**5. Conclusion**

students have a free access to the models through the institutional LAN (the access is also

In the laboratory, they measure the characteristics of the motors and compare them with those from virtual models. They also discuss and explain in detail the motor behavior and the

The work with the virtual models saves time at virtual experimentation, but it requires a careful and detailed explanation and analysis of the obtained characteristics by the teacher-how and why is the behavior of the motor corresponding to the form of the characteristics. Otherwise,

To get feedback from the students and their opinion of introducing the virtual models in the regular teaching, inspired by a questionnaire presented in [9] for Electrical Drives subject we have applied the questionnaire for the Electrical Machines subject and evaluated it (Table 4). Altogether, 36 full-time students of the bachelor study in four groups answered the questions.

**# A B C D E**

Q2 I need the help of instructor to understand graphs 16 13 3 2 2

The student ratings on the evaluation of incorporating the virtual models into teaching – both into lectures and prior laboratory work – are generally positive. It was observed that majority of students found it useful, interesting, and contributing to increasing knowledge about the

The students works with the virtual models also in the following years in the subjects like:

11 18 5 2 0

27 5 2 2 0

29 4 2 1 0

30 5 1 0 0

30 4 2 0 0

available in the student hostels).

virtual models

the laboratory

subjects

continue with their development

**Table 4.** Questionnaire statements and their evaluation

Q5

subject.

influence of motor parameters on the characteristics.

28 E-Learning - Instructional Design, Organizational Strategy and Management

the students do not fully understand the graphs.

Q1 My background knowledge is sufficient to understand working with of the

Q3 Working with models helped me to understand better experimentation in

Q4 I gained new knowledge when working with virtual models (they helped me to understand better the phenomena in electrical machines)

Q6 I would recommend development of similar virtual models also in other

The virtual models of electrical machines are useful and I recommend to

Evaluation criteria: A - strongly agree, B - agree, C - neutral, D - disagree, E - strongly disagree

The aim of this study was to present the methodology and results in the development of virtual models of two types of electrical machines in the MATLAB graphical development environ‐ ment: the one-phase induction motor used in home applications and the stepper motor used widely in automation.

The MATLAB GUIDE, on the one hand, presents a comfortable tool enabling the development of GUI in a very easy and understandable way. On the other hand, it limits the utilization of virtual models by the necessity of the MATLAB program purchase. We do consider it as a limitation because MATLAB is widely distributed and presents a standard tool at the univer‐ sities. Another solution is to use MATLAB server features through the Internet, which enables registered users (students) to utilize the developed interfaces for free. In the boundary case, a stand-alone .exe program can also be developed, but here, some special features of the MATLAB program are lost (Simulink, SymbolicMath toolbox, Animation toolbox, and some other specialties), and they are replaced by bothersome programming.

The two developed GUIs of the one-phase induction motor and of the stepper motor complete the series of virtual modules developed earlier [5] for the subject of electrical machines, like the virtual models of the DC motor, the three-phase AC motors, and the BLDC motor. The virtual models show system performance in various working points and analyze the influence of variable system parameters, modes of supply, and control parameters on system behavior.

The virtual dynamical models, on one hand, contribute to the e-learning support of teaching and, on the other hand, serve for preparation of students before entering the laboratory experimentation. Their utilization also supports and makes more attractive lectures and considerably enhances the explanation of properties of machines.
