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Diagnose, Analysis, And Proposal Of Project Based Learning (PBL): A Case For Analog Communications Course

Published in: Prospective and trends in technology and skills for sustainable social development. Leveraging emerging technologies to construct the future: Proceedings of the 19th LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education and Technology
Date of Conference: July 19-23, 2021
Location of Conference: Virtual
Authors: Eduardo A. Fernandez (Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnologíca de Colombia, CO)
Nancy Carolina Roa Martín (Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnologíca de Colombia, CO)
Full Paper: #461

Abstract:

This paper makes a diagnose, analysis, and proposal of PBL, focusing on different strategies to overcome weakness in the theoretical background from the signal and systems curriculum that is crucial for an analog communication course. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) matrix was used as a tool to diagnose the results on learning using the traditional curricula. An analysis of surveys to students after finishing their courses during three semesters, suggests that due to the lack of context, the math applications using fundamental concepts (i.e., Rayleigh and Parseval theorems) forced the students to face difficulties in understanding the basics of signal analysis. The proposed PBL design focuses on students face little challenges (sub-problems) related to the implementation of a radio transmission system. Then, through different operations and modeling of distortive phenomenal on signals as key elements, the effect was to approach real-life scenarios and enhance the students' knowledge and skills. The project was executed by using programming Universal Software Radio Peripherical (USRP) devices and GNU Radio to validate the transmission for amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). This proposal, as a first trial in the telecommunications area, seeks to motivate students and evaluate the adoption of the PBL methodology. The experience will be conducted for two more semesters looking for consolidating the theoretical and experimental skills through validation of the fundamental concepts used in analog communication systems.