Feedback to launch new range of electricity, magnetism & electronics trainers

Feedback to launch new range of electricity, magnetism & electronics trainers

Feedback
25 February 2010

The 12-300 series of workboards provides hands-on teaching of basic electricity, magnetism and electronics. Each board covers a different subject area and contains pre-constructed circuit elements that may be connected in different ways to perform the teaching assignments. The front panels have mimic diagrams so the location, physical appearance and function of each component is clear.

The boards connect to the National Instruments ELVIS console which provides power and signal acquisition. Teaching material and pc based instrumentation are delivered by Discovery software.

Curriculum coverage ranges from the concepts of voltage and current in dc circuits, continues through ac theory and then onto semiconductor devices and their applications. At each step background material and theory are provided where appropriate. The use of mathematics is minimised as far as practicable.

Each assignment contains up to four practical exercises which have detailed setup diagrams and step by step instructions to achieve reliable results.

The instrumentation is pre-configured so students are able to concentrate on understanding the concepts but are then able to change settings as part of a practical exercise. The instruments include oscilloscope, DMM, function generator, spectrum analyser, phase-meter and gain phase analyser.

The exercises include familiarisation with the characteristics and application of instrumentation.

Discovery software provides a flexible and versatile learning environment where students can use the available resources in ways that are most suitable for them. This makes the 12-300 series suitable for a wide range of courses including degree foundation and vocational learning.

Discovery Tools (optional) gives lecturers the means to edit existing assignments as well as author new ones.