COMPUTER-BASED ELECTROMAGNETIC EDUCATION

Computers provide an exciting opportunity for boosting electromagnetic education and corporate training. Animated graphics of the wave propa gation phenomenon, visualization of the abstract and highly mathematic al subjects, one-on-one and self-paced tutoring, and the ability to mi mic often unavailable and expensive laboratory experiments are among t he often-cited benefits of a computer-based electromagnetic education. The activities of the NSF/IEEE Center for Computer Applications in El ectromagnetic Education (CAEME) is reviewed here. This Center was esta blished to stimulate and accelerate the use of computers and software tools in electromagnetic (EM) education. A reflection of the extensive software package developed and distributed by the CAEME Center is des cribed, and examples of the developed software are presented. To help integrate available EM software in classroom teaching and corporate tr aining, CAEME developed four multimedia lessons for instruction. These interactive media lessons integrate and allow individuals to interact ively manipulate information from multimedia sources such as video, so ftware, and animated graphics and also include instructional informati on such as quizzes and tutorials to help evaluate the students' perfor mance. Features of these lessons are presented, and future development s in the Center's activities are discussed.