The rapid adoption of non-traditional teaching methods in universities, such as hybrid-flexible learning and mixed-mode learning, has necessitated innovative approaches that often involve advancements in educational technologies and pedagogical design. One challenge faced by engineering education instructors is the redesign of laboratory experimental activities to suit these non-traditional teaching methods.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with mandatory quarantines enforced worldwide, engineering academics were compelled to replace practical laboratories with virtual or remote alternatives. As the transition to an endemic phase began, educators in STEAM disciplines started employing the Lab-at-Home approach as an alternative, where students are provided with experimental kits that can be taken home, enabling remote and independent learning. The Lab-at-Home approach fosters deeper learning, as students are no longer constrained by the limited time typically allocated for on-campus laboratory sessions.
Our team, consisting of Ir Dr Savier Kong Zong Yang, Assoc Prof Dr Selina Low Yeh-Ching, Dr Richard Wong Teck Ken, and Assoc Prof Ir Dr Riady S. Jo, has developed a gamified Lab-at-Home educational platform named SETPOINT (School of Engineering and Technology Portable Instructional Technologies). Our first prototype, the SETPOINT-Velo, is a palm-sized lab apparatus that allows students to investigate a motor speed control system—a common industrial scenario. A key feature of SETPOINT-Velo, beyond its portability, is that students have the freedom to design their own experiments using widely available software such as MATLAB or Simulink.
In contrast, a traditional motor control experiment apparatus requires multiple components, including a motor, a power supply, electronic circuitry to measure and drive the motor speed, data acquisition devices (e.g., oscilloscopes and multimeters), and an analogue or digital control system. Such a setup typically necessitates a large, fixed laboratory space.
A pilot study was conducted in the laboratory to evaluate the user learning experience with the SETPOINT-Velo apparatus. Participants were introduced to the system through gamified activities. After 30 minutes of operation, they were tasked with designing their own experiments to implement control systems for the built-in motor.
Owing to the user experience-driven design, participants could determine how they collected data from the built-in speed sensor, design control systems, and visualise real-time parameters. Participants generally agreed that the SETPOINT platform significantly enhanced their learning experience. The open-ended nature of the platform enabled them to take the necessary time to design experiments, troubleshoot, and fine-tune their systems—achieved effortlessly with just a few clicks on MATLAB or Simulink.
Today, university students are commonly found studying not just at home or in libraries but also in cafés and open parks. In the near future, we may well see them conducting their engineering laboratory experiments in these places too!
