Enhancement of high frequency and microwave laboratories through the introduction of multimedia

"High Frequency and Microwave Laboratory", a senior course of the Electrical Engineering program at The University of Mississippi, presents considerable difficulty to many students. A primary cause of this difficulty is limited exposure at the undergraduate level to the laboratory material. Complex concepts that are difficult to visualize form part of the core, and understanding these concepts is an intimidating task for many students. Multimedia instruction is a tool that can encourage visualization both to enhance a student\´s capability to understand the material and to enrich the department\´s teaching methods. An NSF ILI Grant and state funding are supporting the introduction of multimedia instruction into electrical engineering laboratories at the University of Mississippi. One target is the High Frequency and Microwave Laboratory, where multimedia lessons will augment conventional instruction. The goal is to increase students\´ understanding, and to improve the efficiency of instruction without sacrificing educational quality. This will also allow the department to provide education for an increasing number of students with limited departmental resources.