Effect of Proteus Simulation Software on Students’ Acquisition of Electronic Circuit Design Skills in Technical Colleges in Niger State, Nigeria

Umanyi Emmanuel Peace Chinwendu, Oji Michael Ugochukwu (MNSE), Onwuma Uzoma Akajiaku, Itam Promise Thomas

Abstract


The effect of Proteus simulation software on the acquisition of electronic circuit design skill of the students in technical colleges in Niger State, Nigeria was studied. This study was initiated because there is a need to reinforce the practical electronics education by using a computer-based simulation that enables students to design, test, modify and troubleshoot circuits before they are constructed. The quasi-experimental pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design was used. This study was carried out in selected technical colleges in Niger State, with the Electronics Technology students. Two intact classes were sampled in the ratio of 1:1 with 80 students allocated to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group was taught with Proteus simulation software and the control group was taught according to the traditional teaching method. An Electronic Circuit Design Skills Test (ECDST) was used to gather data and tested the students' skills in the areas of circuit schematic design, component selection and connection, circuit simulation/testing, and circuit troubleshooting. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses when a significance level of 0.05 was used and mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The illustrative results demonstrated that the students who were taught through Proteus simulation software had higher posttest performance than the students who were taught through the conventional method. There was also a significant difference between the Proteus group and the other group in terms of schematic design, circuit simulation/testing, and troubleshooting skills. The results indicate a potential for simulation software to give learners opportunities to practice electronic circuit design in a relatively cheap and safe environment. The study concludes that Proteus can supplement the physical lab activities in technical colleges. 

Effect of Proteus Simulation Software on Students’ Acquisition of Electronic Circuit Design Skills in Technical Colleges in Niger State, Nigeria


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References


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