@inproceedings{Fuhrmann, author = {Fuhrmann, Thomas}, title = {Semi-Structured Lab Projects in Communication Engineering Education}, series = {2023 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), 01-04 May 2023, Kuwait}, booktitle = {2023 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), 01-04 May 2023, Kuwait}, publisher = {IEEE}, doi = {10.1109/EDUCON54358.2023.10125244}, pages = {1 -- 5}, abstract = {It is generally known that project-based learning is a very important part of engineering education to connect theoretical knowledge with practical work. Students learn to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges as it is the case in their later professional life. If students are not used to project work or the scientific topic is new and relatively complex, they may be overwhelmed. The consequence is that students achieve poor results, are frustrated, and therefore learning success is low. Semi-structured projects are introduced that combine the advantages of structured experiments with projects. The project work is structured into several parts with detailed descriptions of the tasks. In the end, students get similar results to doing a free project, but the success rate is higher due to higher guidance. Therefore, these semi-structured projects are seen to be an appropriate method to guide students to learn how to do project work. The feedback from most students is very positive. Some students with no previous lab experience complained about the project work and wished for more guidance to become familiar with lab work. In sum, the student feedback is encouraging to develop semi-structured projects further.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FuhrmannNiemetz, author = {Fuhrmann, Thomas and Niemetz, Michael}, title = {Analysis and Improvement of Engineering Exams Toward Competence Orientation by Using an AI Chatbot}, series = {Towards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education: Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning (ICL2023), Volume 1}, booktitle = {Towards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education: Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning (ICL2023), Volume 1}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {9783031519789}, issn = {2367-3370}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-51979-6_42}, pages = {403 -- 411}, abstract = {ChatGPT is currently one of the most advanced general chatbots. This development leads to diverse challenges in higher education, like new forms of teaching and learning, additional exam methods, new possibilities for plagiarism, and many more topics. On the other side with the development of advanced AI tools, pure knowledge will be less and less important, and demands from industry will change toward graduates with higher competencies. Education has therefore to be changed from knowledge-centered toward competence centered. The goal of this article is to use ChatGPT for analyzing and improving the competence orientation of exams in engineering education. The authors use ChatGPT to analyze exams from different engineering subjects to evaluate the performance of this chatbot and draw conclusions about the competence orientation of the tested exams. The obtained information is used to develop ideas for increasing the competence orientation of exams. From this analysis, it is visible that ChatGPT gives good performance mainly where knowledge is tested. It has, however, much more problems with transfer questions or tasks where students need creativity or complex insights for finding new solutions. Based on this result, exams and also lectures can be optimized toward competence orientation.}, language = {en} } @article{JohnsonAnwerXuetal., author = {Johnson, Ebin M. and Anwer, Shakil and Xu, Yongchao and Fuhrmann, Thomas and Mandl, Roland}, title = {Contactless Low-Cost Position Sensor using a D-Shaped Polymer Optical Fiber}, series = {IEEE Sensors Journal}, journal = {IEEE Sensors Journal}, publisher = {IEEE}, doi = {10.1109/JSEN.2023.3348127}, abstract = {This article describes a contactless fiber-optic position sensor. It comprises a Polymer Optical Fiber that is grinded to form a D-shaped cross-section with an exposed fiber core. This sensor has two photodiodes at both fiber ends to measure the emitted light intensity. Light is coupled using a red LED at the side face into the exposed core of the fiber at a defined position. The position of the LED at the length of the fiber is measured by calculating the optical power quotient measured by both photodiodes. To test this sensor, Polymer Optical Fibers with different side surface roughness are produced and qualified. Measurements show that the optical power quotient is reproducible and nearly linear over the length of the fiber. It is also seen that the fiber attenuation increases when grinding the fiber side-face with rougher sandpaper. Position measurements show an absolute position error of this sensor in the range of a few millimeters. Microscope images show surface defects along the polished side face of the fiber that are expected to lead to a nonuniform attenuation along the fiber and cause the position errors. Overall, it is proven that this sensor principle works as a contactless low-cost position sensor for short distances with an absolute position standard deviation error lower than 1 mm.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{Fuhrmann, author = {Fuhrmann, Thomas}, title = {Teaching Digital Electronics Principles by Connecting Diverse Technologies}, series = {2024 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment and Learning for Engineering (TALE), 09-12 December 2024, Bengaluru, India}, booktitle = {2024 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment and Learning for Engineering (TALE), 09-12 December 2024, Bengaluru, India}, publisher = {IEEE}, isbn = {979-8-3503-7623-4}, doi = {10.1109/TALE62452.2024.10834379}, pages = {1 -- 5}, abstract = {A lab course for digital electronics is developed and implemented in the second semester of a bachelor of engineering study program. This lab course runs parallel to a lecture about the basics of digital electronics. The goal of this lab course is that students should acquire the competence to develop digital circuits, no matter which design technique or circuit technology they use. Therefore, students have to learn abstract thinking without sticking to a certain digital design technique or circuit technology. For this reason, digital circuits with identical functions are developed by students, using different digital design techniques. A SPICE simulation software, the Analog Discovery board, VHDL simulation and implementation using an FPGA board are used for the five experiments with increasing complexity that are carried out during this lab course. The last task is a small project where students can carry out own ideas. The lecturer sees that students are very engaged during this lab course and also their feedback is very positive. They answered that the time frame and complexity of the course was appropriate, the usage of the Analog Discovery board was very instructive, and they learned much. In sum, the students are very satisfied with the course. This success is encouraging to retain the overall structure of this lab course and develop the details further.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FuhrmannNiemetz, author = {Fuhrmann, Thomas and Niemetz, Michael}, title = {Fostering democratic attitude within engineering education}, series = {11th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'25)}, booktitle = {11th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'25)}, publisher = {Editorial Universitat Polit{\`e}cnica de Val{\`e}ncia (edUPV)}, address = {Valencia}, doi = {10.4995/HEAd25.2025.20093}, pages = {879 -- 886}, abstract = {According to the education ideal advocated by Wilhelm von Humboldt, education should be a holistic process to develop the whole human being and should not be narrowed toward job training. For example, in democratic societies, education should be directed to fostering a democratic mindset of students to strengthen pluralistic democracy. It is always possible to introduce a general course into a study program that deals with democratic education from a theoretical point of view. But by introducing such a course, the time spent on technical subjects will be reduced. The other major disadvantage of such solutions is that democratic education is seen to be separated from technical education. But in the contrary, democracy should be included in the whole life as a general way of thinking and cooperation between individuals. Therefore, ideas and lecture experiences are presented in this article on how democratic education can be integrated into all engineering subjects as an elementary educational design concept. Students should be led toward a general democratic attitude by practical application. To achieve this, democratic learning environments can be established in all types of courses like lectures, seminars, and labs. This includes, for example, the design of exercises, the presentation of the theoretical content, and the interaction between professors and students as well as the interaction between the students themselves as induced by the teaching activities. Also in exams, elements to promote democratic thinking are possible: Exams should be not directed to learning only content but toward understanding, creativity, and problem-solving competence. They should include, where possible, the fact that correct technical solutions are not unique but that a multiverse of solutions exists, with each solution featuring various strengths and weaknesses. This not only sensitizes the students for the need for (e.g. socially or environmentally) responsible technical design choices but also allows them to find optimized solutions for the engineering challenges at hand. In sum, lecturers should be aware that a democratic learning environment is a demanding process, as students must be taken as serious partners in a joint learning process and surprises are to be expected.}, language = {en} }