Title: A novel educational approach to enhance the conventional teaching methodology of power electronics using MATLAB/Simulink

Authors: I.A. Altawil, H.Y. Yamin, Ahmad F. Al-Ajlouni, Ali Eyadeh

Addresses: Power Engineering Department, Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan. ' Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Majmaah-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ' Communication Engineering Department, Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan. ' Communication Engineering Department, Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan

Abstract: This paper discusses the concept, principles and potential benefits of computer simulations when used in power electronics education. As an alternative method of coursework delivery, a working prototype of a software package is designed. The paper presents an interactive method for teaching a final-year power electronics undergraduate course. Simulink is used here to implement the circuits as if the students are working in the laboratory. The effect of the instructional software on the achievement of students is compared to the conventional teaching method. The results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed teaching method over the conventional teaching method.

Keywords: computer simulation; innovation; power electronics; electronics education; learning aids; MATLAB/Simulink; software packages; coursework delivery; final-year students; undergraduate courses; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2010.030613

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2010 Vol.7 No.2, pp.187 - 201

Published online: 26 Dec 2009 *

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