Learning about fields and waves using visual electromagnetics

Electromagnetics education needs to take advantage of modern technology if it is to continue attracting adequate numbers of students to its study. Visual electromagnetics (VEM) is defined as an interactive and visual learning environment aiming to provide a more appealing and intuitive means of studying electromagnetics. VEM involves computer graphics with varying degrees of interactivity available from stored results developed offline or generated online in real time. The two approaches, designated as stored-solution modes (SSM) and generated-solution modes (GSM), are discussed and illustrated with representative results, using as examples projects being conducted at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Kansas. A brief overview survey is given of projects at other US universities and of sources of instructional software