International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Volume 7 Issue 1, January 2018 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Student’s Performance in Digital Electronic Design: A Comparison between Two Education Techniques, Project Based Learning and Micro-Learning Diaeddeen Elmezoghi 1 , Can Doğan Vurdu 2 1 Material Science and Engineering Department, Institute of Science, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu, Turkey 2 Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu, Turkey Abstract: In regard to the ongoing efforts to improve engineering education, this paper presents the experience in using of two education technology in separate in teaching digital electronic design subject in YıldırımBeyazıt university, and clarifies the difference in student performance factor in digital electronic design subject between two groupsof students learn the subject in the university in the aim of finding a new effective and instructive learning method, the first group learns the subject using micro leaning technique and the other group learns the subject by using project-based learning technique. The use of these techniques has had a good impact on student educationand the assessment of this study, shows the difference in applying Micro Learning technique in teaching digital electronic subject compared to applying Project-Based Learning technique. Keywords: Student performance, Digital Electronics, Project Based Learning, Micro-learning Introduction, FPGA, Engineering Education 1. Introduction Student performance is the extent to which a student has achieved his short or long-term educational goals. Cumulative grade point average “GPA” and completion of educational degrees, it is commonly measured through examinations or continuous assessments[1], and the performance improvement in teaching and learning is an important challenge for universities to improve their outputs, achieve the development and because of its significance as a field of scientific research. The universities Support studies and research in this area to boost their rank and to keep pace with the changes out of the class in real world, this target drove us to search in ways of making the learning of digital electronic design subject more effective, instructive and to improve student performance. The paper is a part of study named “Using Of Project-Based Learning and Micro- Learning Technique and FPGA Technology in Teaching Digital Electronics Subject”, presents the difference in performance factor in digital electronic design subject between two groups of students learning the subject. The main aim of study is to meet the growing need to improve digital electronic education methods for effective, fast and thorough learning process and in additional to enhance the performance of students as a result, To achieve that, we applied and examined two educational methods in teaching digital electronics subject on two undergraduate groups, Micro Learning technique on the first group, Project Based Learning on the second group with the instructive examples and attractive projects covered the course by using Field Programmable Gate Array “FPGA” technology. The course lectures divided in 3 theoretical hours and 2 lab hours, the developed instructive and attractive examples studied in the course by using FPGA technology and combined various hardware and software activities to make the learning of subject more attractive and beneficial. FPGA characteristics and Graphical Programming with Simulation Software examples are intuitive and powerful tools that enhance the interest of students in engineering and science studies, boost ability to update, and offer advantages to the students for many applications. FPGA are well-suited because of its advantages "flexible in use, reconfigurable to adapt for any new standards, can be programmed after manufacturing instead of being restricted to any predetermined hardware function, can be implemented to any logical function, allowed complexity in design, and for its graphical interface. 2. Theoretical Background and Methods Micro-learning model Micro-learning maybe defined as a process of subsequent, "short" learning activities[2], i.e. learning through interaction with micro-content objects in small timeframes[3, 4], the first model of study is learning digital electronics course applying (ML) Micro-learning technique, studying examples and projects of the study (attractive and instructive examples and projects) using FPGA. In this model the student aims to benefit from Micro-learning, and it is introduced with quite small learning pieces and activities for short term learning. This model is conducted in digital electronic course, second semester students, 2016 fall period (56 student) and we applied Micro- learning technology in teaching this model to benefit from its characteristics and in additional to benefit from FPGA technology. It is important in teaching digital electronic design to add large examples into digital electronic course parts by dividing them into small sub-blocks. Each sub block should take definite and measurable small time to address definite topic of digital electronics course, and must be designed in term of education to reach the advantage of Micro learning technique. The topics were shared to the students in computer images or text files, also the media of internet offered another choices and possibilities to help students in their work and played a significant role in learning processes. The course was attractive, instructive and Paper ID: ART20179630 DOI: 10.21275/ART20179630 1714