Discussion on the Teaching Reform of the Automatic Control Theory

Abstract

As the specialized basic course of automation, the subject of Automatic Control Theory is a significant part of the professional knowledge system, having negligible effect on students in their engineering practice and innovative ability. However, either teachers or students face the difficulties in the teaching practice of this subject, so as to encumber the improvement of teaching quality and the realization of teaching purpose. Therefore, it is definitely necessary to promote the positive teaching reform for the course of the theory of automatic control. First of all, this article introduces the characteristics of the subject; secondly, it analyzes the present problems about the teaching practice, and fatherly it discusses effective strategies for reforming the teaching of this course. The Characteristics of Automatic Control Theory Course The characteristics of this subject mainly include:first,it is related to many relevant specialized subjects. Automatic control theory is the specialized basic course of majors such as automation, electrical engineering and automation, mechanical engineering and automation. Meanwhile, it is also the elementary course of subjects including energy and power, machinery, electrical information, instrumentation and other disciplines; besides of these, it is a very important lesson to many engineering majors. Second, the course of automatic control theory is the basis for subsequent courses. It is the specialized basic discipline of the subjects or majors and is established during the period of transition time from basic course to specialized course, so the teaching design, content organization and teaching quality directly affects student's reflection for subsequent courses and their full understanding of the whole specialized knowledge. Third, it is especially difficult to learn the course. The course covers a variety of subjects, such as mathematics, electronics, physics, mechanical, electrical, etc., and is closely related to the actual engineering control system. It is rich in content, wide in the knowledge, profound in theory and fast in update, which sets up more difficulties to students in learning. If teachers too much emphasize theories and mathematical derivations, the teaching process will inevitably become boring, which not only arouses student's hostile emotion, but also prevent them from improving in many abilities.