Computer-based antenna education at the Technological educational institute of crete

Abstract

In the past most electronic engineering students tended to have repulsion against subjects related to microwaves, electromagnetics and antennas, especially due to their abstract, theoretically demanding, and complex mathematics requiring nature. This paper contains a representative sample of the authors’ efforts to keep students’ interest at electromagnetic subjects high and to have several students specialized in such topics. At the Microwave Communications and Electromagnetic Applications Lab of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete (TEIC) we have developed several computer-based exercises and virtual experiments to accompany all lectures and complement most laboratory exercises, respectively. Various computer tools, and especially Mathematica, have been used in order to improve electromagnetic and antenna teaching. As a result, the teaching-learning process in TEI-C has been highly upgraded and since 2000-01 students interact with the theory and they are more interested in these courses accomplishing better grades.