Empowering STEM Education at High Schools by a Talkative Power Based Learning Platform

Article Sidebar

PDF
Published: Feb 11, 2025

Main Article Content

Nazi Homayounnasab
Kiel University
Peter Adam Hoeher
Kiel University
Sandra Hansen
Kiel University

Abstract

This paper deals with an integration of STEM education and project-based learning (PBL) by introducing a hybrid hardware/software-based learning platform covering eight learning units. PBL not only bridges the gap between theory and practice, but also focuses on improving students' soft skills, which is important as they prepare for further education or the job. The proposed STEM learning platform combines power electronics, digital communications and informatics by using the novel talkative power conversion (TPC) concept as a common framework, providing a multidisciplinary approach with relevance to society. Young people have a unique chance to learn fundamentals of these areas as well as acquiring practical skills by implementing these principles in hands-on experiments. The level of difficulty is adjustable so that the learning platform is suitable for both pupils at high school as well as university students. In this paper, the learning units are adapted to the abilities of pupils in their last two high school years, subsequently referred to as high school seniors.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 25 No. 4 (2024): Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research
Section
Articles
Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the Institute for STEM Education and Research with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings.
Author Biographies

Nazi Homayounnasab, Kiel University

Nazi Homayounnasab earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Azad University, Iran, in 2002, and a Dipl.Ing. (M.Sc.) in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from Kiel University, Germany, in 2023. As a Senior RF Engineer at Telecommunication Organization, Tehran, from 2002 to 2018, she brings over 15 years of telecommunications experience, specializing in RF engineering. She participated in bilateral and multilateral frequency coordination meetings as a technical expert, including ITU-R study group 1, SATRC 12, and 13. Her research interests include spectrum management and digital communications, particularly Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) and Talkative Power Conversion (TPC) for renewable energy systems.

Peter Adam Hoeher, Kiel University

Peter Adam Hoeher received the Dipl.-Ing. degree in electrical engineering from RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany, in 1986, and the Dr.-Ing. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany, in 1990. From 1986 to 1998, he was with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. From 1991 to 1992, he was on leave at AT\&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ. In 1998, he joined the University of Kiel, Germany, where he is a Full Professor of electrical and information engineering. His research interests are in the general area of digital communications including simultaneous information and power transfer.

Sandra Hansen, Kiel University

Sandra Hansen got her master’s degree in Materials Science Engineering at the Kiel University, followed by her Dr.-Ing. in Materials Science Engineering in 2017. Her research concentrated on materials development for energy storage systems, including new concepts for Li-ion and post-Li batteries. After heading a sub-group at the chair of functional nano-materials at Kiel University, she changed professions to project-oriented learning and teaches high school pupils and university students to encourage their interest in STEM subjects.