Control Systems Tutorials An online Flash application targetted at third-year engineering students to teach and demonstrate concepts of process control.

Presentation Overview 1: Planning Process 2: Project Content 3: Online Application 4: Benefits 5: Future Developments "[It is] not simply the addition of knowledge but also the transformation of ways of understanding and organizing the knowledge learned." (Angelo, 1993)

1: Planning Process

2: Project Content

3: Online Application

4: Benefits

5: Future Developments

"[It is] not simply the addition of knowledge but also the transformation of ways of understanding and organizing the knowledge learned." (Angelo, 1993)

Key Concepts FLASH software that uses diverse and interactive multimedia (eg. animation or video) LEARNING OBJECT a simple, visual application that provides detailed, accurate, usable, and interactive information to a target audience

FLASH

software that uses diverse and interactive multimedia (eg. animation or video)

LEARNING OBJECT

a simple, visual application that provides detailed, accurate, usable, and interactive information to a target audience

Camp CLOE, University of Waterloo C o-operative L earning O bject E xchange: An instructional design and learning technology workshop - Project Context: Who? What? Why? - Project Management: Iterative and ongoing. “ If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” (K.I.S.S.) - Project Definition: Scope statement. - Project Plan: Keep the group profile, current scenario, and a Gannt chart nearby. "It is important for faculty to know something about how humans learn because teaching that ignores this knowledge runs the risk of being inefficient, ineffective, and sometimes even counterproductive.“ (Angelo, 1993)

C o-operative L earning O bject E xchange:

An instructional design and learning technology workshop

- Project Context: Who? What? Why?

- Project Management: Iterative and ongoing.

“ If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” (K.I.S.S.)

- Project Definition: Scope statement.

- Project Plan: Keep the group profile, current scenario, and a Gannt chart nearby.

"It is important for faculty to know something about how humans learn because teaching that ignores this knowledge runs the risk of being inefficient, ineffective, and sometimes even counterproductive.“ (Angelo, 1993)

Learning Objects Anyone can make an online textbook. Why is a Learning Object so special? - Consistent, predictable, intuitive - Interactive - Engaging, motivational - Clear instructions - Up-to-date or timeless - Evidence of effectiveness - Assessment, meaningful feedback - Accessibility, multi-modal Ask yourself: “Why is this better than what is already in use?” “ The single most important factor shaping learning outcomes is the way in which students approach a learning task.” (Jackson & Anagnostopoulou, 2001)

Anyone can make an online textbook.

Why is a Learning Object so special?

- Consistent, predictable, intuitive - Interactive

- Engaging, motivational - Clear instructions

- Up-to-date or timeless - Evidence of effectiveness

- Assessment, meaningful feedback - Accessibility, multi-modal

Ask yourself: “Why is this better than what is already in use?”

“ The single most important factor shaping learning outcomes is the way in which students approach a learning task.” (Jackson & Anagnostopoulou, 2001)

Project Planning Stage 1: Research Stage 2: Design Layout Stage 3: Gather Data Stage 4: Integrate with Flash Repeat, using this as a model for the other tutorials. “ In general it is the pedagogy that provides for learning, not the technology or the software alone.” (Carr, 1999)

Stage 1: Research

Stage 2: Design Layout

Stage 3: Gather Data

Stage 4: Integrate with Flash

Repeat, using this as a model for the other tutorials.

“ In general it is the pedagogy that provides for learning, not the technology or the software alone.” (Carr, 1999)

Control Systems Tutorial Topics 1: Basic Concepts 2: Stability 3: Tracking 4: Disturbance Rejection 5: P.I.D. Control All have a simple, logical flow and use introductory concepts. "Students learn what they care about and remember what they understand." (Erickson, 1984)

1: Basic Concepts

2: Stability

3: Tracking

4: Disturbance Rejection

5: P.I.D. Control

All have a simple, logical flow and use introductory concepts.

"Students learn what they care about and remember what they understand." (Erickson, 1984)

Consistent Tutorial Structure - Text box - Visual tools box - Concept variables - Concept views - Quizzes for feedback Multiple perspectives on topic provide something for everyone. "Educational Theory: Students learn by becoming involved. Students learn better when they can connect to the material in some way." (Astin, 1985)

- Text box

- Visual tools box

- Concept variables

- Concept views

- Quizzes for feedback

Multiple perspectives on topic provide something for everyone.

"Educational Theory: Students learn by becoming involved. Students learn better when they can connect to the material in some way." (Astin, 1985)

Consistent Tutorial Structure Concept Views - Video: 4 robotic models (designed by Quanser) - Time: System response graphs - Complex: S-plane diagrams - Math: Simple manipulation of concepts - More: Compare previous four views on one screen An introduction to the topic begins each tutorial. Quizzes provide immediate feedback on learning.

Concept Views

- Video: 4 robotic models (designed by Quanser)

- Time: System response graphs

- Complex: S-plane diagrams

- Math: Simple manipulation of concepts

- More: Compare previous four views on one screen

An introduction to the topic begins each tutorial.

Quizzes provide immediate feedback on learning.

From Paper to Computer… Programming - Flash and ActionScript Language Video Integration - Editing software - Online streaming "Learning is not a spectator sport." (Chickering and Gamson, 1987)

Programming

- Flash and ActionScript Language

Video Integration

- Editing software

- Online streaming

"Learning is not a spectator sport." (Chickering and Gamson, 1987)

Benefits of Application Students - Extra learning resource outside the classroom setting - Logical flow easy to follow, can compare to lecture notes - Stimulates learning in multiple ways - Learn at a comfortable pace, time for reflection - Provides means of instant feedback on performance Professors - Can introduce in classroom as an extra teaching tool - Different form of teaching addresses different learning styles

Students

- Extra learning resource outside the classroom setting

- Logical flow easy to follow, can compare to lecture notes

- Stimulates learning in multiple ways

- Learn at a comfortable pace, time for reflection

- Provides means of instant feedback on performance

Professors

- Can introduce in classroom as an extra teaching tool

- Different form of teaching addresses different learning styles

Benefits of Project What did we learn from this experience? - Introduced to many project planning concepts - Improved design layout techniques - Interpersonal skills developed with interaction of coworkers - Different perspectives provided different offerings - Learned new software and a new programming language All these techniques are useful not only in the workplace, but in planning and designing almost any large project.

What did we learn from this experience?

- Introduced to many project planning concepts

- Improved design layout techniques

- Interpersonal skills developed with interaction of coworkers

- Different perspectives provided different offerings

- Learned new software and a new programming language

All these techniques are useful not only in the workplace, but in planning and designing almost any large project.

Future Developments Where can we go from here? Some proposed ideas for more tutorials: State-Space Systems, Bode Plots, Root Locus Methods… - Keep layout consistent to maintain familiarity - Planning the model is already done! “ There is still a lot to learn about how to get the best out of an evolving medium. In many respects it will probably always be a 'work in progress' given the rapid rate at which technology is progressing." (Hase & Ellis, 2001)

Where can we go from here?

Some proposed ideas for more tutorials:

State-Space Systems, Bode Plots, Root Locus Methods…

- Keep layout consistent to maintain familiarity

- Planning the model is already done!

“ There is still a lot to learn about how to get the best out of an evolving medium. In many respects it will probably always be a 'work in progress' given the rapid rate at which technology is progressing." (Hase & Ellis, 2001)

Available online: http://echo.ryerson.ca/flashcom/applications/controlsys