Use of virtual industry and laboratory machines to teach electric circuit theory

At the beginning of Fall 2012, the new modules of the Electrical Engineering Department at the Federal University of Ceara, Technology Center, Brazil, significantly modified the instructional philosophy of the TH0 176 Electric Circuit II module. The theory course was enhanced by the introduction of more engineering designs into the curriculum, adopting the virtual industry, and laboratory machine as a methodology to teach alternating electric circuit. This paper discusses the use of this new methodology in detailed form. An example is discussed, along with mathematical models, which describes electric circuit behavior, and it helps each team of students to have a specific homework. The approach presented in this paper can be adapted to any other course in engineering/science that involves mathematical calculations. So far, the course evaluations suggest that the students are more motivated and excited about electrical engineering as a career.