IoT in Project-Based Learning

Abstract

At Western Carolina University, a four-year Project-Based Learning (PBL) sequence is implemented across the undergraduate residential programs, culminating in a senior capstone project for industry partners. This interdisciplinary approach enables students to develop professional skills in project management, ethics, design, teamwork, and more through hands-on projects. With diverse team compositions, students focus on various technical aspects, such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), 3D printing, assembly, testing, electrical, and software components. This paper highlights the incorporation of an Internet of Things (IoT) platform into the second-year PBL course. Students were introduced to a low-cost ($6) microcontroller with wireless internet access and provided with prototype Python programs. These programs enabled students to create their own wireless access points and simple web servers, facilitating interaction with the microcontroller and their projects using phones or laptops. By connecting the microcontroller to sensors and actuators, students were offered a wide range of design possibilities. The paper provides sufficient detail for educators to adopt a similar approach in their courses, promoting interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experience with IoT technologies.