Evaluation of an IoT-based smart apartment training platform for electrical engineering education

The rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) has significantly transformed modern residential electrical systems and smart home infrastructure. However, practical training in many electrical engineering programs still primarily focuses on traditional wiring experiments and lacks integrated platforms that simulate real-world smart home environments. This study evaluates the educational effectiveness of an IoT-based smart home training platform designed for building electrical engineering education. The proposed training model simulates a residential electrical system comprising lighting circuits, electrical outlets, water heater loads, and air-conditioning loads integrated with a WiFi-based relay controller using the Sonoff 4CH R3 module. An educational experiment was conducted with 32 undergraduate electrical engineering students following the CDIO (Conceive–Design–Implement–Operate) learning framework. Students performed practical activities including electrical wiring, smart relay configuration, and IoT-based remote load control. Learning effectiveness was assessed through pre- and post-test evaluations and student perception surveys. The average score increased from 6.2 to 8.0, representing an approximately 29% increase. The survey results also revealed high levels of student satisfaction and increased interest in smart home technology. The proposed training platform provides an effective hands-on learning environment, supports CDIO-based engineering education, and bridges traditional electrical installation training with modern IoT-based smart home systems.