interactive learning tools, including Java applets and
software like MATLAB and Simulink, have been
utilized to engage students actively, enhancing their
understanding of intricate concepts.
In Indonesia, the lecturer worked to be aligned
with the Law for Teachers and Lecturers with the
crucial roles, i.e. to be facilitator, motivator, trigger,
learning engineer, and to be inspiration of learning to
their student. To increase the quality of national
education, the following roles will be also involved
i.e. to be informer, communicator, transformer,
agents of change, innovator, counselor and
administrator (Muliadi, 2016a).
In recent years, a paradigm shift has been marked
by the initiatives to adopt Free and Open-Source
Software (FOSS) that equivalents of their type of
proprietary tools. FOSS, characterized by its
modifiability and can be redistribute freely
(Fortunato, 2021), aligns with the paradigm of open
knowledge sharing. The FOSS movement has gained
momentum, with initiatives like the Free and Open
Software in Education (FOSSEE) project by MHRD
in India promoting the use of open source tools in
educational institutions (Bajpai, 2018). FOSS is
featured to these three fundamental criteria: the
freedom to use the software for any purpose, the
ability to study and modify its operation, and the
liberty to redistribute the software and its modified
versions (Lehtola, 2022).
FOSS also offers several advantages in teaching,
including access to source code, availability of
precompiled binaries, and general applicability
beyond academia environment (Lehtola, 2022).
Furthermore, for educational purposes, FOSS
provides additional benefits such as free
redistribution and ease of installation, enabling
students to work seamlessly on diverse hardware
platforms (Lehtola, 2022). It also facilitates access to
source code, fostering a deeper understanding of
underlying algorithms. Additionally, FOSS supports
sophisticated workflows, allowing students to deeply
involve into programming and interface various
programs effectively (Lehtola, 2022).
In the context of Control System Engineering, the
integration of FOSS has emerged as a transformative
force. Several FOSS tools, such as Scilab, Octave, and
Python-based libraries like SciPy and control, have
gained prominence in control engineering education.
Scilab, an open source software platform, enables
students to design and analyze control engineering
problems by manipulating associated parameters
(Bajpai, 2018). Scilab Cloud, an online simulation
tool, offers a versatile platform for the analysis of
mathematical equations pertinent to control
engineering (Bajpai, 2018). Moreover, Scilab codes
have been developed for solved examples in
engineering equipped with its textbooks, enriching the
educational experience (Bajpai, 2018). Workshops
and educational initiatives leverage Scilab to solve
mathematical and simulation problems, enhancing
students' practical understanding of control
engineering concepts (Bajpai, 2018). The adoption of
FOSS in control engineering education signifies a
paradigm shift, empowering students with accessible,
versatile, and collaborative tools, fostering a new era
of hands-on learning and innovation in the field of
Control System Engineering.
2
FOSS UTILIZATION IN
CONTROL ENGINEERING
EDUCATION
In this current digital age, the access to educational
resources has been revolutionized, due to the online
platforms and the development of FOSS. The
integration of FOSS tools into teaching activities has
significantly transformed the landscape of control
engineering education, offering accessible and cost-
effective solutions to students and educators alike.
This section delves into the various facets of FOSS
implementation in control engineering education,
highlighting the diverse tools and platforms that
facilitate interactive learning experiences.
2.1 Online Accessibility and Mobile
Learning
Online platforms have grown into a cornerstone of
modern education, breaking down geographical
barriers and providing students with unprecedented
access to resources (Rabek, 2019). Scilab Cloud, an
online simulation tool, exemplifies the power of
online accessibility. Utilizable from 4G-enabled
smartphones, Scilab Cloud empowers students to
create diverse plots and solve intricate mathematical
equations, all through a user-friendly interface
(Bajpai, 2018). In India, the development of the cloud
service that allows the execution of Scilab codes
without the need for local installations, ensuring
seamless online access to computational tools.
Furthermore, initiatives like the Aakash tablet and
laptop, pioneered by the Ministry of Human Resource
Development (MHRD), provide cost-effective
solutions for e-learning, enhancing accessibility and
affordability in educational technology (Bajpai,
2018).