An integrated online environment for antenna education

This article describes an experimental, integrated, World Wide Web based learning and simulation environment for antenna education that supplements the senior-level antenna course offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (further referred to as the "Antenna Web Server" (AWS)). This server is supported by a Mathematica(R) driven gateway, WebMath. The senior-level antenna course at UIUC prepares engineering students for a career in the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry. The goals of the course are threefold: (i) to provide students with an analytical and intuitive understanding of antenna physics; (ii) to expose students to antenna computer aided design (CAD) software; and (iii) to introduce students to a variety of antenna structures of practical interest and to developments in the field, especially those related to wireless and personal communication systems. We have observed that the addition of an interactive, a Web based component to the standard lecture mode of teaching assists in achieving these goals. This article relates some of the benefits this teaching approach offers, as perceived by the instructors of this course.