An Introductory Laboratory Course for Electrical Engineering Majors

A new set of laboratory experiments were developed for our electrical engineering majors taking the first laboratory course in our curriculum. The new set of laboratory experiments provided training in the operation of laboratory instruments, verification of circuit theorems, advanced circuit simulation techniques, applications of operational amplifiers, and the design of signal conditioning circuits. In these new laboratory experiments, students derived theoretical results and simulated the circuits by Multisim. They also prototyped the hardware circuit and obtained the outputs by laboratory instruments. These students also compared these experimental results with theoretical and simulation results and analyzed the differences. Through this process they gained valuable hands-on skills and deeper understanding of the theory and the limitations of the simulation software and the laboratory instruments. This course generated positive student responses that were indicated in the student reports and in the course evaluation.