LabVIEW as an effective tool for problem-based learning in undergraduate engineering education

Abstract

There are different views on Problem-based learning (PBL) especially on its advantages and limitations. However, the benefit of PBL method is recognized and widely accepted. This paper, describes the implementation of PBL in a medical instrumentation course that uses LabVIEW as the tool to carry out the assignment. It is useful to introduce LabVIEW as it is an effective toolthat can support the PBL progression. The participants were students enrolled in the final year of their Electronics (Instrumentation) undergraduate programme. Students were required to present their results upon completion at the end of week eleven of fourteen-week academic calendar. The PBL project example described in this paper is focusing on a team of three students that presented a new approach in filtering Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and minimize the interferences using LabVIEW. The success of the Problem Based Learning method implemented in the medical instrumentation course is in the involvement of the students and in the quality of the clinical scenario.