An analysis of the effects on motivation and learning of using a power- monitoring system

Wu Ping-huang
Tung Nan University
Shen-Keng, Taiwan

I-Fan Liu
National Taiwan University
Taipei, Taiwan

Yen Ching-zon
National Taipei University of Education
Taipei, Taiwan

As most energy resources in Taiwan are imported from foreign countries because of the limited natural resources available, making power usage efficient becomes a significant issue. To achieve this goal, we propose to use power-usage monitoring not only to provide an efficient power supply, power control and real-time data monitoring, but also data monitoring records and reports.

In this study, a power-monitoring system using a PC-based controller was developed for a college-level training course. The research involved 24 undergraduate students in northern Taiwan studying the 16-week ‘Power Monitoring’ course, in which 80% of the time was ‘lecture-oriented’ work in the laboratory and the other 20% was spent on the Internet. The researcher participated in both the laboratory and web-based aspects of the course. Questionnaires and interviews at the end of the semester were used to investigate the students’ motivation and assess whether the system functionalities met their needs. The learning motivation of students who took the course was categorized into:

1. understanding the actual operations of power monitoring in the real world;
2. gaining more knowledge about power supply and power control;
3. develop power-monitoring skills for future executive management personnel.

According to the research results, student interest and motivation increased significantly, resulting in an obvious improvement in learning about how power monitoring works in practice. The students were able to operate the power-monitoring system, use the web-based learning system platform and learn through interaction with other students.