A large U.S. university with over 1,400 undergraduate electrical engineering students has developed a scalable approach to delivering hands-on lab experiences – both on campus and fully online.
Serving a growing population of working professionals and remote learners, the program needed a way to maintain rigorous, practical lab work without relying solely on physical lab spaces.
The Challenge
Traditional lab models presented several limitations:
- Limited access to in-person lab facilities for online students
- Difficulty scaling hands-on experiences across large cohorts
- Inconsistent student access to equipment and tools
- Over-reliance on simulation-based learning
The department needed a solution that could:
- Enable real circuit experimentation anywhere
- Support multiple courses and skill levels
- Provide consistent tooling across modalities
The Solution
To address these challenges, the program adopted the Analog Discovery 3 (AD3) with parts kits, which are required for online students.
The platform is integrated across a sequence of courses, including:
- Circuits I (RLC fundamentals)
- Circuits II (nonlinear and transistor-based circuits)
- Advanced circuits courses
- Digital electronics and FPGA coursework
This consistent toolchain allows students to build foundational skills and apply them across disciplines.
Enabling Flexible, Take-Home Labs
Students use the AD3 in a mix of:
- Traditional in-lab environments
- Take-home lab assignments
- Python-supported coding projects
WaveForms software plays a critical role in accessibility. Its intuitive interface and cross-platform compatibility, especially for macOS users, reduce setup barriers and allow students to focus on learning.
Rethinking Assessment
The program has moved beyond traditional lab reports to more dynamic evaluation methods, including:
- Student-recorded video walkthroughs of circuits
- Screenshots of waveform outputs and measurement data
- Verbal explanations of design choices and troubleshooting steps
This approach emphasizes both technical accuracy and engineering communication.
Real-World Learning Outcomes
Students develop the ability to:
- Construct circuits based on defined parameters
- Measure, generate, and analyze real signal data
- Transition between simulation and physical systems
- Identify and resolve real-world implementation issues
Common challenges, such as wiring errors or incorrect components, are intentionally part of the learning process, reinforcing debugging and problem-solving skills.
Supporting Long-Term Student Success
Beyond coursework, students frequently adopt the AD3 for capstone projects, extending its value beyond the classroom and into independent design work. By enabling consistent, hands-on learning at scale, the program prepares students for real engineering environments while supporting the needs of modern, flexible education.
