Abstract:

The article presents possibilities to enhance educational activities among students of the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FCE) at the Silesian University of Technology (SUT) while supporting the educational process using simple, inexpensive, generally available resources in the form of open electronic tools, educational electronics, eg. such as educational prototyping platforms, open software, and simple measuring instruments to be used for education.

The activities described in the article included students of the FCE with various interests, at various stages of the didactic process and within various subjects within the scope of the study plan as well as additional activities carried out within the scope of broadening the range of their interests. The element that constitutes a starting point for many of the presented activities is the activity of students within the Student Scientific Association (SSA) conducted at the Department of Building Engineering and Building Physics. Educational projects that have their origins in activities related to the existence of a scientific association often have educational potential that can be adapted and passed on, for example as part of the basic course of study. The recalled mechanism can also work the other way. Making the basic course more attractive with new forms of display, measurement, and ultimately independent student performance, results in increased interest in the subject itself, its content, and in effect also education and science. An important element is the independence of the decisions made and the activities carried out.

The discussed activities concerned, among others, the use of a multi-point method of non-contact measurement of the surface temperature of building elements based on the Arduino Uno platform, and a set of ready-to-mount elements, available program for visualization of the obtained results in the form of thermogram. Also temperature and humidity measurement in the room using a measuring set based on the Raspberry Pi, and using a self-made simple device for estimating and measuring heat flux or using an open-source computer program to create photogrammetric models based on photographic images. Thanks to the simplicity of the workmanship and ease of access, the devices could be made available to students not only during the classes or laboratory under the supervision of the lecturer. This allowed for independent, longer familiarization with the aspects of the use of measuring equipment and software and, generally speaking, some creative fun without supervision. It is important to have the right amount of industry knowledge at the engineer's job. Knowledge of standards and calculation methods is useful on the labor market. However, in addition to the above, it is important to understand the basic physical issues, imagination and creativity. Understanding a given process in practice allows for an intuitive estimation of the correctness of the obtained calculation results. At the same time, the ability to confront calculations with the measurement of reality develops an important feature - mindfulness in entering data.

Keywords:

Open source platforms and programs, education process, students.