Using Telecommunication Instructional Modelling system (TIMS) in communications systems course

Abstract

Conventional courses in communications systems use lecture and readings to explain the theory, and assign paper based problem sets of theory and math, supplemented with limited Matlab and Multisim based labs. Software based simulation studies are a useful learning tool, however, computer simulations cannot model all aspects of the behavior of actual systems. Telecommunication Instructional Modelling System (TIMS) is an advanced system for telecommunications training. TIMS is a rack and module system, in which modules perform a basic communication or signal processing function. For example, there are adders, multipliers, filters, samplers, and signal generators. TIMS provides students with a way of prototyping communication and signal processing systems in the laboratory that helps understanding. TIMS would provide a more "real world" experience for the students compared with only software simulations. In an attempt to give students more hands-on experience with the theories and concepts of analog and digital communications, lab exercises using the TIMS were developed. A recent offering of this course gave the students a TIMS lab after each topic was introduced: amplitude modulation/demodulation, frequency modulation/demodulation, sampling, ASK generation/demodulation, BPSK generation/demodulation, FSK generation/demodulation. TIMS units are hardware training systems, with which the students build the circuits at a block diagram level, and observe the results using oscilloscope. Evaluations were based on student surveys (course evaluations) and student work (assigned homework, exams and labs). Recent offerings of this course taught in the traditional way by the same instructor resulted in only 60.8% of the students receiving a "B-" or higher grade for the course. In the first iteration of TIMS system, the number of students who received a "B-" or better increased to 77.8%. Moreover, 96.3% of students "agree" or "strongly agree" that TIMS helped them to better learn the course content. 92.6% of students "agree" or "strongly agree" that TIMS increased their interest in the subject.