Adapting team-based learning for application in telecommunications engineering using software-defined radio

One of the great challenges of engineering education is bringing theory closer to practical applications. The team-based learning methodology, which uses the flipped classroom concept, is actively centred on the student. The students study a conceptual material independently before it is covered in the classroom. After that, they spend a considerable amount of time working in groups in the classroom solving problems with conceptual application of the material studied. The last stage of team-based learning is the application of course concepts. However, in the telecommunications field, the high cost of equipment for practical development in educational institutions is a big barrier. Moreover, the equipment used is traditionally dedicated to a single activity. In order to solve this problem and apply all the team-based learning stages in telecommunications engineering teaching, this paper presents a proposal of an adaptation of this methodology using a software-defined radio set using the universal software radio peripheral hardware and the GNU Radio software. This set offers flexible functionalities and low cost. Finally, we show the proposal for each team-based learning stage in the learning process of the amplitude modulator and demodulator – double sideband suppressed carrier relating concepts to practical applications.