Troubleshooting exercises using circuit simulator software: support for deep learning in the study of electronic circuits

This paper reports on a pilot research project that investigated the use of an electronic circuit simulation software, Multisim 2001 from Electronics Workbench (tm), and troubleshooting exercises in the study of introductory digital and analogue electronics in a tertiary institution. The ultimate aim of this pilot study was to investigate the levels of higher order learning that may have been achieved by the students while (i) using such software to observe correctly operating simulated circuits, (ii) attempting to simulate described faulty circuit behaviour by introducing defects into the virtual components in order to troubleshoot the badly behaving circuit. An active learning environment was created in a computer laboratory where the students, under academic supervision, worked alone on their desktop computers. At each stage of this process the students’ results were communally discussed with their alternative solutions demonstrated to all attendees on a data projector screen. To find out the level of higher order learning that may have occurred with this learning design, students were asked, while completing the tasks, to respond to survey questions. The questions were constructed with reference to the higher level abilities in Bloom’s cognitive domain taxonomy. This paper also reports on an analysis of answers to the survey questions to reveal whether students have (i) applied the higher level abilities in the cognitive domains of Bloom, (ii) gained deeper understanding of the material and (iii) took part in active learning.