WIP: Incorporating Artificial Intelligence When Teaching in Electronics Engineering Technology Program

This is a Research to Practice and Work-in-Progress (WIP) paper that describes the plausible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when teaching courses in the Electronics Engineering Technology program. AI is an emerging technology which has enormous potential to dominate a wide range of useful applications whereas the feasibility of reaching its peak is far from being attainable anywhere soon. In the Electronics Engineering Technology Program, when teaching Digital Electronics course, Boolean algebra and logic are first introduced to novice learners. The design and analysis of the circuit and writing programs with descriptive language such as VHDL or Verilog are also discussed later in the course. Therefore, the learning process trajectory is not always linear, students learn the subject sequentially, and thus it requires more time for them to accumulate knowledge and practice. Thus, by incorporating AI in teaching Digital Electronics, the efficacy of the learning process shall be enhanced, and students will acquire new skills that will support their mission to master all aspects of the course. In this research, students will be taught as before with the extra advantage of choosing a proper AI tool(s) which will be explored, examined, and used in parallel to deliver this course. A preliminary student survey revealed that 90% found AI explanations easy to follow whereas 30% preferred traditional learning and only 20% fully endorsed AI tools, results suggest that AI enhances comprehension despite concerns over accuracy and reliability. The initial feedback showed that students exhibited increased engagement in course material.