended the Engineering Summer Camp in July 2018, in which the hardware modules and a preliminary version of application library were provided for them as the learning activities. The workshop was well received with constructive feedback for the development of this project. The final developed platform will be offered to first-year engineering students and/or secondary school students again to evaluate the outcomes of the project.
Deliverables and evaluation
The developed platform will be tested by first-year engineering students and/or secondary school students as a key activity. The students will be given an open-ended task, which will be solved using the platform and including any combination of the available modules. The key hardware components and central control unit were acquired and developed, and the development of the application library has been completed. The preliminary version of the platform was tested and was well received by the secondary school students. A conference publication is planned to describe the development and the outcome of this project.
Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices
A group of secondary school students had attended the Engineering Summer Camp in July 2018, in which the hardware modules and a preliminary version of application library were provided for them as the learning activities. The workshop was well received with constructive feedback for the development of this project. It can be observed that our initial aim of separating the hardware learning experience from the programme coding prerequisite is a great success. We will continue to refine the direction and apply this methodology to future courses. A conference publication is also planned to describe the development and the outcome of this project.
