Development and Implementation of Teaching Aids to enhance the
Understanding of Control Systems
Dr Mahmoud AbdulwahedProf Zoltan K Nagy andDr Adam R Crawford
Loughborough University
Background• Control systems is a multidisciplinary subject which is taught in
many engineering degrees
• The general aim was to enhance the learning experience and offer tools for revision and reflection
• Resources consist of a virtual labs, computer simulations and video tutorials
• The resources were piloted with 50 control systems undergraduates at Loughborough University
• These educational resources are freely available for use by other lecturers and students
Rationale
• Engineers tend to have experiential, visual and kinesthetic learning styles
• Control systems depends on mathematics to a large extent, making it less suitable to some engineers’ preferred learning style
• Computer simulations and interactive media may help in making control systems more appealing and accessible
• Builds on previous research work (PhD thesis) at Loughborough University between 2007 and 2010
Overview of project plan• Aims and Objectives:
– Refine existing computer simulations and a virtual lab developed using Matlab/Simulink and LabVIEW
– Develop video tutorials to support Simulink exercises
– Develop, using LabVIEW, new educational software to help learn about control systems analysis
• Outcomes and Deliverables:– Stand-alone Simulink exercises for control systems
– Stand-alone Process Control Virtual Laboratory (PCVL)
– Stand-alone Control Systems Analysis Toolkit (CSAT)
– All resources are available online with associated WebPages
– Case study
Simulink TutorialsSimulink Video Tutorials
• Seven tutorials (4-6 minutes each) with interactive descriptions
• Multiple choice questions for assessment• Ideal for preparation, revision and self-
regulated learning• Can be used online or with a VLE
Analysis ToolkitControl Systems Analysis Toolkit (CSAT)
• Stand-alone freely available educational software for control systems analysis
• Friendly user interface through LabVIEW Virtual Instrumentation
• Useful for self-regulated learning
• Can be used as a classroom demonstration tool of theory to facilitate conceptual understanding
Virtual LaboratoryProcess Control Virtual Laboratory (PCVL)
• Stand-alone freely available virtual laboratory
• Standard undergraduate control systems demonstration (Tank level control)
• Comes with a hands-on laboratory manual
• Simulink activity manual and assignment
• Virtual laboratory (PCVL) manual
• CSAT manual and control systems analysis exercises
• Associated WebPages on www.ilough-lab.com
Manuals and Web Dissemination
Dissemination
Ongoing usage• Simulink simulations and video tutorials continue to be used with
3rd year Chemical Engineering students
• The Process Control Virtual Lab has been used with 2nd year Chem. Eng. students since 2008/2009
• The Control Systems Analysis Toolkit continues to be used from the beginning of the next academic year
• All of the teaching and learning aids from the project are made available nationally / internationally via web dissemination (e.g. Open Jorum)
Evaluation• Final course questionnaire, used to measure the
students’ perceptions:– Videos were helpful in preparation, revision, etc;
– Simulations helpful for conceptual understanding, motivating towards theory, making math less abstract, etc.
– Students asked for more resources!
• Comprehensive evaluation of the impact of virtual labs was conducted from 2007 to 2010 indicating significant enhanced learning outcomes. For further details, see (Abdulwahed and Nagy, 2008; 2009; & 2011)
Concluding remarks• Computer simulations and interactive media are suitable for engineering
students learning styles
• Software to develop video tutorials e.g. Camtasia, were easy to use and liked by students
• LabVIEW offers a platform with great potential for developing engineering education software applications
• Free open education resources can have pedagogical impact and avoid reinventing the wheel
• To download and use the resources: www.ilough-lab.com