EXPERIENCES with E-LEARNING for ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

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Viliam Fedák, Technical University of Kosice,
Slovakia Paul Bauer, Delft University of
Technology, The Netherlands Roman Miksiewicz,
Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice,
Poland Helmut Weiss, University of Leoben,
Austria

• EXPERIENCES with E-LEARNINGfor ELECTRICAL
  ENGINEERING
• - FROM IDEAS to REALISATION

based on solution of the Leonardo da Vinci
project
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Presentation Outline

• Introduction
• Features Problems of Teaching and Learning in
  EE
• How to Overcome the Problems Difficulties
• Development of the Modules
• Philosophy of the e-Learning Modules
• Specific Examples and Features of Modules from
  Groups
• 1) EE Fundamentals
• 2) Electrical Machines
• 3) Electronics and Power Electronics
• 4) El.-Mech. Systems, Motion Control, and
  Mechatronics
• 5) CAD and Applied SW in Electrical Engineering
• Concluding Remarks

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Features of Teaching and Learning in EE

• Abstraction of the presented matter
  non-visible phenomena, and electrical quantities
  various fields (electrostatic, magnetic,
  electric and elmg.) simultaneous combination of
  various influences simultaneous change of more
  quantities, causal relations abstract notions
  static dynamic phenomena in the circuits
  complexity of the processes
• Need for visualisation of the processes in
  the circuit/apparatus verification of the
  phenomena evaluation of the changes of
  parameters (simulation)

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Problems of Teaching in El. Engineering

• Needs for Repetition during teaching
• Lectures brief explanation of phenomena,
  circuit behaviour, time responses,
• Even if computer animations are used, students
  cannot grasp the details in a short time, since
  the teacher shows examples or animations only
  once or twice.
• There remains a need for repetition and exercises
  and to find out influence of changeable system
  parameters to the system behaviour

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How to Overcome the Problems Difficulties

• To lead students to be active at learning
• Clear ideas that have to be taught
• Explaining of complicated phenomena by a simple
  and accessible (user friendly) way
• Choice of basic elements/objects to be explained
  (figures, texts, equations)
• Use of examples from practical application of the
  theory
• Use all other features of multimedia (pictures
  and videos)

An attractive e-elarning material helps to
increase interest of students to study the
subject and the branch of study
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Development of the Modules

• The module developer has to be familiar
  with learning procedures of the student to
  foresight his reactions he must possess
  considerable imagination, and innovation in
  utilisation of new learning technologies to
  discover new advances for explanation of
  the phenomena to have an artistic-like
  feeling for the final product to design
  proper layout of the screens

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Philosophy of the e-Learning Modules

• Balanced layout of the elements/objects across
  the screen
• Negotiated system of colours and symbols
• Design of suitable animations (simple, ,
  sophisticated) expressing the phenomena to be
  explained
• Introduction of interactivity (change of
  parameters)
• Possibility to perform simulations system
  analysis
• Unified environment, unified commanding of the
  screens
• Design of e-learning module time consuming work
  ? careful planning of the work

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Multifunctionality of the e-Learning Modules
Utilisation Utilisation
of primary screens for lectures of secondary screens for self study
Primary screen 1 Basic information Designed as a whole Resolution 1024 x 768 Secondary screen 1 Supplementary and complex information Variable length, using of slider
Primary screen 2 ... Secondary Screen 2 ...
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Properties of the primary screens Properties of the primary screens
Properties Requirements
Basic information principal diagrams basic graphs basic equations Attractiveness Animations Interactive graphs Large letters
Properties of the secondary screens Properties of the secondary screens
Full information longer texts more (static) figures full derivation Examples (with solution) Questions and answers They are called from the main screens There can be more secondary screens Smaller letters
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Groups of the Modules
1) Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering
2) Electrical Machines
3) Electronics, Power Electronics Applications
4) El. Drives, Mechatronics, Telematics, Robotics
5) Specialised SW in Electrical Engineering
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Code Title
1.1 Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering
1.2 Electrical Measurement Techniques
2.1 Basic Principles of Electrical Machines
2.2 Transformers
2.3 DC Machines
2.4 AC Machines
3.1 Practical Electronics
3.2 Power Semiconductor Devices
3.3 Power Electronics
3.4 Control in Power Electronics
3.5 Power Electronics Applications in El. Power Systems
3.6 Harmonic Treatment in Industrial Power Systems
3.7 Electromagnetic Compatibility in Power Electronics
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Code Title
4.1 Electrical Drives
4.2 Controlled Electrical Drives
4.3 Motion Control
4.4 Automotive Electrical Systems
4.5 Mechatronic Systems
4.6 Telematic Systems and Robotics
5.1 Automatic Design and Projecting in Electrical Engineering
5.2 Simulation of Power Electronics
5.3 FEM in CAD of Electromechanical and Electromagnetic Devices
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1) Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering

• The main issues
• electrostatic field
• circuit analysis
• magnetic field
• transient analysis

• electrical current field
• single-phase AC circuits
• three-phase AC systems
• voltage and current sources

• The learner learns basic topics of el.
  engineering
• starting from electro-physical phenomena
  (capacitive, electrical current and magnetic
  fields, induced voltages)
• up to technical applications (components,
  alternating current, transients, rotary fields).

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Electrical Engineering Fundamentals
Main screen - basic information
Secondary screen - full information
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2) Electrical Machines

• The modules
• explain the principles for formulating
  mathematical models of electrical machines
• present and interpret physically the solutions of
  the machine equations in steady and transient
  states.
• The learner learns
• construction of the electrical machines
• principle of operation of the electrical
  machines static machines (transformer)
  rotating (DC, AC, special)
• analyse the machine properties basing on the
  equivalent diagrams, vector diagrams and
  characteristics in steady states as well as
  waveforms in transients

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Transformers
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Asynchronous and synchronous machines
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3) Electronics, Power Electronics Applications

• The modules explain different aspects of
  electronics and PE
• starting with components,
• proceeding with control of power electronics
• different issues related to power electronics
• finishing with their applications
• The learner learns behaviour of
• basic electronic devices and PE switching devices
  
• complex electronic circuits
• power electronics converters of various
  complexity
• power electronics in different applications

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Power Semiconductor Devices and Converters
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4) Electrical Drives, Mechatronics, Telematics/Robotics

• The modules explain
• physical laws concerning motion
• interactivity between electrical and mechanical
  circuits
• mathematical models of drive systems
• block diagrams explaining system connections
• simulations and interactive graphs
• The learner learns
• principles of controlled electromechanical
  conversion of energy
• composition of control schemes
• design of controllers
• application of drive systems

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Electrical Drives, Controlled Drives
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5) Specialised SW in Electrical Engineering

• This group deals with the issues such as
• computer aided design (CAD)
• simulation
• modelling
• The main issues captured can be summarised as
• explanation of different models
• simulation techniques and numerical calculation
• different design and analysis techniques

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Simulation in Power Electronics
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Concluding Remarks

• Developed set of the modules with following
  features used unified users environment,
  unified form division in the main and
  secondary screens hypertext references,
  list of used symbols, keywords list of
  contents questions for knowledge testing,
  etc. direct involvement of the programme for
  digital simulation into the users environment
  (CASPOC)

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Information about the Modules and Project

• Extent developed a set of 22 modules from
  field of EE more than 1000 interactive screens
• Used SW Macromedia Director, Flash, Macromedia
  Dreamweaver
• Languages all modules in EN and in SK/CZ (50 /
  50)
• Information about the Leonardo da Vinci project
  INETELE title Interactive and Unified E-Based
  Education and Training in Electrical
  Engineering partners 10, duration 30 months,
  project No CZ 134009 project web site
  www.tuke.sk/inetele contractor Brno
  University of Technology (CZ) coordinator
  Technical University of Kosice (SK)