A Real-Time Simulation-Based Practical on Overcurrent Protection for Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Students

From prior studies, it is evident that computer-aided education can be beneficial in various ways. It has also been observed that class sizes are becoming larger in engineering disciplines as the importance of engineering education is realized more by the communities. Concurrently, in an outcome-based learning environment, practical classes have become more important to better facilitate student learning, preparing them to the relevant requirements of real-life tasks. This study aimed at developing a simulation-based practical for electrical engineering students with an improved educational process while addressing issues of large class sizes vis-à-vis expansion of physical laboratories and noted that it can be as effective as a traditional practical and accommodating large class sizes efficiently. In this tutorial paper, an industry-standard software is used to educate students on distribution system protection through a practical together with a standard assessment method with a model of feedback for evaluation. The paper contributes with an improved educational process through the practical in providing the students with experiences similar to industry work to meet the requirements of professional bodies and industries considering primary teaching and learning outcomes as the focus of outcome-based education system. Also, it delivers as a better platform for the students connecting lectures and practical sessions more effectively with the adopted methodology and approach. Further, it can provide the students exciting opportunity to best practice on systems that are highly related to industry applications in addition to encouraging them for advancing their education in the related niche areas of power systems protection.