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Embedded Systems – Shape the World

• What is it?– Education– Transformational

° Substantial lab component– Global, outreach– Based on a freshman class– Peer to peer learning

• What isn’t it?– For college credit– Profitable– QualitativeValvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

41,329 students, 8% finished ½

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Substantial Lab Component (90% grade)

• Necessary Components– A sandbox for students to discover– Controllable by the virtual TA– Observable/gradable by the virtual TA

• Lab Kit– Low cost ($35)– Readily available

• Peer-to-peer interaction – Supports learning (see, do, teach) – Provides scaling

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

StudentProject

Fingers

Eyes

StudentProject

Virtual TA

Virtual TA

We graded function not style

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Lab Kit

• Board• Mechanicals• Electricals• Display (optional)

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri 3

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Lab Kit

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

http://edx-org-utaustinx.s3.amazonaws.com/UT601x/worldwide.html

• Low cost• Available – element-14 – Digikey – Mouser

• Easy to buy

This effort was only possible with support from Texas Instruments

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Lab Kit

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

http://aliatron.pt/e-biz/product_info.php/products_id/1469

• Low cost• Available• Regional

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Educational Components

• edX platform– Electronic textbook in html5, optional print textbook– 5 to 10 minute videos on YouTube– JavaScript animations – Quizzes

• TExaS simulation grader– Written as DLL using MFC– Plugs into commercial-grade Keil uVision IDE– Interactive virtual TA

• TExaS real-board grader– Embedded grader code along side student solution

• Voltmeter, oscilloscope Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

http://youtu.be/MUL3QNRy_LE simulationhttp://youtu.be/JYKvC6p8yl0 scopehttp://youtu.be/7jFpGsn18fA real board

We graded function not style

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Simulation Grading

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

ControlObservationJudgment

Sandbox for discoveryAssessment tools

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Real Board Grading

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

http://youtu.be/5KI1_eMCT38

ControlObservationJudgment

Sandbox for discoveryAssessment tools

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http://youtu.be/JYKvC6p8yl0

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

Oscilloscope and logic analyzer

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Embedded Systems – Shape the World

Jonathan Valvano and Ramesh Yerraballi

4682 out of 39289 Registrations

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Embedded Systems – Shape the World

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

Piazza 5342 total posts 31173 total contributions 2044 instructors' responses 5564 students' responses 50 min avg. response time

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Embedded Systems – Shape the World

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

Page visits

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World Wide Reach

• Language– In English– Needs multi-language – Had captions in English

• Lab Kit – Cost – Availability

• Internet Speed – Needs multiple resolutions – Ability to download then watch

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

Male 94%Female6%

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No high school 1%

High school/GED 9%

Some college 10%

Bachelor's degree 37%

Master's degree 38%

PhD 5%

Age Percent

to 25 28%

26 to 35 30%

36 to 49 25%

50+ 17%

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Results, 16-week class

• 41,329 enrolled• 6925 students got a kit• 1200 paid $50• 741 students got 100%• 6.4% completed 70%• 8% completed 50%

– Physical lab increased success

• 2/3 who started, finished• 91% approval rate• Most students worked alone Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

Quiz Sim Real1 11059 7952 69252 7413 5901 54863 5926 4633 43104 5115 4193 40025 4505 3670 33926 4026 3359 32197 3674 2268 18758 3339 2677 25279 2878 2266 1738

10 2585 1407 100211 2222 1109 865

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Survey results (1190 responses)

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Question 1- Not at all helpful

Somewhat unhelpful

3 -Neutral Somewhat helpful

5 -Very helpful

Average Value

Simulated labs

4 7 21 138 1003 4.82

Real-board labs

6 8 24 100 1019 4.83

Course videos

6 28 83 306 750 4.51

Reading material

10 39 151 368 591 4.29

Interactive exercises

18 39 154 386 538 4.22

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My Thoughts

• MOOC Lab needs ability to control, observe, assess– Needs more creativity and open ended– Needs more qualitative assessments

• Peer interactions are critical– Teams of 2 or 3– Helping each other in forums– Cohort of 20 to provide qualitative feedback

• Industry collaboration is essential• Can’t do enough beta-testing• It’s education but not ready for college credit• It takes a village

Valvano, Yerraballi, Fulton, and Dattathri

StudentProject

Virtual TA

Virtual TA

Can you be lonely in a class of 40,000?

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