Extending the TekBots [superscript TM] Platform for Learning [superscript TM] to upper division ECE courses

by Smit, Adriaan

In April of 1997 it was pointed out at an NSF Engineering Education Innovators

conference that “… education appears to ignore the need for connections and for

integration – which should be at the core of an engineering education.” In order to

solve this problem a group named ‘TekBotsTM’ was formed in 1999 in the

Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Oregon State University. The

solution that was produced is what is now known as Platforms for LearningTM.

Through Platforms for LearningTM, TekBotsTM not only strives to better curriculum

integration but also to teach valuable skills in order to produce work-ready

graduates. Since the inception of the program many courses have been greatly

improved through several cycles of refinement and evaluation. Even the concept of

Platforms for Learning has evolved because of continual study of engineering

education and observation within the classes that have been improved through

TekBots. This thesis presents the evolved TekBots program and Platforms for

LearningTM within the context of three upper division classes, Computer

Architecture and Assembly Language Programming (ECE375), Signals and

Systems II (ECE352), and Microprocessor System Design (ECE473).