RESEARCH PAPER
From simulation to experiment: Using KiCad to design electric circuits in the physics classroom
 
More details
Hide details
1
Physikalisches Institut, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nürnberg, GERMANY
 
2
Institute of Physics and Astronomy, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, HUNGARY
 
3
Institute of Physics Education, Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, GERMANY
 
 
Online publication date: 2024-09-19
 
 
Publication date: 2024-10-01
 
 
EURASIA J. Math., Sci Tech. Ed 2024;20(10):em2510
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Secondary school students encounter a wide range of electronic devices in their everyday lives that are not usually covered in physics classes. Examples include mobile phone power adapters that convert high-voltage alternating current to low-voltage direct current. However, such examples are often not used sufficiently in the classroom to provide students with insights into (a) the specific applications of the electronic components used and (b) the underlying electronic design process. To fill this gap, we have designed a new context-based, easy-to-implement teaching-learning sequence that guides students to how to use the electronic design and simulation program KiCad which is being widely used by professionals in the field, (2) build their own analog experimental setup of a mobile phone power supply, and thus (3) understand how a mobile phone power supply works. The presented part of the teaching-learning sequence focuses on the use of KiCad and is designed to allow students to work individually and in groups to learn according to the think-pair-share principle based on a set of tasks we created. This paper examines the pedagogical potential of KiCad and provides a detailed description of the teaching-learning sequence and reports on initial classroom experiences: A total of N = 28 students aged 16 to 17 years participated in the unit as part of an extracurricular course and completed a questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model to investigate the perceived ease of use and usability of the KiCad software. We found that despite the fact that the students had not used KiCad before, they were quite positive about the educational material as a whole and the KiCad software in particular.
 
REFERENCES (22)
1.
Aguilar, H. M. (2016). Experiments with a differential transformer. Physics Education, 51(6), Article 065001. https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9....
 
2.
Alsmadi, M., Tabieh, A. A., Alsaifi, R. M., & Al-Nawaiseh, S. J. (2023). The effect of the collaborative discussion strategy think-pair-share on developing students’ skills in solving engineering mathematical problems. European Journal of Educational Research, 12(2), 1123-1135. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-je....
 
3.
Caplan, G. M. (2009). Three-phase and six-phase AC at the lab bench. The Physics Teacher, 47(6), 380-384. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3204....
 
4.
Coates, E. (2024). What is a smoothing capacitor? http://www.learningaboutelectr....
 
5.
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319-340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008.
 
6.
Energy Education. (2024). Ac adapter. https://energyeducation.ca/enc....
 
7.
Faina, A. (2022). Learning hands-on electronics from home: A simulator for fritzing. In Proceedings of the Climbing and Walking Robots Conference (pp. 404-413). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-....
 
8.
Granić, A. (2022). Educational technology adoption: A systematic review. Education and Information Technologies, 27(7), 9725-9744. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639....
 
9.
Hamamous, A., & Benjelloun, N. (2022). Impact of the use of the physics crocodile simulator in the teaching and learning of electricity in high school (Morocco). International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 12(10), 996-1004. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijiet....
 
10.
Holden, H., & Rada, R. (2011). Understanding the influence of perceived usability and technology self-efficacy on teachers’ technology acceptance. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 43(4), 343-367. https://doi.org/10.1080/153915....
 
11.
Knörig, A., Wettach, R., & Cohen, J. (2009, February). Fritzing: A tool for advancing electronic prototyping for designers. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Tangible and Embedded Interaction (pp. 351-358). https://doi.org/10.1145/151766....
 
12.
Krug, M., & Huwer, J. (2023). Safety in the laboratory–An exit game lab rally in chemistry education. Computers, 12(3), Article 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/comput....
 
13.
Malik, A., Setiawan, A., Suhandi, A., & Permanasari, A. (2017). Learning experience on transformer using hot lab for pre-service physics teacher’s. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 895, Article 012140. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6....
 
14.
Minkner, R., & Schmid, J. (2021). The technology of instrument transformers: Current and voltage measurement and insulation systems. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-....
 
15.
Nagel, L., & Pederson, D. O. (1973). 1973 Spice (simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis) tech. rep. UCB/ERL M382 EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley. http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/....
 
16.
Palmer, D. H. (2009). Student interest generated during an inquiry skills lesson. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 46(2), 147-165. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20....
 
17.
Rap, S., & Blonder, R. (2024). Technology acceptance when teaching climate change. Journal of Science Education and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956....
 
18.
Roy, A., Ghosal, M., Mallick, A., Roy, D., & Biswas, B. (2024). Construction and remote demonstration of an inexpensive but efficient experimental setup for studying self-inductance and mutual-inductance between two coils. Physics Education, 59(2), Article 025022. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6....
 
19.
Sitkey, M. (2018). The experiments with a transformer in high school. In CBU International Conference Proceedings (Vol. 6, p. 768). Central Bohemia University. https://doi.org/10.12955/cbup.....
 
20.
Tenzin, D., Utha, K., & Seden, K. (2023). Effectiveness of simulation, hands-on and a combined strategy in enhancing conceptual understanding on electric circuit: A comparative study. Research in Science & Technological Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/026351....
 
21.
Whitelegg, E., & Parry, M. (1999). Real-life contexts for learning physics: Meanings, issues and practice. Physics Education, 34, Article 68. https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9....
 
22.
Zhao, K., Ciufo, P., & Perera, S. (2012). Rectifier capacitor filter stress analysis when subject to regular voltage fluctuations. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 28(7), 3627-3635. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2....
 
eISSN:1305-8223
ISSN:1305-8215
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top