Leveraging student motivation in engineering skills acquisition

This paper explores whether engaging embedded electronic systems students in the creation of, as opposed to simply the use of, lab equipment improves their motivation to practice, and thereby their ability to acquire, discipline-specific skills. The specific piece of laboratory equipment considered is the Microchip In Circuit Debugger, inclusive of header, for PIC16F mid-range micro-controllers. A printed circuit board related teaching activity guided students through design of the ICD header (both 2011/12 and 2013/14), and physical assembly of a pre-designed ICD unit (2011/12 only). Three student cohorts subsequently used the in-house ICDs. Increased availability of units allowed each student to take the equipment outside of the lab and conduct studies at their convenience. The impact of the intervention was measured through the use of a survey; the survey instrument and response summaries are presented. Deliberate use of equipment construction as teaching activity could be an innovative way to improve skills acquisition by leveraging student motivation. Follow-up work will establish whether such activities yield reduction in time to minimal skill levels, and/or an improvement in final skill levels.