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Engineering problem solving
ECE projects
What’s EE about?
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Students will have the ability to:
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Ability to solve engineering problems.
Ability to do research on areas of electrical
engineering.
Ability to write technical reports and summaries.
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Ability to perform simple lab experiments.
Ability to complete a project involving both design
and technical elements.
Ability to work on a team.
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 Interest in electrical engineering (or engineering in general)
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Curiosity
Algebra and trigonometry (but we will practice this so that you will brush up on it)
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Lectures (typically on Tuesdays) + Labs (typically on Thursdays)
Invited speakers
One individual project + one group projects + project demo
Four homework + five lab reports
Final exam - simple, mostly (maybe all) multiple choice questions
Initial weekly schedule posted on ECE101 webpage – subject to change!
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PSU D2L account (Submissions only)
MCECS account so that you can access labs and computers
Internet access – to communicate with teammates, watch videos
Calculator (basic scientific model) – or laptop with MATLAB (below)
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Portable computer to participate in in-class exercises
Obtain MATLAB (for in-class work) – can be accessed remotely on
MCECS computers or used on MCECS computers directly
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$50 or $99 student version from www.mathworks.com
Install on your own portable computer
 Also available in ECE labs and MCECS computer labs
Engineering paper for HW and working on problems
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 Required : Introductory Mathematics for Engineering
Applications
Authors: K.S. Rattan and N.W. Klingbeil
Publisher: Wiley
(available from PSU Bookstore and elsewhere)
- all the math you need to get started with ECE
 Recommended Engineering Your Future: A brief introduction to engineering (5 th ed.)
Authors: W.C. Oakes and L.L. Leone
Publisher: Oxford University Press
(available from PSU Bookstore and elsewhere)
- a lot of good advice and description of “soft” engineering skills
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10% Class participation (attendance, prep, in-class activities)
25% Labs and lab reports
15% Individual project / report
25% Group Rube Goldberg project and report
15% Group project demo
10% Final exam
Grading scale ( x is your overall score):
x ≥ 90%
80% ≤ x < 90%
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B
70% ≤ x < 80%
60% ≤ x < 70% x < 60%
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D
Unmentionable
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All homework assignments are to be completed on an individual basis. The solutions and documentation you submit for grading should be a product of your own creativity and not a copy of someone else's work. However, you may discuss general topics with other students in the class.
If multiple students submit homework solutions that are obviously derived from the same source, then each of those students will receive a grade of zero (0) for that homework.
Failure to comply with these rules is considered academic dishonesty, in which case your Department will be informed of the situation, and you will have to deal with the consequences.
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 Last day to drop course (no grade recorded): up to the end of the second week of the term.
 Withdraw from course ("W" grade): from the beginning of the third week up to the end of the seventh week
After the deadlines, you have to petition the PSU
Deadline Appeals Committee and explain why you merit an extension.
Note: It is your responsibility to confirm the deadlines.
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Do not assume ECE 101 is simple just because it is a 100level course. You will spend a lot of time in the labs, working on projects and solving sample problems. Grading will not be strict but ** I need to see that you are making
an effort !! **
Take charge of your own education!
 Review the posted lecture notes before each class session.
 Participate actively in class.
 Utilize good study habits.
 Practice, practice, practice!
 Ask for help from the instructor, teaching assistant, or IEEE tutors. Don’t be shy!
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Roughly 12 hours devoted to this class, including Tu/Th classes
These are just estimates and averaged over the 10 weeks
There are 4 HW-s and 5 lab reports. Spending 1-2 hours on these seems reasonable
There are two projects that cover entire 10 weeks: individual and RG.
Individual will take a bit more of your time but if all 5 members spend 3 hours  15 hours or two days worth of work can be done
Monday Tuesday
Class (face-toface): 2 hours
Wednesday Thursday
Class (lab): 2 hours
Friday Weekend
Reading/ viewing for
Thursday lab
Solving HW
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Lab report
Reading / viewing for
Tuesday:
½ hour 1-2 hours
Project work (includes individual + group projects) – varies; about 3 hours/week
1 hour
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Suggested reading: ch 4 Succeeding in the Classroom, Oakes & Leone
Some key concepts and suggestions
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Think of this individually at first:
What three things would you recommend to your friends and colleagues as the most effective tools to learn better? Define better in whatever terms you wish
Get together in groups of five and discuss your suggestions and come up with a group consensus about three best
If you have a laptop, display them on screen
If there is time we’ll go over all groups; if not I’ll select one or two randomly.
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Suggested reading: ch 4 Succeeding in the Classroom, Oakes & Leone
Some key concepts and suggestions
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Positive attitude – expecting to fail usually results in exactly that …
Define your goals
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Best to write them down
Set “reasonable” and “stretch” goals (allowing for growth …)
Time affects goals – define short-term and long-term goals
Weekly? Month? Quarter? Year? – you decide
But plan ahead and for longer term
Good grades could be one goal but don’t stop there – education is about learning not just getting good grades
Manage your time
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2 hours outside of class for each hour in class; for a full-time student the multiplier should not exceed 3x.
In general, attending class correlates with success
Once in class – participate, pay attention and take notes
Whenever possible, prepare for class (readings, problems, etc)
Do NOT fall behind
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Suggested reading: ch 4 Succeeding in the Classroom, Oakes & Leone
Some key concepts and suggestions
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More on time:
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Do assigned problems but do not stop there. Practice solving as many problems as you can fit in your allotted time
Do not use solution manuals, but
Do consult with other students (careful – it should not become copying from others; that is cheating)
Manage your time – many good resources given in Ch 4.
Set up study group(s)
 Prepare individually before getting together
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Set expectation on level of preparation
Set expectations on what will be done during study group meeting
Find a good place (FAB, EB, Library, …)
Hold each other accountable
Remove slackers
Engage your professors and TA-s
 Seems obvious but few students do it
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Suggested reading: ch 4 Succeeding in the Classroom, Oakes & Leone
Some key concepts and suggestions
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Accountability
 Make yourself accountable to someone and check with them regularly
Do not get discouraged by failures and setbacks
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Remember: these are opportunities for growth (see SciAm article and Dweck’s video)
SciAm – see on class webpage
Dweck’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-swZaKN2Ic
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Individual project + group project (Rube Goldberg)
Some key concepts and suggestions
(full description on webpage)
Research an area (field) of electrical and computer engineering that you find interesting and prepare a 3-4 page report about it. Three pages of text, not including references, translates into roughly 1,500 words in a single-spaced, 12 pt Times New
Roman font. Use this number of words as a guide but please
do not exceed 4 pages overall.
Project report has specific requirements – see full description
Main points: learn more about areas of ECE and practice writing.
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If you have not done so already, please complete the Safe Campus
Module in D2L. The module should take approximately 30 to 40 minutes to complete and contains important information and resources. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources at Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response: www.pdx.edu/sexual-assault/ .
PSU's Student Code of Conduct makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are strictly prohibited and offenses are subject to the full realm of sanctions, up to and including suspension and expulsion.
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