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Learning Objects
Dive into Wisc-Online’s rich collection of learning objects — bite-sized, interactive, and designed for real learning. These modular digital tools include animations, drag-and-drop exercises, quizzes, videos, and more. You can explore topics across STEM, arts, humanities, career skills, and beyond. Each learning object is crafted to help learners actively engage with content—reviewing, applying, self-checking—in a way that’s flexible and self-paced.
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Learning Object
The Basic Operation of a Diode
In this interactive and animated object, learners examine the operation of a semiconductor diode when it is forward and reverse biased. A brief quiz completes the activity.
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biased, diode, diodes, forward, reverse, rr0001, semiconductor
The Basics of Welding Electricity
Explore welding electricity fundamentals including electron theory, parts of a circuit, welding power sources, and types of current.
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amperage, electricity fundamentals, parts of a circuit, resistance, voltage, welding input power
The Broadband Telco Services Subscriber Loop
Walk through the subscriber loop and learn how the signal travels from the central office to the subscriber.
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broadband, subscriber loop, telephone
The Current Limiting Circuit
Learners examine the circuitry in a DC variable speed drive that protects the rectifier diodes and motor windings from being damaged due to excessive current.
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DC Drive, DC variable speed, electrical machines, electrical motors
The Cycloidal Gear Drive
The learner will gain an understanding of the inner workings of the cycloidal gear drive while watching a video and listening to an explanation of its features.
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cycloidal, cycloidal gear box, planetary gear drive, robotics, robots, welding gear drives
The DC Shunt Motor
Learners examine the operation of a DC Shunt motor and its characteristics. A quiz completes the activity.
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dc, electrical, motor, motors, shunt, STEM, the
The Firing Circuit of a DC Drive
In this animated activity, learners examine the firing circuits in a DC variable speed drive. The circuits cause the current flow through the armature and rpm to vary. This activity has audio content.
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circuits, DC Drive, electrical motor, industrial automation, motor speed
The Frequency of an AC Generator
Learners study the factors that determine the frequency of an AC generator, such as the rotational speed of the armature or the number of stator poles.
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ac, frequency, generator, generators
The Horizontal Portion of the Sine Wave
In this animated object, learners examine cycles, frequency, Hertz, wavelengths, and periods. A brief quiz completes the activity.
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aa0001, ac, alternating, current, frequency, period, sine, voltage, wave, wavelength
The IR Comp Network
In this animated activity, learners examine the circuitry in a DC variable speed drive that keeps the motor running at a constant speed as the load varies.
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electric machines, electric motors, IR Compensation, motor loading, potentiometer, speed drive
The Induction Motor Slip
In this animated object, learners examine how the rotation of an induction AC motor's armature slips behind the synchronous rotational speed of the stator's field to create magnetic fields. These fields interact and produce torque. A quiz completes the activity.
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armature, induction ac motor, stator, stem
The Lockout/Tagout Procedure
Learners follow the seven steps involved in the lockout/tagout procedure. This activity has video content demonstrating the safety measures.
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lockout, procedure, safety, tagout
The Magnetic Circuit
Learners compare electromagnetic quantities with the voltage, current, and resistance quantities of an electrical circuit. A brief quiz completes the object.
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ampere, electromagnet, flux, force, lines, magnet, magnetic, magnetomotive, mmf, reluctance, turns, weber
The Op Amp Integrator
The learner will understand the circuit configuration and operation of an integrator op amp.
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capacitor, circuit, op amp, operational amplifier, resistor
The Planetary Gear Drive
The learner will understand the design of a planetary gear drive and its advantages and disadvantages.
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epicyclic gear train, gear backlash, gear ratio reduction drive train, planetary gear drive, ptolemy, ring gear, robotic drive systems, robotics, sun gear
The Processor Scan Cycle (Screencast)
Learners examine the three steps of a processor scan cycle.
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controller, controllers, cycle, logic, plc, plcs, processor, programmable, scan
The Reflected Load in a Transformer (Screencast)
Learners examine how the load resistance connected to the secondary coil of a transformer affects the primary current. A brief quiz completes the activity.
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down, load, reflected, step, tranformer, transformer, transformers, up
The Six-Axis Robot
The learner will view videos showing the movements of each axis of the six-axis robot.
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bending of wrist movement, industrial robots, radial traverse, robot, rotational traverse, rotational upper arm, six-axis robot, twisting of wrist movement, vertical traverse, welding
The Solenoid
In this interactive lesson, students view the operation of a solenoid and read about its application. A brief assessment concludes the activity.
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cc0008, field, magnetic, magnetism, reluctance, solenoid
The Strain Wave Gear Principle
The learner will understand the inner workings of the strain wave gear principle.
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advanced robotics, circular spline, flex spline, gearing systems, industrial motion control, wave generator
The Thevenin Theorem
This animated object allows students to examine the four steps used to reduce a complex circuit to a simple series circuit.
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dc, electronics, thevenin
The Three-Phase AC Generator
In this 3D animated object, learners examine the way in which a three-phase generator produces three sine waves with three armature coils. A quiz completes the activity.
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ac, electrical, generator, generators, phase, three
The Time Proportioning Operational Amplifier (Screencast)
In this animated object, learners see how a time proportioning operational amplifier varies an average DC voltage. A brief quiz completes the activity.
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amp, amplifier, op, operational, proportioning, rr0005, time
The Torque of an Induction Motor
The learner will examine how torque is developed in an induction motor.
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conductor bar, developing torque in an induction motor, motor slip, rotor bar, rotor field, stator fields
The Variable Reluctance Stepper Motor (Screencast)
Learners view colorful animations showing the operation of a VR stepper motor.
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electrical, motor, motors, reluctance, stepper, variable
The Vertical Portion of the Sine Wave
In this animated lesson, learners examine sine waves and alternating current. A brief quiz completes the object.
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aa0001, ac, alternating, amplitude, current, sine, voltage, wave, waveform
The Welder's Tool Bag
In this learning object, you’ll explore what tools should be a part of every welding tool bag.
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Welding tools, what tools help welders, what's in a welding tool bag
The You View
Learners will write effective business messages that incorporate a second-person point of view and focus on the benefit to the reader. This approach is often used to create positive messages, neutral messages, and inquiry messages in business settings.
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Business Messages, business writing, Customer Benefit, Inquiry Messages, Neutral Messages, Positive Messages, Reader-focused, Second Person Point of View, You attitude
The Zener Diode: Practice Problems
Students complete 10 practice problems. These deal with the determination of series current, zener current, and load current, and if the zener diode is operating in the breakdown region.
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ac, diode, rr0002, zener
Thread Specifications
In this interactive object, learners examine standard and metric thread specifications used in engineering drawings. In a brief quiz, they identify various internal and external thread representations.
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aided, blueprint, coarse, computer, design, detailed, diameter, dimensional, drafting, drawings, engineering, fit, front, grade, isometric, major, metric, object, pictorial, pitch, position, profile, reading, schematic, series, side, simplified, sketch, three, tolerance, top, two, unc, unf, view
Three-Wire Sensors
The learner will understand how to correctly wire a three-wire sinking and sourcing sensor.
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european sensor color code standard, output, proximity sensor, sensor, sinking, sourcing, wire
Through Arc Seam Tracking (TAST)
Robotic welding is revolutionizing welder safety, efficiency, and technique. Knowing how to program a robotic welder is key in this ever-changing industry. In this module you’ll explore what Through-Arc Seam Tracking (TAST) is, discover how it works, and see it applied on the job.
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robot, robotic, welding
Tips for Completing Welding Assignments
In this learning activity you'll gain tips for successfully completing welding assignments.
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how can I improve my welding techniques, tips for welding assignments, welding, welding class
Total Resistance in a DC Parallel Circuit
In this learning activity you'll determine the total resistance in a DC parallel circuit.
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cc0005, dc, electronics, parallel, resistance, resistors
Total Resistance in a Parallel Circuit
The learner will apply the three formulas used to find the total resistance of three types of parallel resistor circuit configurations.
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cc0005, circuits, over, parallel, product, reciprocal, resistance, sum, total
Total Resistance of a Series Circuit
In this learning activity you'll review the process of solving for the total resistance in a series DC circuit.
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cc0004, dc, electronics, resistance, resistors, series
Total Resistance of a Series-Parallel Circuit: Practice Problems 2
Learners work practice problems to calculate the total resistance of a circuit. Feedback is provided.
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dc, electronics, parallel, resistance, series, total
Touch Sensing
You’ll explore how to use Touch Sensing to do a one directional search with a Fanuc Robot and offset of the robot’s programmed path.We’ll explore touch sense fundamentals, touch sense commands, and break down a touch sense program.
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1D search, Fanuc, robotic welding, weld, welding
Transfer Functions: The RL High Pass Filter (Screencast)
Learners read how the RL high pass filter is developed. The transfer function is used in Excel to graph the Vout. The circuit is also simulated in Electronic WorkBench and the resulting Bode plot is compared to the graph from Excel.
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filter, function, high, pass, rl, transfer
Transformer Practice Problems
Students solve practice problems on voltage, current, and impedance matching. Examples precede the problems.
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aa0005, ac, ee0001, transformer, xfmr
Types of Motion Instructions
The learner will identify the types of motion instructions used for programming a robot.
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circular, joint, linear, motion instructions, robot, robotic, robots, torch, weld, welding
Ultrasonic Sensors (Screencast)
In this animated activity, learners examine the operation of an ultrasonic sensor and the procedure to perform zero and span adjustments. A brief quiz completes the object.
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calibration, procedure, sensor, sensors, ultrasonic
Understanding Circular Robotic Motions
The learner will learn the programming steps that are used to create circular motions with robots.
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circular motion, manufacturing, programming robots, robotic motion, robots
Understanding the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
The learner will understand the structural organization of the SDS and be able to find pertinent safety information using the SDS.
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chemical information, msds, safety information, sds, welding, welding technique
Using Coupons in Welding Classes
We’ll explore why everyone should reduce the waste they produce in the welding shop. We'll also demonstrate some ways to reduce waste as you work.
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Value-Added vs. Non-Value-Added Activities
In this interactive object, learners read a description of value-added and non-value-added activities and then place various work duties into these two categories.
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activities, added, customer, lean, manufacturing, non, nva, value
Voltage Divider Rule (VDR)
Students review the Voltage Divider Rule and work practice problems.
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dc, divider, STEM, vdr, voltage
Voltage Divider Rule Practice Problems
Learners review the VDR and work six problems. Immediate feedback is given.
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dc, divider, rule, vdr, voltage
Voltage Dividers
In this learning activity you'll determine the voltages that can be topped off of a multi-resistor voltage divider that has one main power source.
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cc0004, dividers, voltage
Voltage Drops
In this animated object, learners drag resistors of the proper value into a series circuit to cause a required amount of current to flow. Seven review questions complete the activity.
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current, drops, resistance, resistances, voltage, voltages, volts
Voltage Drops in a Series Circuit
Students study the concept that the voltage drop across a series circuit resistor is proportional to its resistance. They then complete a brief quiz.
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cc0004, circuit, drop, proportional, resistance, series, voltage
Voltage Regulation
In this animated activity, learners examine how the speed of a motor may change if the voltage from the power source fluctuates due to power line irregularities. This lesson has audio content.
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electric motor, junction voltage, motor contol, motor speed, power, power line, transistor, voltage fluctuation
Voltage Regulation of a Zener Diode
The learner will understand how a zener diode maintains a constant voltage as the resistance values of a load change.
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diode, regulation, regulator, rr0002, voltage, zener
Voltage Sources in Parallel
The effect of connecting voltage sources in parallel to increase amperage to a load is presented.
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batteries, cc0005, circuits, parallel, sources, voltage
Voltage Sources in Series
In this learning activity you'll explore the effect of connecting voltage sources in series to increase voltage applied to a load.
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aiding, batteries, cc0004, circuits, opposing, series, sources, voltage
Voltages Across Series and Parallel Capacitive Circuits (Screencast)
In this interactive and animated object, learners examine how dc voltages develop across capacitors that are connected in series and in parallel.
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aa0003, capacitor, capacitors, charged, charges, voltage, voltages
Voltmeter Circuit Connections
Students read a step-by-step approach on how to connect a voltmeter to a circuit when making a measurement.
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cc0002, connections, measurement, measurements, reading, readings, voltmeter
Weaving Terms
Robotic welding allows welders to create more consistent and higher quality welds. But, it requires you to understand the terminology associated with its programs. Watch this module to review terminology associated with robotic arc welding and the weaving process.
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correctly set the values, create a proper weave, goal of the weld, weld amplitude, weld dwell, weld frequency, weld pattern, welding terms
Welding Wire Spool Installation Instructions
The learner will identify the steps and proper techniques for installing a wire spool on a welding machine.
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drive roll, drive roll spindle, drive roll tension, external wire feed, internal wire feed, welding gun, welding gun cable, welding station, wire feed, wire feed systems, wire spool
What Is Current?
Learners study an animation that shows how a battery charge reduces over time and when varying resistance values are placed in a series circuit. Ten review questions complete the activity.
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batteries, battery, circuit, current, is, life, series, what
Wheatstone Bridge
Students follow step-by-step directions on how to make mathematical calculations for a Wheatstone bridge.
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bridge, cc0007, network, wheatstone
Wire Feed Equipment ID (GMAW)
This module is identify parts of the GMAW wire feed equipment.
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GMAW, weld torch
Work and Power (Screencast)
Learners examine the formulas for calculating work in ft-lb units and power in ft-lb/min. units.
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engineering, jj0001, mechanical, physics, power, work