Teaching touch sensing technologies through project-based learning

Compared with conventional keyboard and mouse systems, touch sensing input devices provide more accurate and direct interaction with the user. More and more touch devices appear in various domains. To keep up with this technology change, we have introduced touch sensing technologies to electrical and computer engineering technology students by using the project-based learning (PBL) approach. Our experiences indicate that the PBL approach is efficient and practical for teaching touch sensing techniques. Two different sets of courseware including hardware kits and software packages have been utilized in design projects to teach touch in two existing courses respectively. Students have shown the great interest and the capability in adopting touch devices into their senior embedded systems design projects to improve user interactions with the computing systems.