Streamlined Learning in a Control Systems Course

Experiences are described in developing and using class-tested vignettes for streamlined learning in a senior control systems course. This new approach features an appeal to the students natural sense of curiosity on what might be consequences when changes they suggest are made in the design of a specific feedback system as well as significant reductions in computation required to test their suggestions. Four vignettes being used in the course are discussed with various levels of details in this paper, and brief remarks are made about two others. Surveys of students in a recent controls class indicated that the streamlined learning approach was received positively. These same students demonstrated improvements over previous students on the multidisciplinary team course project based on a team-selected controls application