Electronics up front: a motivational lab course

Abstract

"Engineering up front" succinctly describes the recent trend of incorporating engineering courses in the first year of the undergraduate engineering curriculum. A variation of that concept has been developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA) to put "electronics up front". The new course is a one-credit electronics laboratory intended to motivate freshmen for further study of engineering in general and to spur interest in electrical and computer engineering in particular. Unlike most engineering courses, the primary role of this lab elective is not to impart cognitive knowledge. Instead, its major thrust is in the affective domain. The course gives students first-hand experience with electronic circuits chosen to demonstrate that engineering work is relevant, rewarding, and even fun! Initial student reaction indicates that the course has, indeed, stimulated their curiosity about electronics and increased their interest in engineering.