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ENFUSE: Engaging Fundamentals and Systems Engineering in Introductory Circuits

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Conference

2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Seattle, Washington

Publication Date

June 14, 2015

Start Date

June 14, 2015

End Date

June 17, 2015

ISBN

978-0-692-50180-1

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

NSF Grantees’ Poster Session

Tagged Topic

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Page Count

9

Page Numbers

26.600.1 - 26.600.9

DOI

10.18260/p.23938

Permanent URL

https://strategy.asee.org/23938

Download Count

439

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Paper Authors

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Paul G. Flikkema Northern Arizona University

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Paul G. Flikkema is Director of the Informatics & Computing Program and a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Northern Arizona University. He is broadly interested in the properties of distributed natural and synthetic networked systems that sense and react to their environment, including decentralized and resilient systems. His current work includes research and education in energy-efficient embedded systems and networks and wireless sensor/actuator networks for monitoring and control of environmental and ecological systems. He is also active in engineering education innovation, where he has contributed to innovations in student learning of systems thinking and complex engineered systems.

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Rhonda R. Franklin University of Minnesota

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Rhonda Franklin (S’84-M’96) received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering
from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX and M.S. and Ph.D. degree in
electrical engineering from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI in 1990 and
1995, respectively.

She is currently a Professor with Electrical and Computer Engineering department
at the University of Minnesota. Her research interests include RF/microwave passive circuit design, interconnects and integration techniques using MEMS and other advanced fabrication processes, RF fluidics, and high speed material’s
characterization. She has authored or co-authored over 85 professional journals and conference publications and 4 book chapters.

Dr. Franklin was the recipient of the 1998 Presidential Career Award for Scientists and Engineers by the National Science Foundation. She is an active member of the MTT-S society in the technical area of passives, packaging, integration and microwave education and is currently an Associate Editor of the IEEE Microwave Wireless Components Letters.

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Jeff Frolik University of Vermont

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Carol Haden Magnolia Consulting, LLC

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Dr. Carol Haden is a Principal Evaluator at Magnolia Consulting, LLC, a woman-owned, small business specializing in independent research and evaluation. She has served as evaluator for STEM education projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Arizona Department of Education, among others. Areas of expertise include evaluations of engineering education curricula and programs, informal education and outreach programs, STEM teacher development, and climate change education programs.

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Aaron T. Ohta University of Hawaii at Manoa

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Wayne A. Shiroma University of Hawaii at Manoa

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Wayne Shiroma is Professor and Chair of Electrical Engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

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Sylvia W. Thomas University of South Florida

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Tom Weller University of South Florida

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Thomas M. Weller received the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering in 1988, 1991, and 1995, respectively, from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. From 1988-1990 he worked at Hughes Aircraft Company in El Segundo, CA. He joined the University of South Florida in 1995 where he is currently professor and chair in the Electrical Engineering Department. He served as the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Engineering from 2008 - 2011. He co-founded Modelithics, Inc. in 2001. Dr. Weller was a recipient of the Outstanding Young Engineer Award from the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society in 2005, the USF President’s Award for Faculty Excellence in 2003, IBM Faculty Partnership Awards in 2000/2001, a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 1999 and the IEEE MTT Society Microwave Prize in 1996. His current research interests are in the areas of RF/microwave applications of additive manufacturing, RF micro electromechanical systems, development and application of microwave materials, and integrated circuit and antenna design. He has 22 U.S. patents and over 250 professional journal and conference publications.

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Abstract

ENFUSE: Engaging Fundamentals and Systems Engineering in Introductory Circuits P. Flikkema, R. Franklin, J. Frolik, C. Haden, A. Ohta, W. Shiroma, S. Thomas and T. WellerA primary goal of this TUES project is to deeply embed systems thinking into introductory Circuitslearning experiences, motivated by the intuition that students will not only gain an appreciation forthe role of circuits in modern technologies, but also be inspired to learn circuits and how theyaccomplish system-level functions. In response to this challenge, we have developed ENFUSE,a “blended laboratory” approach that combines interactive web-based learning with hands-onlaboratory experiences. To motivate student learning, we have developed learning modules inthree thematic areas: health, energy, and environment. The content is organized into modules,and all materials are available via the web to promote high levels of adoption and adaptation ofthis learning model in diverse Circuits courses.In this paper, we review the ENFUSE strategy and give an overview of the content and deliveryapproach of the ENFUSE learning modules. We also describe its application to Circuits coursesand laboratory formats at three institutions that are diverse in terms of geography, institutionalcultures, and how Circuits is taught. We present our assessment approach and report onassessment of student learning as well as student attitudes and perceptions. Finally, we providelessons learned for sequencing the modules within the curriculum to maximize learning, and alsodiscuss lessons learned for teaching with the materials.

Flikkema, P. G., & Franklin, R. R., & Frolik, J., & Haden, C., & Ohta, A. T., & Shiroma, W. A., & Thomas, S. W., & Weller, T. (2015, June), ENFUSE: Engaging Fundamentals and Systems Engineering in Introductory Circuits Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.23938

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