E-Logic Trainer Kit : Development of an Electronic Educational Simulator and Quiz Kit for Logic Gate Combinational Circuit by using Arduino as Application

Abstract

To supplement conventional teaching methods, use of new technology have recently being adapted in the current education system. Such examples are implementing simulators and quiz kits in a classroom session to assist teachers in providing standardized evaluation or practical and more direct examples of concepts that are being taught. Additionally, the well-known issue of attracting student interest in a so-called uninteresting conventional lecture may be solved by using this technological method. The objective of this works to provide methods on developing a prototype training kit (named as e-Logic trainer kit or e-LTK) which comprises of an electronic simulator and quiz assessment module to evaluate subject knowledge on logic gates. The e-LTK is developed by using Arduino Mega 2560 as the base microcontroller, equipped with keypad and display module as the user input/output interface. The quiz assessment module contained in the prototype also allows conversion of inputs by combinatorial logic circuits into output in the form of timing diagram. This equipment enables electrical engineering students to simulate several combinations of logic circuit, reinforcing the understanding of logic circuit operation. The effectiveness of using this prototype in educational settings have been evaluated through a survey on students and instructors at Faculty of Technology in Engineering (FTK) in Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM). Response has been positive, with 60% of the correspondence has shown positive feedbacks, indicating the usefulness of the prototype kit.