Implementations:
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses/Subjects

This project produced an engineering education working model consisting of three basic components. These components use, among other things, information retrieval technologies, campus-wide computer network infrastructure, available computer-aided modules and educational computer simulation programs.

These modules provide flexible access to a wide variety of information (media files) needed in engineering education:

1. Publishing Engineering Education Resources
   • a) The hyperbook project
   • b) ELEC101 Home Page and
   • c) ELEC221 Home Page
2. Science and Engineering Laboratory Courseware
3. Problem-Based Learning/Computer Simulation Method
4. Other Subjects & Teaching/Learning Methods

1) Publishing Engineering Education Resources

This project aims to provide electrical engineering educational resources for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as practicing engineers using a computational hypermedia platform. The resulting hyerbook contains text, animation, computer simulations, static images and computer aided teaching/learning and tutorial modules.

The Hyperbook:
Electric Energy Systems Control using Power Electronics

This project uses the Internet tools and resources for exchange of information among the authors working at five different universities.

• Integration of power engineering educational resources in a hypermedia environment.
• WWW in Support of Engineering Education in Australia.
• Publishing Engineering Education Resources: A Collaborative Web Project.

b) ELEC101 (ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 1) Home Page

A combined "simulation-Based Learning/Course Content Coverage" was designed along with course material and correlated CAL modules. A widely used circuit simulation program (PSpice) was integrated into the subject, and the campus-wide computer network are being used for delivering subject resources.

Currently, students access the ELEC101 Web site to study (or print) lecture material and tutorial questions, to browse sample simulation runs, to run simulation on sample circuits, and to retrieve their computer simulation assignments.

Part of the ELEC101 course delivery are conducted using the Web as a replacement for overhead projector in the lecture theater. This gave the advantage of on-line access to the other support resources including the simulation program.

ELEC101 Web Site

• Sample lecture material (Week 2) for downloading (ps file, 156k)
• Sample tutorial questions (Week 1) for downloading (ps file)
• Sample lecture presentation using the Web
• Sample sessional assignment
• Simulation and relevant utility programs distribution (ps file)
• Computer and information literacy skills for professional engineering educators.

c) ELEC221 (ENERGY CONV & DISTRIBUTION 1) Home Page

Similar to ELEC101, the University computer network was used to distribute the Autumn Session subject materials including class notes and tutorial questions.

ELEC221 Web Site

This site lives at
ELEC 221 Home Page on the ITS Web Server

2) Science and Engineering Laboratory Courseware

The electric power laboratory course (ELEC251) was reorganized to allow the inclusion of new experiments, use of computer simulation, a new method of report writing, a new method of assessment, and greater role for laboratory supervisors in monitoring students' progress.

The work on the ELEC251 laboratory subject initiated the development of an integrated environment consisting of different media files for delivering science and engineering laboratory courses:

• Authoreware based computer-aided laboratory experiment modules,
• Data logging and data post-processing programs, and
• computer simulation programs,

Science and Engineering Laboratory Courses

• Engineering and science laboratory courseware delivery using World Wide Web technology.
• Computer aided interactive learning package for engineering education.
• Second year electric power laboratory: Course resources and coordination.
• ELEC251: Electric Power Laboratory Experiments
  ( ELEC251 page on the UOW Web Site)
  1. Exp 1: DC Quantities and Circuits/DC Measurement (ps file, 145k)
  2. Exp 2: AC Quantities and Circuits/AC Measurement (ps file, 147k)
  3. Exp 3: Magnetic Quantities and Circuits (ps file, 133k)
  4. Exp 4: Core Saturation/Transformer Action/Distortion (ps file 161k)

3) Problem-based Learning and Computer Simulation Method

A new computer simulation-based teaching and learning method was developed. The supporting materials included design, analysis and planning projects for postgraduate and undergraduate students as well as descriptive questions.

The supporting materials as well as other aspects of computer applications in engineering education were uploaded on University's Web site for global use.

WWW Archive for Power Eng Education

This site lives at the UOW Web Site: WWW Archive for Electric Power Engineering Education.

More information about this implementation is presented in the following files:

• The role of computer simulations in electric system education.
• WWW in support of engineering education in Australia.
• A World Wide Web archive for electric power engineering education.
• Computer assisted teaching/learning method for power systems education.
• Computer simulation oriented teaching method for electric power systems education.
• Computer Simulation Design, Analysis and Planning Tasks:
  (UOW Web Site).

4) Other Subjects & Teaching/Learning Methods

1. ELEC296/297: FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
   (an annual service course)
   A combined "Problem Based Learning/Course Content Coverage" has been designed along with the development of a new course layout, a detailed annual teaching plan, a graded series of in-class Working Examples (over 150) and Computer Aided Tutorial Questions.

   It is intended to tailor these material so that they become useful for distance education students.

2. ELEC427/ELEC922 POWER ELECTRONICS/AC CONVERTER
   A new teaching/learning method was adopted for this course where course contents were fully covered using "specific technologies as a vehicle". A comprehensive supporting teaching and tutorial material were developed, and will be used in conjunction with the hyperbook project.

3. ELEC933 and ENG901
   Two postgraduate training programs; the CRC For Materials Welding and Joining (ENG901) and a five-week (15 hours) supervised and unsupervised laboratory works were developed.

   Available projects in WWW archive for Power Engineering Education were used for the former, and a plan for converting materials into a distance education style is considered.