Photovoltaic Design Projects Increase ECE Student Engagement

In this paper, we share the pedagogical change of converting half the semester [previously focused on laboratories reinforcing basic concepts and application of circuit theory] to projects based on designing novel applications of photovoltaic technologies at the end-use level in a residential home. In this electrical and computer engineering required course [ECEG 210], we scaffolded students in the design and prototyping of novel PV systems while increasing the project-based learning and engineering design aspects of the course. This novel approach introduces second year ECE students to some of the pressing challenges and opportunities presented by the decreasing costs of PV hardware. In this work, we examine the project innovations made to the ECEG 210 course to develop students' skills and knowledge of PV materials and aid in them learning about the newest applications of PV already available in the industry literature and marketplace.