An Integrated Modular Laboratory for Analog Electronics, Applied Signal Processing, Control Systems and Electronic Communication

The undergraduate EE or EET students are required to take courses in several knowledge areas, such as circuit analysis, analog and digital electronics, power electronics, control systems, communications and signal processing, etc. The current paradigm in the course instruction builds on a lecture prerequisite structure but ignores the need for a laboratory prerequisite structure and integration. The laboratory for each individual course is designed to reinforce basic concepts but typically has no larger purpose in the curriculum such as logically connecting to laboratory works completed in earlier or future courses. Since laboratory time is short and new concepts must be emphasized, instructors are forced to use oversimplified set-ups for experiments. As a result, students complete laboratory exercises in these courses without realizing that they are all contributing to the development of truly integrated systems used in the modern industrial environment. This type of “isolated learning” is no longer acceptable as nowadays the industry demands engineers not only with a broad set of technical skills, but also a comprehension of the diverse practical applications of engineering concepts. Engineering and Engineering Technology education must provide integrated experience at the undergraduate level to fulfill the expectations of the industry 1-3 .