Learning About Signals through Tinkering and Game-Playing
Abstract
Advanced signal processing and communication systems are crucial to maintaining our national security and defense capabilities. While these topics are taught in courses in all of our nation’s electrical engineering programs, students often struggle with the abstract and theoretical concepts of signals. Two active-learning approaches which have started to attract attention for use in formal education environments are tinkering and game-centric curriculum design; interestingly, these are already natural components of informal learning environments such as makerspaces, hackathons, and robotics competitions. This proposal will engage these communities of self-motivated learners who often do not have formal training in signal theory, and will borrow their self-motivation and maker-mindset to address the educational challenge of teaching abstract signals concepts in formal learning environments. The proposed work employs students to assist with curriculum development, engaging local maker/hacker communities, and assessing the effect of these innovations on learning outcomes. The approach in this collaborative effort will be tested in courses at two universities, at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and will result in a framework for introducing elements of tinkering and game-centered curricula into signals courses throughout the nation. A website will be used to disseminate guidelines for developing tinkering-based, game-based exercises, and will include publications and educational materials produced by this work for use by instructors at universities, as well as non-traditional learners at makerspaces. The proposed work has the potential to increase the pool of citizens with knowledge of signal theory – in both the university setting, as well as in hacker/maker communities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512442
Entities
People
- Andrew Klein
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Western Washington University