Title: RIT Freshman and Sophomore Practicum
1RIT Freshman and Sophomore Practicum
2Practicum Course Objectives
- Each Student Will Study, Prototype, Build, and
Test an Electronic Circuit - Introduce Student to Standard Lab Instruments,
Laboratory Procedures, and Safety Guidelines - Provide a Easy Path for Undeclared Students to
Sample Electrical Engineering - Require Technical Report Writing Lab Notebook
- Introduce the Use of Software Tools Used
Throughout the BSEE Program - MATLAB (mathematics analysis software)
- PSpice (Circuit Simulation)
- C Programming
- Software to Transfer Instrument Data to a Computer
3Philosophical Course Objectives
- Excite Students about EE Through Hands-on
Learning and Studio Style Teaching - Bring Engineering Relevance to Physics and
Calculus - Create a Laboratory Haven for New Students
- Reinforce Experiential Learning Explore
- Promote Mentoring of Freshmen by Faculty and
Upper Division Students - Connect Students with Their Faculty Advisors
- Improve Early, Career Decision-making
- Introduce The Importance of Engineering Ethics
4Pedagogical Style
- Learn By Doing
- Just-in-Time and Just-Enough Theory
- Divide and Conquer a REAL CIRCUIT
- No Homework, No Exams, Simple Grading Policy
5Course Structure
- Class Meets for Three Hours, Once a Week
- One Credit Course
- Dedicated Practicum Laboratory
- No Homework or Exams, But Must Attend Class, Do
Lab Exercises, and Keep LAB NOTEBOOK. - Associated Text Book (John Wiley and Sons)
- Electronics Parts Kit For Each Student (Sold with
Textbook) - Courseware Exercises on CD for Device Modeling,
Circuit Simulation, MATLAB Analysis, and C
Programming
6Course Delivery
- Freshman Practicum Introduced Winter Quarter 2002
Ten Section of 16 Students - Sophomore Practicum Introduced Winter Quarter
2003 Ten Sections of 16 students - Freshman Section Taught by Faculty Advisor
- Freshman Practicum now offered Fall and Winter
Quarters - Sophomore Practicum now offered Winter and Spring
Quarters
7Freshman PracticumWEIN Bridge Circuit
8Freshman PracticumParts Kit - Through Hole PCB
Technology
9Freshman PracticumPopulated Printed Circuit Board
10Freshman PracticumSpectral Analysis with MATLAB
11Sophomore PracticumOptical Communication Data
Link
Receive Circuit Board
IR Light Beam
Block Diagram of an Optical Communication Data
Link
12Sophomore PracticumParts Kit -Surface Mount
Technology
13Sophomore PracticumSystem Modeling and Simulation
14Sophomore PracticumMATLAB Behavioral Modeling
Input 1/G (12-50 ohms) 18 ohms
Input Temp (0-100C) 25C
Coupling
AGC
IR Detector
IR Emitter
Sig Gen
Optical Path
Comp
TransZ
TransG
Resistance (1M-10M) 4.7M Compression (0-40dB)
20dB PD Attack (0.1- 10ms) 0.1ms PD Release (0.1
100ms) 10ms
Distance (1-8 feet) 4 feet Angle (0-50 degrees) 0
degrees Ambient Light (0-100) 0
AC or DC Coupling ? Capacitor (0.1 1000nF)
10nF
Gain (1-1000) 101 Threshold Level (0-3V)
0V Schmitt Level (0-20) 0
Load Data Stream or Gen Sq Wave Baud Rate
(1200-2400-4800- 9600-19,200 Amplitude Low High
(0-3.0V) 0.2-1.2V
15Sophomore PracticumSolder Paste Template for
PCBs
16Sophomore PracticumSurface Mount Technology Line
17Experience to Date
- Freshman Practicum has been delivered to over 300
students - Sophomore Practicum has been delivered to over
200 students - Change of Program to Electrical Engineering from
Undeclared Engineering Pool has Increased from 5
to 15 of the Pool. - Small Impact on Retention (Less than 5
Improvement but Still Assessing Impact) - Has Developed Confidence of Female Students
18Experience to Date
- Students Meet Advisors in a Comfortable Setting
- More Students Involved in EE Activities like
Electronics, Robotics, Digital Audio, and Amateur
Radio Clubs - Students Better Prepared for Follow-on Lab
Courses in Circuits and Electronics (Those Labs
Have Now Been Updated) and for Senior Projects - Mentoring program by upper division students has
been very successful - Bundle Price of Parts Kit with Textbook to Avoid
Handling of Cash in the Department
19The Path Forward
- Course content in some areas has been challenging
for students and some faculty - gtgtgt Developing Teachers Manual
- Students enjoy hands-on experience and would like
more time to tinker with electronics - gtgtgtAdditional Content to be Added in Next
Release - Some of the lab exercises are considered too
structured such as the modules for MATLAB and C
Programming - gtgtgt Modules Being Created to Include More Student
Interaction - MP3 Music over IR Link
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