2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Laboratory work is a core part of electrical engineering education, but many traditional lab formats tend to focus more on following procedures than on building real understanding and analytical thinking. This paper introduces and evaluates a different approach simulation-integrated lab framework implemented in two undergraduate courses: a junior-level Analog Electronics course and a senior-level Power Electronics course.
In this approach, circuit simulations are not just used after the experiment for verification. Instead, they are built into the pre-lab process as a required step. Students use simulations to predict circuit behavior, guide design decisions, and prepare for troubleshooting before they ever touch the hardware. During the lab, these simulations serve as a reference point to help students diagnose issues more systematically.
Survey data from 84 students across both courses show clear benefits. Students reported stronger conceptual understanding, better alignment between theory, simulation, and real measurements, and increased confidence when working with complex circuits. Most students also observed good agreement between simulated and experimental results and found simulations especially useful for identifying design mistakes, component issues, and implementation errors.
In addition, student feedback highlighted better preparation going into lab sessions, less reliance on trial-and-error debugging, and a stronger connection between mathematical analysis and real-world circuit behavior. Overall, the results suggest that incorporating structured pre-lab simulations can significantly improve learning outcomes and practical skills without requiring additional lab time or resources. The framework also proved effective at both junior and senior levels, making it a strong candidate for broader use across the electrical engineering curriculum.