Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Steering to ABET EC 2K: Lab Organization and Instruction By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Disclaimer This Exercise Has NO intention to Underestimate or Undermine The Lab Instructors Significant Contribution to the Computer Engineering Department. Its Sole Intention is to Emphasize The Differences between Material-based Teaching and Outcome-oriented Teaching in the Labs. Use of Irony is not intended to Offend anyone. It is just a Tool to Stress the Issues.

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Teaching Emphasis is on the Content not the Outcome Content or Subject-Based Teaching is What we know best The Laboratory is seen as a tool used to “complement” the content aspect in terms of teaching the practical aspect Emphasis is on the Content not the Outcome Content or Subject-Based Teaching is What we know best The Laboratory is seen as a tool used to “complement” the content aspect in terms of teaching the practical aspect

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua ABET Goals Produce Highly Qualified Graduates in All Aspects related to the Engineering Profession Emphasis should be on what is being learnt and NOT on what is being taught Emphasis should be on the “product” and NOT on the “factory” Emphasis should be on what is being learnt and NOT on what is being taught Emphasis should be on the “product” and NOT on the “factory”

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Outcome Oriented Teaching Our “Product” is The COE Graduate Our “Product” is NOT The Course we teach To Deliver Good “Products” we need to do what serious manufacturers do: –Focus on producing a “Good Design” of the “Product”. Good Design of the Factory does NOT guarantee a good product –Have Test and Quality Control Mechanisms Our “Product” is The COE Graduate Our “Product” is NOT The Course we teach To Deliver Good “Products” we need to do what serious manufacturers do: –Focus on producing a “Good Design” of the “Product”. Good Design of the Factory does NOT guarantee a good product –Have Test and Quality Control Mechanisms

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua The Course Lab Now The Lab part of a course is designed to “help” inject a “practical” component into the course The Lab Manual is an “extension” to the course material –There is a dependence between the lectures and the Lab The Lab is also conceived so that it provides training on using the tools. –COE 20X Certification The Lab part of a course is designed to “help” inject a “practical” component into the course The Lab Manual is an “extension” to the course material –There is a dependence between the lectures and the Lab The Lab is also conceived so that it provides training on using the tools. –COE 20X Certification

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua So Far … Material-based Teaching and Material-based Teaching What does every student learn ? –Answer: Follow The Lab Manual and Solve Very Similar Problems –How do we assess that ? Verify Whether the Student has Followed the Lab Manual and fulfilled the “expectations” Where is the Team Work in the Lab ? –How do we measure it ? Vague criteria (administrative) Material-based Teaching and Material-based Teaching What does every student learn ? –Answer: Follow The Lab Manual and Solve Very Similar Problems –How do we assess that ? Verify Whether the Student has Followed the Lab Manual and fulfilled the “expectations” Where is the Team Work in the Lab ? –How do we measure it ? Vague criteria (administrative)

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Example: Covering One ABET Outcome Outcome 3b: ability to design and conduct experiments, analyze and interpret data. This means: Outcome 3b: ability to design and conduct experiments, analyze and interpret data. This means: Design the Experiment –From a Problem Description Conduct the Experiment (properly) –Collect Data –Use The Equipment Analyze and Interpret Data –Write analysis reports on data collected from the field Design the Experiment –From a Problem Description Conduct the Experiment (properly) –Collect Data –Use The Equipment Analyze and Interpret Data –Write analysis reports on data collected from the field What The Labs are emphasizing on now is just to Conduct the Experiments

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Outcome Oriented Lab Instruction Change the Lab Setup and Organization –Change the Project(s) Position in the Lab –Introduce Design Component in the Lab –Abandon the “training on tools” Aspect Encourage self-learning of Tools and Material on a need basis Enforce the Use of Engineering Practices Tools –Use of Engineering Notebook Establish Mature Team Work Practices and Evaluation Mechanisms Change the Lab Setup and Organization –Change the Project(s) Position in the Lab –Introduce Design Component in the Lab –Abandon the “training on tools” Aspect Encourage self-learning of Tools and Material on a need basis Enforce the Use of Engineering Practices Tools –Use of Engineering Notebook Establish Mature Team Work Practices and Evaluation Mechanisms

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Lab Relevant EC 2K Outcomes (3b) Ability to Design and Conduct Experiments, as well as Analyze and Interpret Data (3c) Ability to Design a System, Component, or Process to meet desired needs (3d) Ability to function on Multidisciplinary Teams (3g) Ability to Communicate Effictively (3i) A Recognition of the need for, and Ability to engage in Life-Long Learning (3b) Ability to Design and Conduct Experiments, as well as Analyze and Interpret Data (3c) Ability to Design a System, Component, or Process to meet desired needs (3d) Ability to function on Multidisciplinary Teams (3g) Ability to Communicate Effictively (3i) A Recognition of the need for, and Ability to engage in Life-Long Learning

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Lab Setup and Organization The Lab is the Experimental Component of What needs to be Learned and NOT the Complement of the Course Material The Lab should be Organized in: –Quick “crash” courses on Generalities about using the tools. –Problems or Projects Oriented Teaching List the Goal of two to three Lab sessions about an open- ended problem that can be solved within a reasonable timeframe Expect from the students to: design and conduct the necessary experiments to answer the problem. A lab report is also expected. The Lab is the Experimental Component of What needs to be Learned and NOT the Complement of the Course Material The Lab should be Organized in: –Quick “crash” courses on Generalities about using the tools. –Problems or Projects Oriented Teaching List the Goal of two to three Lab sessions about an open- ended problem that can be solved within a reasonable timeframe Expect from the students to: design and conduct the necessary experiments to answer the problem. A lab report is also expected.

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Self Learning Provide Detailed Manuals on Lab Tools –Training on How to Extract Useful Information from the Manual and Not on the Tool Itself. –Manuals are available from Vendors. These are NOT the Lab Manuals but the Tools Manuals Encourage thinking that use knowledge acquired beyond the scope of the course Propose projects that will force a self-learning behavior and inculcate it to the students Lab Instructor become advisors who provide guidance to the students on where and how to get the information Provide Detailed Manuals on Lab Tools –Training on How to Extract Useful Information from the Manual and Not on the Tool Itself. –Manuals are available from Vendors. These are NOT the Lab Manuals but the Tools Manuals Encourage thinking that use knowledge acquired beyond the scope of the course Propose projects that will force a self-learning behavior and inculcate it to the students Lab Instructor become advisors who provide guidance to the students on where and how to get the information

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Use Of Engineering Practices Focus is on introduction of the Lab Notebook Lab Notebook used to record all what is related to the experiments even what went wrong Lab Notebook will help students gain certain good habits: –Intellectual discipline –Engineering skepticism –Accuracy and consistency of statements –Analytical skills –Presentation of data and data analysis –Time management and efficiency Focus is on introduction of the Lab Notebook Lab Notebook used to record all what is related to the experiments even what went wrong Lab Notebook will help students gain certain good habits: –Intellectual discipline –Engineering skepticism –Accuracy and consistency of statements –Analytical skills –Presentation of data and data analysis –Time management and efficiency

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Team Work Collaboration and Responsibility –Notebook is best companion and best proof Cannot tear pages from notebook (should be viewed as cheating) Contribution and Questionability –Can answer questions about what is written in notebook Mutual Learning –Learn from each other Management of Resources Collaboration and Responsibility –Notebook is best companion and best proof Cannot tear pages from notebook (should be viewed as cheating) Contribution and Questionability –Can answer questions about what is written in notebook Mutual Learning –Learn from each other Management of Resources

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Lab Notebook Guidelines Dr. Mayez has Designed a Lab Notebook Template which contains the following sections (for each experiment) –Objectives –Specifications –Design methodology –Implementation –Troubleshooting –Test and Evaluation –Conclusion Dr. Mayez has Designed a Lab Notebook Template which contains the following sections (for each experiment) –Objectives –Specifications –Design methodology –Implementation –Troubleshooting –Test and Evaluation –Conclusion

Prepared By: Dr. Abdelhafid Bouhraoua Open Discussion