A Low Cost Open Source Hardware Tool for Integrated Learning Experience in Laboratories

Abstract

As education and technology merge, the opportunities for teaching and learning increase even more. However, rapid rate of change in the fields of technology like in Electrical, Electronics and Computer poses special problems for the engineering disciplines and more so in the area of experimental work where major concerns arise. The challenge is to provide students with meaningful, up-to-date and relevant practical exposure within the limitations imposed by finite resources in laboratory infrastructure. Probably one of the viable solutions is to interface students and physical world using computer based techniques. This paper presents some thoughts and demonstrate some implementations on using a low cost open source hardware tool "expEYES" along with existing laboratory equipment in order to give a flexible, easy to evaluate new ideas, attractive and stimulating natural curiosity in students for gaining integrating learning experiences in the laboratories.