Integrating Printed Sensors and IoT into Electrical Engineering Education: A Practice-Oriented Course

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a Master's- level elective course that integrates Printed Sensor Technologies with Internet of Things (IoT) system design to foster interdisci-plinary, application-driven engineering education. Responding to the growing demand for sustainable, connected systems in fields such as environmental monitoring and smart agriculture, the course combines theoretical grounding with hands-on prototyping using low-cost, flexible materials and embedded platforms. Students engage in the full development cycle, from printed sensor design and simulation to microcontroller-based integration and cloud connectivity, emphasizing energy efficiency, modularity and real-world deployment scenarios. The pedagogical approach leverages flipped classroom strategies, collaborative learning and continuous project-based assessment as a difference to the traditional exams. Challenges in implementation, including equipment availability, faculty expertise and the need for adaptable lab environments, are addressed, while future improvements such as remote lab access, industry mentoring and open-source project dissemination are proposed. This initiative aims to equip emerging engineers with a robust skill set in sustainable hardware design, systems integration and innovation-oriented thinking, in line with the evolving landscape of engineering education.