Evaluation of the Developed Stepper Motor Control Lab for Undergrad Microcontroller-Robotics Education

Abstract

This study evaluated the developed cost-effective stepper motor laboratory equipment for undergraduate engineering students, addressing the challenges of financial constraints and limited lab access. Utilizing the ADDIE model, the equipment was designed to support basic to intermediate microcontroller-robotics applications through five experiments. Student performance was assessed by comparing traditional practice, simulations (Tinkercad), and the actual lab equipment across three lab activities, revealing significant improvements with the physical setup. For the remaining two experiments, where Tinkercad lacked the necessary components, a mixed-methods approach was employed. Quantitative survey results demonstrated strong agreement and satisfaction, with Cronbach’s alpha exceeding 0.90, confirming reliability. Qualitative thematic analysis, using Braun and Clarke’s 6-step method, highlighted user-friendliness and component-specific features as key strengths. Minor suggestions primarily focused on improving physical design. These findings validated the effectiveness of the developed stepper motor lab equipment in enhancing practical learning and bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and microcontroller-robotics applications, particularly by overcoming the limitations of simulation-only learning.