User`s guide

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5. Conclusions and Future Work
This project examined two existing laboratories in WPI’s Engineering Experiment course
and made a series of recommendations and actions, in the hope of improving the educational
value, student experience and the cost-effectiveness of the laboratories.
The project recommended two alternative signal conditioners to use in the laboratories.
Both signal conditioners provide satisfactory performance and student experience, in addition to
being economical. Adopting either of the recommended models will help reduce expenses, and
enable dual or multiple axes measurements.
Software and laboratory instruction materials are updated. The software updates
improved user experience of the existing program. The instruction materials contain
comprehensive information to assist the students and instructors to prepare for and conduct the
experiments.
A review of similar laboratories developed by other institutes is included in the
background section of this report. Future effort of improving and expanding the laboratories can
be focused on introducing measurement of strain multiple axes for both labs, it will provide more
depth to the existing laboratories.
If the recommendations and updated materials are adopted, a brief survey can be
conducted to study the effects of the changes. Inputs from instructors and students are valuable
as references for future efforts to improve the laboratories.