Abstract
This paper describes a computer-based ‘visual tutor’ that was developed to reinforce the learning abilities of students pursuing the Digital Electronic Course (ECNG 1014) at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of the West Indies. Macromedia Flash MX was used to create the necessary text, graphics and interaction needed for the application. The considerations that informed the design of the visual tutor were colour coding, examples, exercises and diagrams. It is believed that these aspects would be most useful to the user. The design also focused on certain functions that should be performed throughout. Also, the main elements of the graphical interface were identified. Seven chapters are included within the tutor, from ‘Introduction to Digital Electronics’ to ‘Sequential Logic’, with a single chapter linked to the enhanced VHDL Tutorial with Applications (EVITA). Students found the tutor to be both useful and helpful, and gave it an overall average rating of 7.2 on a scale of 0–9, and 88% agreed that it had encouraged them to learn more about digital electronics. The use of animated and highly visual teaching aids was therefore proven to be effective in assisting students in their study of digital electronics. The visual tutor is called ‘SmartStart’.
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