1

Development and Evaluation of a multimedia CAL system on Circuit and Electronic Technology Experiments

V.B. Gadkar,

Department of Electronic Science ,

New Arts, Commerce & Science College , Ahmednagar.414 004

( Maharastra-State)

E-Mail: vijaygadkar@yahoo.co.in

A.D. Shaligram

Department of Electronic- Science,

University of Pune,

Ganesh-khind, Pune- 07(Maharastra State)

ABSTRACT

Multimedia and simulation techniques are becoming very popular tool in circuit design

and electronic technology for industries and educational institute CAL systems are reported to

improve the design and testing of electronic system design. In this paper we have reported a CAL

system developed on Electronic circuit design and experimentation for the undergraduate

laboratory experiments. As the system developed uses multimedia, which make system user-

friendly and having powerful simulation ability. The system is developed for utilized for the first

year Electronic-Science Class. The evaluation results are reported with statistical analysis.

Key words :Computer Assisted Learning ( CAL) , Multimedia, Simulation.

Introduction : Computer Assisted Learning ( CAL) is a technology which supports teaching and

learning via a computer and the web technology. It bridges the gap between a teacher and a

student in two different geographical locations. Advancement in internet and multimedia

technology is the basic enabler for e-learning. e-learning applications facilitate online access to

learning content and administration. Software applications built for planning, delivering and

managing learning events has become a crucial need for the corporate training departments of

large organizations. e-Learning is learning by means of advanced technologies, such as the

internet, extranet, satellite broadcast, audio/video tape, CDROM and so on. The term e-

Learning[1] can be used to describe a range of learning situations, including distance learning,

web-based learning, virtual classrooms and more. What they all have in common is the use of

communication technologies as a media for learning.

Objectives :

The aim of this paper is to present the Undergraduate Electronics Laboratory from the

Undergraduate studies of Electronics. In the curriculum of undergraduate studies of Electronic-

Science in the University of Pune efforts are made for the focusing on Electronic- Design using

2

software’s for development of practical courses at the undergraduate classes. Following are the

main objectives of this work.

1) To use a new technologies to develop a CAL to enhance instructional effectiveness for the

content which is difficult to grasp.

2) To test whether the multimedia package of circuit simulations are effective in rising conceptual

understanding in circuit design of target group.

3) To compare the effectiveness of the print material vis-à-vis the multimedia package to promote

the understanding of the subject of the target group.

Electronics Laboratory Course

In this work the attempt is made for the developments and use web based learning

module Slab-1 of Circuit simulation at the First Year of Electronic-Science of B.Sc. at the DOES,

of New Arts, Commerce & Science College, Ahmednagar.

The Practical Course of First Year B.Sc. of Electronic- Science consists of the module,

1) The Practical course consist of 20 experiments

2) Any Two of the following activities with proper documentation will be considered as

equivalent 4 experiment weightage in term work.

i) Preparatory Experiments

ii) Hobby Projects

iii) Internet Searching

iv) Industrial Visit

3) All the students have to perform 16 experiments from the following modules

a) Group A

Study of Characteristics of Semiconductor Devices ,

It Includes Diodes, BJTs, JFET/ MOSFETS, Thyristors-SCR .

b) Group B

Verification of Network Thereoms, Study of Fiter Circuits, Amplifiers, Applications of

OPAMPS .

c) Group C

Design of Logic Gates using DTL /TTL, , Counters and Shift Resisters Using Ics .

d) Group D

Build and Testing of Logic Gate Circuits using Digital Ics and its Applications such

as Multiplexers, Key Board Encoders, Diode Matrix ROM.

Research Methodology:

Background Study:

To ascertain the present level of conceptual understanding of the target group and understand

their cognitive beliefs about Electronics and its understanding Various software[2-3]. Simulation

software’s like SPICE, MultiSIM are popular in circuit simulations However these are developed in

3

western countries and need , special training and manpower. Hence author thought a need based

package for the students at the entry level specially in the Indian Universities in rural areas . An

indigenous software’s are searched [4-6]. It has advantage of user-friendly ness in our situations

and are flexible for the development . Sparsha Learning Technologies , SLAB-1 was one of the

searched and is reported here. The present work relates To test the efficiency of developed

Circuit Simulation Software Slab-1.[6]. The Demonstrated student Version Slab-1 was released

during 2010 for limited group of teachers from the various Universities , the author was benefited

by the group activities.

About The package:

Sparsha Learning Technologies , SLAB-1

It is an e-learning technology startup founded in 2010 by IITians/IIM alumni. Sparsha is

headquartered at IIT Kharagpur. Science Technology and has an extended R&D center at PESIT

CORI (Crucible of Research and Innovation), Bengaluru. Sparsha's vision is to enable

learning through innovative and engaging learning methods. Sparsha Learning Technologies are

forefront innovators empowering high tech institutes to embrace "distributed learning".

Sparsha is a leading provider of content based learning solutions.. Sparsha integrates its

experience with content and technology to provide end-to-end e-learning services. In addition to

that, Sparsha provides industry specific solutions that cater to specific learning needs of the high

tech industry verticals like semiconductor, EDA, VLSI, CAD etc.

Slab-1 helps in circuit drawing, it includes linear and non-linear electronic components and input

/output Instruments like Signal generator, Digital

4

Fig.1 Simulation software

Multimeter, Cathode ray Oscilloscpe-CRO. can be connected. The circuit analysis is done with

software tools , which are selected with icons- buttons as shown in Fig.1. The input parameters

such as frequency, shapes, voltages are adjustable, the response of the circuit is observed on the

screen display. The responses with changing values of the circuit elements such as resistance or

capacitance are seen on the screen.

Formation and Testing of samples

The unbiased samples were formed form the population of F.Y. B. sc. Students in

Ahmednagar, Maharastra state, India. To form these groups the marks obtatined by the students

in the Electronics/ Physics / Mathematics were considered. Size of each group was 10. One of

the groups of samples was randomly designated as the Experimental group and the other as the

control group.

Procedure of study of Implementation of the Experiment: Based on the students feedback of

inventory and survey, researcher could know students understanding level. It helped researcher

in developing and implementing the method. The tool was developed in the form of opinionative

[Pimpale G.P. 2009][9].The procedure followed in two phases. The first phase consist of

performing simulation of any 4 experiments but at least one from each group. Then He has to do

the experiment in laboratory as per the design and under the teachers guidelines and tabulate

the results obtained. In the second phase of the experiments he has to give analysis by

Comparing those with the expected results by the simulation techniques. The data collection

was done form the teachers about experimenter group and the Target Group. Data was collected

Control Group

Experimental Group

Learn through Experimental Demonstration

Post Test

Software Simulation

Comparison & Analysis Post Test

Conclusion

Undergraduate F.Y. B. Sc. Group

Fig.2 : Formation of sample

5

with the help of pre test, post test, to study the effectiveness of the Simulation software used and

its effectiveness in understanding the concepts of the electronics.

Evaluation Techniques:

. The Hypothesis Testing for comparing two related samples is done by statistical methods[9]

According to C.R. Kothari [10] Paired t-test is a way to test for two related samples. For a paired

t-test, it is necessary that the observations in the two samples be collected in the form what is

called matched pair or related pair. Such test is generally considered appropriate in a before- and

–after- treatment study.

To apply this test we first workout the difference score for each matched paired, and then

find out the average of such differences, Ď, along with the sample variance of the difference

score. If the values from two matched samples are denoted by Xi and Yi and the difference by Di

( Di=Xi-Yi), then the mean of differences i.e.,

Ď =∑ Di /n …….1.

and the variance of the differences or Standard Deviation of Differences

σdiff = √ ( ∑ Di²) - ( ∑ Ďi)² ∙ n ∕ (n-1) …… 2

assuming the said difference to be normally distributed and independent , we can apply

the paired t-test [11] for judging the significance of mean of differences. It concerns a judgment as

to whether apparent differences or relationships are true differences or whether they are merely

results from sampling error. The experimental formulas for statistical purposes a null

Hypothesis[11]a no difference or no relation hypothesis and work out the two tailed test. , The

appropriate t critical value for rejection of the null hypothesis would be found for (N+N-2 ) degrees

of freedom, using the t distribution statistics t as under

t = Ď -0 / σdiff / √ n …………….3

with (n-1) degrees of freedom

where Ď = Mean of the difference. And σ diff Standard Deviation of difference

n = number of matched paired.

The calculated value of t is compared with the table value at the given level of

significance for testing purpose.

6

Results and Discussions :

Table 2 shows that the mean score for post-test is much greater than the corresponding value of

pre test. The standard deviation (SD)of the experimental group is significantly reduced than the

control group

Table 2: Comparison of Pre and Post and retention tests of Experimental Group and

control Group

. The SD of the retention is also get reduced than the control group, indicated that Experimental

group even after one month was passed after the exposed of the package. In other words, there

is a significant retention of scientific attitude for experimental group.

SLAB-01 PACKAGE TESTING AT F.Y.B..Sc.

D'=(d' * d')

Table: 1 Observations Performanceof the experimental and control group

Sr.NoExperimental GroupA control Group B Mean

X X' Y Y' d=X'~X d'=Y'~Y D=(d*d) D'=(d' * d')

1 58 66 53 58 8 5 64 25

2 56 61 54 56 5 2 25 4

3 55 63 55 62 8 7 64 49

4 48 54 52 54 6 2 36 4

5 53 59 54 57 6 3 36 9

6 63 68 60 61 5 1 25 1

7 70 78 61 65 8 4 64 16

8 56 63 54 52 7 -2 49 4

9 60 66 60 61 6 1 36 1

10 70 76 54 55 6 1 36 1

11 45 42 48 54 -3 6 9 36

12 59 62 50 51 3 1 9 1

13 50 55 70 74 5 4 25 16

14 63 69 61 62 6 1 36 1

15 57 66 56 59 9 3 81 9

SUM 863 956 842 881 85 39 595 177

AVG 57.53333 63.73333 56.13333 58.73333 5.666667 2.6 39.66667 11.8

Table:2 Results

Sr.no Quantity Expt GroupControl GroupTabulatd t-Value

1 N 15 15

2 population avg 63.77 59

3 S. D. S1=2.845 S2=13.05

4 Sensitivity 5% 1%

5 t-value t-observed 1.372 1.701 2.467

7

The calculated value of t for the data obtained for experimental group by us is 1.372 after the

experimental group is exposed to the multimedia package. According to the t-value table for 0.05

level the t-value equals 1.701, which exceeds than calculated , the null hypothesis may be

rejected at the 0.05 level of significances . we can conclude that there is significant increase in

the UTI of experimental group after exposed to the package.

Conclusions:

Web based Interactive multimedia package Slab-1 was tested for circuit simulation and

for explanation of the working principles, The Experimental group was administrated with the

self-instructional multimedia package with the control group was given only traditional class room

training. It can be concluded that

1. From the pre-test ad post test of the experimental group, it was found that there is a

significant difference in conceptual understanding of working of the circuit..

2. From the performance in the post-test of the experimenter group and the control

group. It is seen that there is significant rise in self leaning process, through

interactivity with the developed package.

3. The t-value calculation concludes null hypothesis is rejected at 0.05 significant level,

It means that the package used by researcher is effective to improve the quality of

education and scientific attitude among the students of the target group.

4. The software icon helps students in understanding control operation of real

instruments in the electronic laboratory. Which improved the experimental skills of the

experimenter.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author Gadkar V.B. would like to make special mention of financial assistance given by

BCUD University of Pune, for this project. Thank are also due to College authorities and Principal,

Dr. B. H. Zaware ,New Arts, Commerce and Science College , Ahmednagar for utilizing all the

necessary facilities for the completion of this work.

REFERNCES

1. Advanced Research in Computers and Communications in Education edited by G

Cumming, T. Okamoto, L. Gomez ,Vol.2 Asia Pacific Chapter, Proceeding of ICCE ’99.

IOS Press.

2. Wikipedia, http://en . wikipedia.org

8

3. www.Stylusinc.com

4. http://www.youtube.com

5. http://www.edumedi-sciences.com

6. www.sparsha-learning.com

7. Steinmetz, R., Nhrstedt, K., (1995), “ Multimedia:, Computing, communication and

applications”’ Printice hall PTR.

8. Parker, R. (1990) “ 101 Design solutions for Destop publishing, galgotia publications pvt.

Ltd., New Delhi.

9. G.P.Pimple, Vadnere R.V. “ Testing of the Self-instructionalMultimedia Package in

Astronomy for higher secondary Students for its effectiveness to promot Scientific

Temper” A Monthly Journal of edu. in Physics and Related Areas. Vol. 1 No. 10 Oct,

2009.

10. C.R. Kothari ., “ Research Methodology Methods and Techniques , New Age

International Publishers, 2nd

. Edition 2004.

11. Best ,J. W., Kahn J.V. Research in Education, 7th edit. New Delhi Prenttice Hall of India

Pvt. Ltd.

12. George Argyros “ Statistics For Research with a guide to SPSS 2nd

ed. Sage Publications

2006.