EE196: Electrical Engineering
Problem Solving

The first year experience of college students has an impact on several significant factors in their education. It can influence their motivation and enthusiasm, and it can affect the majors they select. In traditional engineering programs, first year students take very few engineering courses, taking instead courses in mathematics, sciences, writing, and communication. The first year has a critical effect on whether or not uncommitted students select engineering as a major and whether or not moderately committed students persist in the major. If either group perceives engineering to be too theoretical or boring, they may leave the program for another major.

This freshman engineering course is designed to provide first year engineering students with an experience different from the traditional textbook orientation. It takes the students through the design of a product, from the pre-requisite mathematics and computer background, through fundamentals of engineering analysis and design, to the final manufacturing process. The course provides students with motivational experiences in problem solving, writing, and working in collaborative groups.

The course closes the gap between students' expectations and a textbook oriented engineering curriculum while retaining sound pedagogy and technical contents. It addresses students' expectations which evolve from their prior experiences with computers, robotic toys, video games and other high-tech gadgets that fuel their imaginations with visions of what it must be like to prepare for a career designing products. The notes written for this course introduce students to several electrical engineering specialty areas including electronics, circuits, CAD, CAM, engineering mathematics, and engineering drawing, with emphasis given to electronic manufacturing of printed circuit boards. An uncommon feature of this course is the inclusion of human factors in the design process.

The course starts with an introduction to the engineering profession, describing the differences between engineering and technology programs, electrical engineering specialty areas, engineering job positions and salaries, and engineering graduate programs. It consists of three main sections: (1) engineering mathematics and computer skills, including MATLAB software as a learning tool in problem solving, (2) engineering drawing utilizing AutoCAD software, and (3) electronic design of digital and analog circuits, and (4) electronic manufacturing, where students learn about the design of printed circuit boards (PCB) and the mechanical aspects associated with their fabrication. Group skills and human factors in engineering are covered early in the course to assist students in their design group projects.

The course consists of four major components:

1. Technical drawing using AutoCAD
2. Mathematics and mathematics computer simulation using MATLAB, and
3. Electronics and computer electronics simulation using PSpice
4. Projects

To get a detailed description on the electronics part of the course, please click here.

The course project must incorporate the different software packages learned in the course. In addition, a technical report, circuit testing, and presentation is required from each group.