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In this study, it is aimed to determine effects of pre-service elementary school teachers' misconceptions about short circuit and open circuit on their ability to set up simple electric circuits. The sample of the research is composed of 41 teacher candidates studying at Dokuz Eylul University. Open-ended questions and semi-structured interview questions prepared by researchers were used to identify misconceptions about short circuit and open circuits. In order to determine the effect of these misconceptions, the pre-service teachers were observed in the process of establishing simple electric circuits. Findings from the open-ended questions show five different misconceptions about the short circuit, and two about the open circuit. The interviews reveal that these misconceptions are caused by three factors: extreme generalizations, the misleading terminology used in everyday speech, and misconceptions arising from past learning experience. It was also determined that the students who held these misconceptions had difficulties in establishing a simple electric circuit.

We discuss here conceptual change and the formation of robust learning outcomes from the viewpoint of complex dynamic systems (CDS). The CDS view considers students' conceptions as context dependent and multifaceted structures which depend on the context of their application. In the CDS view the conceptual patterns (i.e. intuitive conceptions here) may be robust in a certain situation but are not formed, at least not as robust ones, in another situation. The stability is then thought to arise dynamically in a variety of ways and not so much to mirror rigid ontological categories or static intuitive conceptions. We use computational modelling to understand the generic dynamic and emergent features of that phenomenon. The model is highly simplified and idealized, but it shows how context dependence, described here by an epistemic landscape structure, leads to the formation of context dependent robust states that can be viewed as attractors in learning, and how owing to the sharply defined nature of these states, learning appears as a progression of switches from one state to another, giving thus the appearance of conceptual change as switches from one robust state to another. Finally, we discuss the implications of the results in directing attention to the design of learning tasks and their structure, and how empirically accessible learning outcomes might be related to these underlying factors.

Purpose: This study explores the applicability and transferability of tools developed for the realization of comparability and transparency of qualifications across Europe. It relates to the implementation of the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) in the automotive sector. Research Methods: This study was carried out according to the case-study model in order to investigate further operationalization and transferability of the previously developed VQTS matrix in Automotive Electro-mechanics to different national contexts. The working group of this study consists of 34 car service employees from Germany, Turkey and Italy. Findings: The data analysis indicated that the participants were moderately motivated to learn English as a foreign language (M = 92.62). There was not a significant gender-related difference in students' motivational orientations. Furthermore, female students' self-efficacy scores were significantly higher than those of the male students. Lastly, a positive correlation was found between students' motivational orientations and self-efficacy beliefs. Implications for Research and Practice: According to the findings of the study, the qualifications required for the work processes of the automotive electro-mechanic technician profession and the knowledge, skills and competencies required by these qualifications were confirmed by the service employees to a great extent.

Post-secondary educators are increasingly experimenting with the possibility of blending or replacing traditional lecture-based instruction with student-centered instruction. Although some studies have been completed, much remains to be learned about when and why student-centered instruction works and the effectiveness of specific approaches. The goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a student-centered instructional approach on students' engagement and achievement in a transformed electrical circuits course compared to the same course taught in a traditional lecture-based format. Two hundred and forty-three students participated in the study. Three surveys were administered during the semester, and participants' demographic information, prior learning outcomes, and course outcomes were collected after the semester was over. The results indicated that students in the student-centered section were significantly more engaged and achieved higher learning outcomes than students in the lecture-based section. The specific instructional strategies and technologies used in the student-centered section are discussed.

This paper analyzes the introduction of fundamental physics in design education as a pedagogical method that trains designers to create with the un-known. It studies how three workshops offered design students to work on: superconductivity in 2011, quantum physics in 2013 and light and optics in 2014. The authors observe that introducing physics in a design curriculum was thought in terms of an "a fortiori" education program that would help practitioners to come up with pertinent questions and responses even if they cannot comprehend all aspects of the problem. The authors looked at how the workshops were handled and suggest that the educational framework had five goals that correspond to a model of design: affective (how to cope with uncertainty), reflexive learning (how to cope with processes rather than contents), cognitive (how to cope with non knowledge), economic (how to cope with the industrial society of innovation), and political (how to cope with the equality of disciplines and "indiscipline").

This paper analyzes the results of a diagnostic study carried out with second year students of the computational sciences majors at University of Oriente, Cuba, to determine the limitations that they present in computational algorithmization. An exploratory research was developed using quantitative and qualitative methods. The results allowed verifying insufficiencies that have their base in the processes of interpretation and understanding of the problematic situations and in the insufficient design of algorithms, using pseudocodes, before implementing the solutions in a programming language.

Three different groups in a class of first-year tertiary engineering students had to solve a problem based on a project by applying the distinctive problem-based learning (PBL) approach. Each group's project (PBL project) was then studied by the other two groups after successful completion and demonstration. Each group then had to study the "new--already made" project, inherited from one of the other groups before presenting it to the class. Students scored mostly higher during a knowledge test on the project they initially worked on and also those projects (from the other groups) that they found interesting. All groups managed to improve their scores during a follow-up knowledge test for those questions related to the project they initially worked on. A great deal of vicarious learning took place in most cases between the different student groups. Students are getting much more exposure when doing several PBL problems (as by the different groups) simultaneously and data confirms that this improves their attitude, motivation and reflection significantly.

Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary that includes a combination of mechanics, electronics, control systems, and computer science. The main objective of mechatronics learning is to establish a comprehensive mindset in the development of mechatronic systems. Project Based Learning (PBL) is an appropriate method for use in the learning process of mechatronic. The use of PBL by following the V model in system development process is expected to encourage the achievement of the main goal of learning in mechatronics lab. Demonstration of knowledge during the practical work done by drafting product development procedures documents, presentations, and project demo. The test result of mechatronics lab course based on PBL in Electronics Engineering Bandung State Polytechnic led to the conclusion that the model is acceptable and desirable to be passed with a few improvements. In addition, learners also feel there is a new challenge in following the PBL-based practicum.

This article presents a case study that illustrates the paradigmatic shift in higher education from content-centered teaching to learning-centered academic programs. This pragmatic change, triggered by the STEM movement, calls for the introduction of success measures in the course development process. The course described in this paper illustrates such a goal-driven approach to the development of an entire multidisciplinary curriculum in mechanical engineering and mechatronics. The effectiveness of this new curriculum was confirmed by findings of a survey of graduates of the first six graduating classes who studied on the basis of this curriculum.

This paper presents a study of how preschool-aged children go about creating and operating a simple electric circuit (wires, light bulb, and battery), and how they view the elements that comprise it, particularly how they view the role of the battery. The research involved 108 children aged between five and six, who were individually interviewed. The results of the study show that the children have already begun to form representations which link the battery, the light bulb and the wires to electrical functions, and that the majority of children are able, with or without help, to successfully create a simple electric circuit. Moreover, their involvement in the process of creating and operating such a circuit leads many children not only to a comprehensive viewing of the circuit, but also to the creation of a pre-energy thought-form in which the battery is acknowledged as the distribution source of an entity which is responsible for the luminescence of the light bulb.

Physics educators often struggle with how to tackle complex content such as electric potential. As a result, high school students are typically not engaged in developing a deep understanding of this concept. Historically, such engagement has been perceived as too challenging and abstract. To date no process exists for engaging students in a meaningful way around such content. However, Making provides a new way to engage students in learning about electric potential that has not yet been done. Drawing upon observations and interviews, this article shares the instructional opportunities afforded one high school physics teacher in teaching electric potential through the construction and coding of electronic textiles (e-textiles) maker projects. The study furthers current research in physics education by examining both the instructional methods and outcomes of instruction for high school physics students when e-textiles is used as a model for teaching electric potential.

The emphasis on programming and robotics owing to the unfolding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the African continent has led the South African National Department of Education to propose a new subject in Grades R to 9. Hence, the training and development of pre-service teachers is crucial so that they can respond to the skills needed in the Digital Age. This preliminary study set out to explore and gauge pre-service teachers' experiences of programming and robotics. Programming is perceived as being difficult and challenging because of its abstract nature. Block-based programming has gained popularity in introducing the novice to programming concepts. This paper presents a case of nine computer science pre-service teachers from a South African university and their experiences of physical computer programming using Scratch for Arduino. Data was collected from unstructured observations during a practical session followed by a semi-structured group interview. The meaningful implementation of physical computing was supported by Rogers's ("Freedom to learn: A view of what education might become," Charles Merrill, 1969) experiential learning theory. A prominent finding was that physical programming affords the opportunity to learn electronics and programming simultaneously, making programming relevant and interesting. Programming with Scratch for Arduino takes advantage of the fact that an Arduino is a physical device when paired with Scratch, further making these concepts accessible in a concrete manner.

Purpose: This paper aims to test the effectiveness of communication platforms in conveying the importance of sustainability messages focusing on electronic waste (e-waste) recycling. While corporate communication has been explored well, this research explores the influence of communication medium on the shift in attitude and behavioural intention of higher education students. Design/methodology/approach: An experimental design approach was used with quantitative data analysis to address the research questions. Findings: The results revealed that the text form of communication was more effective in conveying the e-waste recycling message. Students demonstrated a significant shift in attitude and call for action when they read the sustainability article instead of watching a video with the same message. Practical implications: With several universities trying to integrate sustainability in their curriculum, this research provides guidelines on effective communication methods for students. It also sheds light on the choice of platforms that can be used by organisations to reach out to their employees to convey sustainability-related messages. Originality/value: The paper addresses sustainability communication in a university by exploring the best method of communication. The results open up new conversations on the media richness theory in the context of sustainability.

Systems thinking and abstract thinking are important skills for engineers in general and hardware and software engineers in particular. Systems thinking emphasises the interdependence of system components and their synergy. Abstract thinking permits one to focus on the significant details of the current perspective, while temporarily neglecting the less relevant details of the stage in question. So far, systems thinking and abstract thinking have each been characterised separately, but a possible relation between them has not yet been examined. The study described in the paper explored the interrelations between systems thinking and abstract thinking among high-school students executing their final project. In the study, which used quantitative and qualitative tools, participated 239 Israeli twelve graders majoring in electronics. The findings indicate a significant moderate positive correlation between systems thinking and abstract thinking. The systems thinker and the abstract thinker share common cognitive characteristics, but differ in features related to knowledge and background, and interpersonal skills.

There are studies of students' understanding of the concept of the electric field, the magnetic field, and the use of the superposition principle that have contributed to the creation of both educational strategies and assessment tools. However, the difficulties of these two concepts have not been compared comprehensively. Therefore, this study aims to compare students' conceptual understanding of electric and magnetic fields in questions regarding the field created by one source and the field produced by a system of two sources. We focus our study on students' explanations about the magnitude and direction of the field and their application of the superposition principle in both contexts (electric and magnetic). We conducted this study with 322 engineering students in a Mexican university. We designed two versions of an open-ended questionnaire, one with the context of electricity and the other with magnetism. We created the questions using the parallelism between electricity and magnetism and used schematic representations with similar surface features to represent this parallelism. Analyzing the data through a phenomenographic approach, the students' drawings and explanations gave insight into their understanding of the concept of field and the superposition principle application in the context of electricity and magnetism. We found that students have similar categories of understanding the concept of the electric and the magnetic field. In both contexts, there is an evident relationship between applying the principle of superposition and understanding the concept of field. We found that there is a greater tendency that a student correctly applies the superposition principle if that student has a robust representation of the field. We found evidence that students consistently merge two different representations (vector plots and field lines) in electricity and magnetism. We named this category of representation "hybrid vectors and field lines." We also found that some students who draw hybrid representations of the field can still apply the superposition principle correctly. However, some conceptual understanding difficulties are dependent on the context: the known difficulty of confusion between forces and fields is more attached to the electricity context. The confusion between electricity and magnetism concepts is more relevant in the magnetism context. As in other literature, we found more evidence that the correct answer in multiple-choice questions may lead students who have mild difficulties (such as memorization and creating a hybrid representation) to choose a correct answer. We recommend that teachers and researchers of electricity and magnetism acknowledge the relationship between the conceptual understanding of the field and applying the superposition principle. We suggest that instructors be attentive to how they approach using representations of electric and magnetic fields.

This paper describes the adaptation of a flipped Biomedical Electronics course with laboratories to remote learning at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In class collaborative work on problem sets was replaced by group work (4-5 students) in Zoom breakout sessions. When the groups assembled at random for each class had sufficiently progressed on a problem, a detailed solution was typed on the Multisim circuit simulator desktop (National Instruments) shared on the instructor screen. A laboratory project dealing with the development of an electromyograph (EMG) was redesigned for in-depth exploration of each circuit block composing the EMG circuit that was only feasible with the circuit simulator. The students progressed through the remote section of the course at the same rate as they had in the physical classroom in prior years. Student pairs finished a more complete virtual EMG laboratory project without being hampered by manipulation errors that are typical of novices when assembling hardware circuits. We conclude that a flipped biomedical electronics course can successfully be offered remotely and that virtual electronics laboratories that make use of a circuit simulator can provide a complete and meaningful learning experience.

We have added two improvements to a self-luminous LED stroboscope (a flashing point-like projectile developed for introductory mechanics): downsizing by replacing heavy and risky batteries with a compact and safe capacitor of several Farads (a so-called Super-C) and wireless control via ordinary IR (infrared) communications. Consequently, the device allows the real-time visualization of velocity vectors to be performed using a web camera under ordinary room light. In this paper, we describe the technical details and also a typical demonstration by reference to our 15 min show at Osaka Science Museum that analyses the swing speed of a tennis racket on the spot.

Recently, small computer fans have been demonstrated to be an effective method for teaching simple resistive circuits both qualitatively and quantitatively. The current through the fans is related to the rotational speed of the fans and allows multiple senses to be engaged (touch, sight, and hearing). Methods for learning simple circuits in an effective and accessible way have been explored for decades, and the prevailing approach has been the use of incandescent light bulbs. However, light bulbs can only be used to build a qualitative foundation. Quantitative experiments require non-bulb circuits, as the resistance of incandescent light bulbs changes with current. When fans are used, plots of current vs. voltage exhibit a linear relationship, which provides a nearly constant effective resistance for the fan. This suggests that fans can also be used to explore RC circuits both qualitatively and quantitatively, where the fans act as the resistive elements as well as the indicator. In this contribution, we will demonstrate that computer fans can be used to qualitatively explore the charging and discharging times for RC circuits. By monitoring the voltage across the capacitor as a function of time, we will also show that fans can be used for quantitative RC analysis.

Contribution: A novel project-based learning (PBL) approach applicable to diverse design-oriented engineering courses. This article reports the application results during six academic years (2012/13 to 2017/18) for electronic instrumentation (EI) course for third-year Industrial Electronic and Automation Engineering majors. Background: Engineering education should prepare students to specify, design, and validate systems interacting with stakeholders in complex professional scenarios. Intended Outcomes: The general aim of the course was to train students in the specification, design, and validation of real-world instrumentation systems, promoting the development of expertise and deep understanding of fundamental concepts and techniques. Application Design: The students, working in teams, were tasked with the specification, design, and development of different instrumentation projects. They had to exchange information about their projects with other teams and discuss design decisions, thus creating a multiple-case experience. In addition, each team acted as a provider of a different team and as a client of another team, in a circular client--provider relationship. This student-centered learning process was supported and complemented with guided teaching of fundamental concepts, principles, and techniques and with continuous evaluation, complemented with rigorous individual exams. The project activities, lectures, and problem-solving classes were coordinated to optimize the process of developing the students' understanding and expertise. Findings: Based on the academic results and the feedback from the students obtained along the years through two different anonymous surveys, it is concluded that most of the students achieved the expected learning outcomes, i.e., learning to design EI systems and dealing with stakeholders. Analyzed results proved that students were very satisfied with the methodology.

An organic solar cell fabrication kit has been developed for demonstration in both undergraduate teaching classes and high school laboratories to promote the growing field of renewable energy and to facilitate empirical comprehension of solar technology. The laboratory focuses on fabricating organic photovoltaics (solar cells) and testing the efficiency of power generation. By restricting substances to nontoxic coating inks, and a Pb-free alloy for the cathode, chemical hazards are minimized. Usually, organic solar cell fabrication requires the use of expensive laboratory equipment only found in a university or an industry environment, such as fume hoods, large spin coaters, nitrogen glove boxes, and metal evaporation systems. Importantly, the solar cell kit has been specifically developed to remove the need for accessing this large and expensive equipment: nontoxic inks are used such that fume hoods are not necessary, a portable miniature spin coater has been developed such that large spin coaters with a vacuum connection are not required, and a low-melting-point (62°C) Pb-free alloy has been trialed such that access to high-vacuum metal evaporation equipment is not necessary. The exercise utilizes a pedagogical framework of preliminary predictive exercises, practical verification of device optimization and engineering to illuminate the key working principles of a solar cell, and a post-exercise quiz to provide feedback and assess embedded knowledge. This experiment is an introductory lesson in renewable energy and gives students exposure to the chemistry, physics, and materials science concepts of organic electronics.

A series of hands-on experiments including the synthesis and application of flexible, conductive silver-nanopaste were designed to gain knowledge of conductive soft nanomaterial and the synthesis and the application of silver nanopaste (Ag nanopaste). The aim of this laboratory experiment is to provide undergraduate/graduate students an introduction to flexible, conductive electronics by the preparation of silver-nanopaste-incorporated tracks. For Ag-nanopaste-based electronics, the packability of silver nanoparticles and the sintering process are two major factors that dominate the conductivity of the device. In this experiment, ethylene glycol and polyvinylpyrrolidone were utilized to synthesize Ag nanopaste from AgNO[subscript 3] via chemical reduction. The application of this flexible, conductive nanomaterial was demonstrated using Ag-nanopaste-incorporated tracks with a photonic sintering process. The process of photonic sintering is used in this experiment to reduce processing time. Prior to performing hands-on laboratory experiments, students learned about the properties, synthesis, and applications of flexible, conductive nanomaterials in class. A questionnaire was administered after the hands-on experiments to acquire student feedback on the course design. A simple quiz was also completed by the students before and after the hands-on experiments for evaluation.

A five day activity that involves the construction and characterization of a small car whose motion is controlled by the vitamin C clock reaction is presented. The purpose of the activity is to engage first-year Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students not majoring in the chemical sciences. Throughout the activity students learn and put into practice basic concepts of electronics and chemical kinetics, while testing four different types of electric power devices: galvanic cells, thermoelectrical cells, fuel cells, and solar panels. They also learn to analyze the vitamin C clock reaction with a simple kinetic model to calculate the time elapsed for a color transition from transparent to dark. A target-distance competition takes place on the last day of the activity.

This article discusses one specific form of makerspace for children -- hereafter, referred to as (un)makerspace -- whose activities consist mainly in dismantling discarded toys and electronics, characterised as a global makerspace. The article presents the activities of children participating in a number of makerspaces in Melbourne, Australia. The 'materials' children engaged with, mostly discarded toys and electronics, the detritus of global capitalist flows, became of prime importance and active agents in activities undertaken. The participants' engagement consisted predominantly of dismantling of the 'waste' and creating new assemblages from the remains. Aiming to answer the question of how much playing, creativity and learning opportunities could children encounter in an (un)makerspace, the article will be theoretically framed by posthumanism and new materialism theory. We end with the proposition that (un)makerspaces present underrepresented and underappreciated pedagogical and civic-engagement opportunities.

One challenge of teaching chemical analysis is the proliferation of sophisticated, but often impenetrable, instrumentation in the modern laboratory. Complex instruments, and the software that runs them, distance students from the physical and chemical processes that generate the analytical signal. A solution to this challenge is the introduction of a student-driven instrument-building project. Visible absorbance spectroscopy is well-suited to such a project due to its relative simplicity and the ubiquity of absorbance measurements. This Article reviews simple instructor- and student-built instruments for spectroscopy, providing an overview of common designs, components, and applications. This comprehensive summary includes options that are suitable for in-person or remote learning with K-12 students and undergraduates in general chemistry, analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, and electronics courses.

Contribution: This article has shown that self-efficacy in performing complex computer programming tasks and the self-regulation of electrical and electronics engineering undergraduate students varies with respect to the class standing and prior experience in computer programming. Background: Computer programming is an essential skill that all engineers must possess, as most industries require engineers to own this skill. Prior studies discuss programming self-efficacy (PSE) measures; however, these studies do not specifically measure the PSE of electrical and electronics engineering major in the Indian context. Research Questions: The overarching research question of this article is: What factors related to participants' demographics, vicarious experiences, and performance accomplishments influence the PSE of electrical and electronics engineering students in India? Methodology: To answer the above research question, a study is conducted using quantitative methods in engineering education research. This article focuses on the development of a survey instrument to measure the PSE of electrical and electronics engineering students of India. The survey includes a total of 31 items, content validity and face validity were established. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and the final two factors are "basic programming tasks and dependence" and "complex programming tasks and self-regulation." A multiple regression analysis was performed to find the best fitting model for the two factors. Findings: The regression model with "basic programming tasks and dependence" was not statistically significant and the regression model with "complex programming tasks and self-regulation" was found to be statistically significant with predictors class standing and prior programming experience.

Constructing Direct Current (DC) electric circuits is simple and engaging for primary students, but that is not all there is to learning about electricity. Mandatory learning in the Australian Curriculum: Science (ACARA, 2018) expects Year 6 students to explain some of the processes underlying electric circuits. The abstract nature of key electricity concepts makes them difficult to teach, especially with primary-age students (Jaakkola, Nurmi & Veermans, 2011; Preston, 2019). Teachers find the concepts challenging to understand making it difficult to introduce the ideas in the classroom. Consequently "teachers might be daunted in teaching the topic through a lack of content knowledge needed to answer off-topic questions" (Chapman, 2014 p. 5). Teacher professional learning in science is an area of critical importance, reflecting national concerns to better engage students with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) futures (Chubb, 2012). Equipping primary teachers with the skills, knowledge and confidence to teach physics topics like electricity effectively, is an important priority for Australian schools. This paper reports on a two-year project working with teachers as co-researchers that was aimed at supporting primary students' learning about electricity. Vital to the success of this project was the support provided by the researchers, which resulted in improved understanding and confidence in teaching through a constructivist approach.

Learning with hands-on experiments can be supported by providing essential information virtually during lab work. Augmented reality (AR) appears especially suitable for presenting information during experimentation, as it can be used to integrate both physical and virtual lab work. Virtual information can be displayed in close spatial proximity to the correspondent components in the experimentation environment, thereby ensuring a basic design principle for multimedia instruction: the spatial contiguity principle. The latter is assumed to reduce learners' extraneous cognitive load and foster generative processing, which supports conceptual knowledge acquisition. For the present study, a tablet-based AR application has been developed to support learning from hands-on experiments in physics education. Real-time measurement data were displayed directly above the components of electric circuits, which were constructed by the learners during lab work. In a two group pretest-posttest design, we compared university students' (N = 50) perceived cognitive load and conceptual knowledge gain for both the AR-supported and a matching non-AR learning environment. Whereas participants in both conditions gave comparable ratings for cognitive load, learning gains in conceptual knowledge were only detectable for the AR-supported lab work.

This paper demonstrates how the transcendental number "e" may be arrived at by observing the discharge of a capacitor through a fixed resistor and then modelling the system using a simple step-wise procedure. The experimental phase makes use of the Arduino microcontroller, while simple modelling of the system is carried out by means of SMath Studio software, leading finally to the exponential number and the well-known exponential function for the decay process.

This study examines the role of spatial reasoning in learning among 5th and 6th grade students participating in a set of in-school, technology-enhanced, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) making activities. We focus our analysis on a particular type of reasoning: spatial reasoning. Prior research has shown that spatial reasoning is relevant for problem-solving, participation, and achievement in STEAM disciplines. However, the literature on spatial reasoning lacks qualitative analyses of the processes through which spatial reasoning is learned, enacted, and leads to problem-solving insights, particularly in everyday learning contexts. Spatial reasoning is also underemphasized and undervalued in our schools. And although increasingly popular, hands-on, making activities have the potential to cultivate spatial skills, spatial reasoning has been largely ignored in the literature on learning through making. Informed by a distributed cognitive perspective and using a combination of qualitative categorical coding and interaction analysis, this study provides a qualitative analysis of the relation between spatial reasoning and learning through making. Our analyses show that during making activities, students engaged in frequent and diverse spatial reasoning with a variety of social and material resources and that the social and material contexts of different making activities facilitated different types of spatial reasoning. Our analyses also show how spatial reasoning developed over time and led to learning.

In electrochemistry, the concept of a reference electrode is fundamental. Introductory courses might mention the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE), its working principle, and its theoretical design; however, chances are that students will never have the opportunity to work with one. A hydrogen electrode should be a device readily available at the laboratory, either from an academic or an experimental point of view. The construction of a simple, robust hydrogen reference electrode, with materials available at the laboratory, is proposed. The main purpose is to fulfill the desired characteristics in a reference electrode such as stable potential over time, mechanical stability, and low cost. The designed robust hydrogen reference electrode (RHRE) presented adequate potential stability. Electrochemical characterization indicates that the RHRE is an acceptable system for electrochemical measurements. From an academic point of view, this electrode could be used as a practical tool for the learning process of the hydrogen electrode operation.

The galvanic cell is a basic concept in electrochemistry. To assess mainland Chinese students' proficiency levels in galvanic cells, the Galvanic Cell Proficiency Level Assessment (GCPA) was developed based on the Rasch model. The GCPA was developed through a pilot test and consists of seven multiple-choice questions and four open questions. The assessment instrument was administered to 621 high school students in the 11th grade, and the test results showed good reliability and validity. The interview results supported the validity of the data generated by the instrument.

Online learning environments are being used for teaching and learning of mathematics at university level. Exploiting the potential of digital technology, these Internet-based environments administer computer-generated homework, assistance and feedback for students. This article presents a case-study of a small group of ?undergraduate engineering students' learning activity in mathematics in an online environment. The study focuses on students' interactions with the online environment to make sense of the affordances of this environment. Utilizing multiple sources of data aid in analyzing the intentional and the operational aspects of students' interactions with several resources in this environment. With regard to both of these aspects, the affordances are thus viewed as features of the environment which support students' engagement with the mathematical tasks. The analyses show that the students incorporated several online resources for solving the tasks posed in the automated system. Students met requirements of final answers in the automated system through varying sequences of mathematical operations for the posed tasks. The conditions of the automated system as well as the rules of the collective activity system played a role in students' interactions with the mathematical tasks.

Acharge pickup detector was developed at the University of Colorado for use in classroom demonstrations and in the dust accelerator at the Institute for Modeling Plasma, Atmospheres and Cosmic Dust (IMPACT). The detector can be used in a physics classroom to help high school and introductory-level physics students connect electromagnetic phenomena with measurement techniques that are common to experimental physics and in electronics courses to demonstrate the use of a charge-sensitive amplifier (CSA). Construction of a similar detector would develop students' basic machining and electronics skills, which are crucial in most undergraduate experimental physics opportunities. The detector is designed to nondestructively determine the velocity and charge of particles. The detector is compact (8.6 cm x 5.4 cm x 4.1 cm), simple, and lightweight. It is built with off-the-shelf components with simple machining, resulting in a low-cost (~$100) detector that maintains the high sensitivity (0.2 fC) necessary for characterization of most hypervelocity dust particles, as well as a wide variety of other applications accessible to introductory-level physics students such as charged particles in a dust storm, pith balls, or charged raindrops. This paper focuses on both characterization of the detector using the accelerator at IMPACT and the basics of the undergraduate-level physics principles, electronics principles, mechanical design, and lab applications.

Augmented reality technology has recently become one of the primary technologies for science education. Although augmented reality is attractive, a need exists for good content, implementation, and evaluations, as in every technology integration process. To this end, this study aims to develop and evaluate an augmented reality application to teach fifth grade students about electrical currents. For this purpose, students' attitudes toward augmented reality applications and science and technology courses were examined using two course designs. In the first design, the students were taught an augmented reality assisted electrical circuit lesson in a group, while, in the second design, the students studied individually. The attitudes of the students studying individually toward the augmented reality applications were significantly higher than the students studying in a group. However, no significant differences existed in the students' attitudes toward science and technology courses. Class observations and teacher interviews provided details about the classroom implications of augmented reality.

Powerbanks differ in the amount of energy they can store. Usually this capacity (in a colloquial sense) of the powerbanks is stated in the form of charge in mAh for effective advertising. From a physical point of view, shouldn't the energy that a powerbank can provide be of interest? For students, charging smartphones with power banks is commonplace--but the terms voltage, current, power, charge and energy are often not understood clearly. Since misunderstandings can also be expected on this subject, a more detailed analysis of the characteristics of powerbanks provides an opportunity for a context- and life-oriented physics education. In combination with microcontrollers such as the Arduino, simple, inexpensive computer-based experiments and measurements are possible. In this article we present a measurement circuit (see figure 1) for the Arduino, with which series of measurements on the characteristics of various powerbanks can be recorded and evaluated during discharge. Example measurements of various powerbanks are shown and discussed.

Contribution: A didactic methodology, based on analytical expressions and experimental validation, to describe the process of abrupt current interruption in a series RL circuit, that considers real passive components and uses a toggle switch as disconnecting device. Background: In undergraduate courses, circuits adopted in transient analysis usually assume electrical switches in their ideal form, disregarding electrical impedance and its variation over time. Texts and instructors rarely point out these simplifications, so students can become confused. There is thus a need for a suitable switch model that yields a behavior consistent with real devices, while permitting a mathematical formulation of the inductor current. Intended Outcomes: That students should understand electrical component modeling, and how models can represent the physical phenomena that occur in electrical circuits. Application Design: An experiment, designed to evaluate students' perceptions of switch modeling, modeled a switch by using three different equivalent circuits of increasing complexity, to allow a more realistic simulation. Electrical switch modeling is described, with the models being based on measurements performed on a real circuit. Findings: Student performance was evaluated qualitatively through test scores, and quantitatively through a post-class questionnaire. The results indicate that 96.15% of the students were able to propose an accurate model of the electrical switch.

Electricity is an integral part of daily life. Children, like adults, infer the effects of electrical conductivity. They see the illumination of a lightbulb or feel the emission of warmth from an electric stovetop but may not understand the role electrical circuits play. Focusing on the concrete aspects of electrical energy transfer helps improve student experiences with the abstract concept of electricity. In this article the authors provide experiences for elementary-age children to explore electrical circuits. Their purposes for these lessons are for students to develop questions and connect their exploration of electrical energy to concrete observations of electrical effects found in trade books.

Here we describe the incorporation of a web-based application focusing on circuits for the physics high school classroom as part of an outreach program. The program involves college mentors creating and implementing science lessons in collaboration with the classroom teacher. Focusing on the challenge of understanding circuit design, a technology rich module is employed to improve learning and motivation of the students. The students' conceptual understanding as well as interest in circuits was increased, the college mentors earned valuable teaching and mentoring experience and the teacher enjoyed more one-on-one time as well as assistance with students.

This paper describes how a circuits-based project-oriented problem-based learning educational model was integrated into the first year of a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Engineering programme at Maynooth University, Ireland. While many variations of problem based learning exist, the presented model is closely aligned with the model used in Aalborg University, Denmark. Key learning outcomes, implementation features and an evaluation of the integrated project-oriented problem-based learning module over a two year period are all presented within.

In today's item response theory (IRT) the response to the test item is considered as a probability event depending on the student's ability and difficulty of items. It is noted that in the scientific literature there is very little agreement about how to determine factors affecting the item difficulty. It is suggested that the difficulty of the item increases with the number of key elements, which are the data elements used in solving the item. Based on the statistical analysis of solutions of specially designed test items it has been concluded that there is a linear dependence of the item difficulty in the Rasch model on the number of key elements of the solution. The result allows taking an unbiased look at the difficulty of test items at the stage of their development, as well as predicts the outcome of testing.

This work reports on the use of virtual tools as means of learning process activation. A good result can be achieved by combining the classical learning with modern computer technology. By creating a virtual learning environment and using multimedia learning tools one can obtain a significant result while facilitating the development of students' intellectual faculties. One of the effective ways to form knowledge and skills is to carry out experimental studies. By carrying out laboratory practicals, one can set various goals facilitating the extension of frontiers of knowledge, significant enrichment, and diversification of learning. Students did some tasks in a traditional way, and the other tasks--when immersing themselves in a virtual environment. The work included monitoring the efficiency of virtual tools and degree of students' satisfaction.

Coregulation (CRL) is a transitional process in which students share problem-solving techniques and utilize self-regulated learning (SRL) when interacting with peers. Coregulation may help students to define and modify inconsistencies in their SRL strategy. Task interpretation is described as the critical first step in the SRL process, and it is a key determinant in setting the goals and strategies to accomplish those goals. Limited information exists regarding coregulation and task interpretation in the context of laboratory work. Laboratory activities help students to move from abstract ideas to a practical understanding. However, it is generally agreed among educators that students involve little mental engagement in the laboratory activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate how students' level of coregulation was associated with their task interpretation and how the level changed over time. One-hundred and forty-three sophomore students enrolled in an electronics course participated in this study. A paper-and-pencil questionnaire was used to measure students' coregulation. Similarly, a questionnaire developed and piloted by the researcher measured students' task interpretation. High-coregulated students showed high levels of SRL, while low-coregulated students showed low levels of SRL. The findings confirmed a previous study by Hadwin and Oshige, which described coregulation as a process in a learner's acquisition of SRL, in which SRL is gradually appropriated by the individual learner's interactions when they are working in the assigned task activities. Further investigation is necessary to unveil other factors related to these constructs in order to engage students in laboratory work.

This paper considers the methodological aspects of forming a development strategy for the regional socioeconomic system (by the example of radio-electronic enterprises in the Republic of Tatarstan). The paper suggests a conceptual scheme of the macro- and micro-factors' influence on the regional socioeconomic system. This scheme is based on the study of the market power of enterprise's contact persons (suppliers, competitors, and consumers) and subjects that have an indirect impact (government, markets, financial institutions, insurance companies, etc.). It has a hierarchic structure and allows coordinating the terms of cooperation for different elements of the socioeconomic system. The paper builds a formation algorithm for the manufacturing program of radio-electronic enterprises. A peculiar feature of this algorithm is its focus on involving resources of the enterprise's external environment on terms that are acceptable to an economic entity. The paper also suggests stages of the development strategy for the regional socioeconomic system that are based on the principles of lean production, which assume the determination and market substantiation of the regional resource intensity limit of separate productions. This allows plotting an evolutionary vector for the transformation of the socioeconomic system into an adaptive structure with such properties as self-organization and self-regulation.

This paper describes the historical process of development of engineering sciences as a school discipline and as an academic subject. It aims to understand the evolution of contents and their structuration, mainly, of the industrial technology for men and of the home economics for women, from the Liberation to today. It contributes to analyze the history of technology education in the basic school and its positioning in the curriculum. This historical and didactic research focuses on the prescribed curriculum, analyzing official texts about contents (practical tasks, functional analysis, graphic tools, modelling...), the training and the certification of teachers, equipment and administrative organization. It identifies the concordances between the emergence of engineering sciences within the university, their development within the tertiary and secondary schools and the development of technology education within the basic education. This contextualized sociological and political history reveals the movement of the deprofessionalization and the despecialization of the current courses, the opportunities to take into account of the sustainable development, the relegation of producing, the priorities for scientific approaches, the integration of mechanics, electronics, automatics, energetics and numerical tools.

The aim of this study is to improve a measurement tool to evaluate the self-efficacy of Electrical-Electronics Engineering students through their basic electronics skills. The sample group is composed of 124 Electrical-Electronics engineering students. The validity of the scale is analyzed with two different methods through factor analysis and distinctiveness. To evaluate the how much each item that exists in the scale can measure the factor they belong to, item total factor correlations and corrected correlations are calculated on the data. According to the acquired values, each item and each factor in the scale are found to serve to the run-of the scale and the aim of scaling the desired facility, in a meaningful level. Moreover, analyzing the "t" value related to the differences between the groups of top 27% and bottom 27%, the item distinctiveness's are researched and it is detected that the distinctiveness of both of the run-of the scale and each one of the items is high level; in other words, it is detected that each item is distinctive in the desired level. The internal consistency coefficients of the scale is calculated using two congruent halves correlations, Cronbach Alpha, Spearman-Brown formula and Guttmann split-half reliability formula. Consequently, it is concluded that the scale is a reliable and valid scale and this scale can be used to determine the basic electronics skills of the Electrical-Electronics Engineering students through their self-perceptions.