2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Assessment and Integration of CCCC, the “C-C-C-C,” Into a Course Using Canvas

CCCC, the “C-C-C-C,” is a software-based system that generates circuits with randomized structure and produces step-by-step analyses with equations and detailed discussion. A major upgrade has recently been completed that now permits the CCCC material to be imported into Canvas via Course Export Modules. This supports the integration of a large number of CCCC-generated circuits for examples, practice problems, and assessment. When used for assessment, each student can be assigned a circuit that is structurally distinct.

The generation of circuits and solutions is constrained in order to provide problems appropriate to a given learning objective and with comparable difficulty levels. Learning objectives are typical for a first university-level course in circuits. These include fundamental theorems of circuit behavior, mesh analysis, nodal analysis, Thevenin and Norton models, 1st and 2nd order transients, AC phasor analysis and AC power. CCCC generates PDF documents that describe the step-by-step analyses, it does not simply report the final numerical results of an analysis, as with SPICE. Hundreds of worked examples are available at [BLANK].org and via the Canvas Course Export files.
Randomized circuit structures are intended to benefit student learning by providing a wide range of circuit conditions, encouraging a deeper level of peer engagement when comparing circuits, and mitigate concerns with cheating because each student has to derive their own equations when analyzing the circuit.

Recent upgrades to CCCC materials have improved the details and thoroughness of explanations presented in the step-by-step solutions. These begin with a more generic discussion of the principles associated with a given problem (e.g., KVL and mesh analysis), followed by a detailed and circuit-specific discussion that proceeds equation by equation. A final summary includes a table of the power associated with each element, along with a schematic annotated with all voltages and currents. Each example circuit typically has 4-8 questions and detailed answers are provided. The summary information is intended to highlight connections between underlying principles such as Ohm’s Law, Kirchoff’s Laws, passive sign convention and power.

Our research questions for this paper are:
* How do students perceive the value of CCCC versus other resources?
* Do students feel that the background provided in the CCCC solutions is sufficient?

Note that our goal is not to replace a textbook. Rather, we seek to compliment any text. Hence, there is a tradeoff between completeness and succinctness that is desired.

Summaries of student survey questions will be described in the final paper. As will details on the various formats of CCCC materials that are now available. These include Canvas Course Export Files with 1) examples and no-stakes practice problems, and 2) question banks for creating assessment quizzes. Various strategies for integrating CCCC materials into a course will be compared. This includes a separate website [BLANK].org, for those not having access to Canvas.

These learning materials are provided without cost.