Incorporating Auditory Processing into Undergraduate Signal Processing Courses to Enhance Student Learning

This paper describes the educational experience of developing lab components and projects designed to enhance understanding key signal processing concepts in undergraduate Signals and Systems courses. Students work with signal-processing algorithms commonly used in auditory models and speech-processing applications for hearing aids and cochlear implants. This approach provides an interactive way to understand digital filters, nonlinear systems, speech analysis and synthesis, Fourier transform, and modulation/demodulation. Assessment results show that students have a highly favorable view of these specially designed labs and projects.