Guidance-based hybrid lab training method for enhancing core skills of EE students

Lab training is considered a key for producing skilled workforce required by all engineering sectors. Apart from conceptual understanding, good lab training should provide students with important skills such as design, professional, analytical, and social skills. This paper presents a new lab teaching method which combines “hands-on” and “simulated” labs, along with strong guidance from the instructor. The method is used to teach three core labs at Cal Poly Pomona ECE department for one academic year. The obtained results show that the method augments the student lab score by up to 7 points. The student satisfaction is consistently higher. Between 82.8% and 86% of students are happy with the instructor teaching effectiveness. Lab teaching and management are more effective using tools such as Sign-in and Sign-out sheet, set of benchmarks, and guide for reporting. Overall, the student core skills, namely, design, professional, social, analytical, and report-writing skills are significantly improved.