Abstract:

One of the main features of ABET’s EC2000 Criterion is that it requires undergraduate engineering students to develop their skills in designing, implementing, and testing a system or process to meet desired specifications. This paper presents a projects-based approach that gradually develops the design, implementation, and troubleshooting skills of students in measurement and data acquisition. Starting with relatively simple course-based design projects in two instrumentation and measurement courses, students take a completely projects-based course in the first semester of their junior year to enhance their design and practical skills. This is followed by a higher-level design project involving data acquisition and control through PC’s serial, parallel, and USB ports. Subsequently, they complete a two-phase capstone project over two semesters of their final year utilizing microcontrollers, microporcessors, and data acquisition cards. Such an approach can be considered as an evolutionary approach as it starts with simple design and implementation experience and ends with automated data acquisition and control systems. It provides both depth and breadth in automated data acquisition in an active learning environment. Students’ response to this evolutionary approach has been quite positive in terms of developing their design and practical skills in measurement and data acquisition. It also boosts their confidence in their abilities to handle such systems on their own. Furthermore, it enhances their generic skills concerning teamwork, planning and development, technical report writing and oral presentation.

Keywords:

data acquisition, instrumentation, control, design skills, projects-based learning.