Project-based approach in an electrical circuits theory course - Bringing the laboratory to a large classroom

Abstract

Electrical Circuits Theory is a course that is required by many engineering disciplines at most universities and is often taught in a lecture-based approach. At the University of Oklahoma, an electrical circuits course was redesigned with a project-based focus in order to achieve additional learning goals that were considered important to the overall education of engineering students. Due to the large class sizes and lack of laboratory facilities, an inexpensive kit of parts and equipment was checked out to the students to support their hands-on circuit activities. The project was created to enhance students' understanding of the course topics and to improve their circuit design and team skills. By switching from a lecture-based to a project-based approach many planned and favorable outcomes were achieved. This paper describes the project, the study findings and shares future research steps. We plan to use the lessons learned from the project-based approach to improve the hands-on section of the course in future semesters. We trust our study will be beneficial to instructors, who are teaching an electrical circuits course and are interested in bringing the laboratory to a large classroom.