Multimedia Group

Virtual Statics

As part of CDIO, the Multimedia Group has been developing a virtual experiment, The Statical Equilibrium of Plane Frameworks, to form part of a universally available instructor resource module to assist in the teaching of exposition (technical report writing and speaking) to scientists and engineers. The experiment requires Flash 6 player.

Teach Yourself Phase Diagrams

Simos Kitiris (2001/2002) created a comprehensive Flash-based package to "Teach Yourself Phase Diagrams", a self-taught second-year course. This has since been extended and the revised Phase Diagrams is now being used for teaching within the Department, and is also linked to the DoITPoMS site as a useful resource for teaching material science. An additional microsite using HTML and Flash 5 has been created to cover the Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram.

Artificial Intelligence

Rod Goodyer (2001/2002) created a complete courseware package to support the teaching of Artificial Intelligence in the Department. The package uses HTML and Flash 5, and covers search algorithms, constraints, knowledge representation using logic, and theorem proving.

Linear Circuits

Edward Hill (2002/2003) developed a set of interactive Flash 5 animations to support the first-year Linear Circuits and Devices course, covering Semiconductor Diodes, N-Channel JFETs, and N-channel enhancement MOSFETs. He also designed a Java Bean-based implementation for creating Java applets to simulate circuits.

Michael Khaw has been revising and expanding these animations, including the p-n diode, n-Channel JFETs, p-channel JFETs, and n-channel enhancement MOSFETs.

Alien Attack

Peter Stidwill (2002/2003) developed an interactive mystery game to teach scientific concepts (targeted at Key Stage 2 National Curriculum) to schoolchildren. The current prototype of Alien Attack is freely available. Development of Alien Attack is ongoing.

Other Student Projects

Other courseware projects have involved developing material to teach Search Algorithms in Artificial Intelligence (Tom Kerwin, 1999/2000), Neural Networks (Rowland Hills, 2000/2001), VLSI Design (Billy Boyle 2000/2001 and Jon Lee 2001/2002) and Structures (Matthew Laycock 2002/2003).

Tim Froggatt (2002/2003) undertook a project to develop a student-friendly project management tools (based on Windchill ProjectLink) to support the team and project management aspects of the current Integrated Design Project, and its future successor, the Multidisciplinary Design Project.

In the academic year (2003/2004), there will be fourth-year students working on the (further) development of courseware for Structures, Mechanics, Digital Circuits, and Linear Circuits, as well as supporting students in the transition from A-level Physics/Electronics to University-level electrical engineering.