Teaching digital and analog modulation to undergradute Information Technology students using Matlab and Simulink

Abstract

Teaching mathematical intensive engineering based courses to undergraduate Information Technology students poses a great challenge to instructors. In this paper we provide an efficient and effective method for teaching digital and analog modulation to undergraduate students enrolled in an Information Technology program which does not require a strong foundation in mathematics as in the case of an Engineering program. The used approach utilizes Matlab packages, Simulink, and Communication Blockset to simulate analog and digital modulation techniques avoiding the derivation of any mathematics formulations and without coding. A survey that was distributed to Information Technology students who were taught using this approach showed a high level of satisfaction in understanding all modulation concepts.