Mechatronics Syllabus

MECHATRONICS 08                       Principles of Mechatronics

 

Instructor: Thomas Stargaard

E-mail: tstargaa@puhsd.k12.ca.us

Google meet link 

 

This class is Dual Credit with Mech 8 (Introduction to Electronics) at Sierra College. This means you will earn 3 transferable units from Sierra College. It also means that your grade from the class will be on your permanent College transcript.

You are NOT enrolled in the Sierra College part of the class automatically. You MUST fill out the application. This process can be complicated. Do NOT wait until the last minute to do this. 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A survey of electronics technology presented in the context of science. Application of the scientific method to topics ranging from basic circuits to microprocessors, including electronics, music, robotics, electric vehicles, fiber-optics, semiconductors, medical imaging and communications. Scientific, historical, political and economic connections to electronics technology will be examined.

PREREQUISITES: None. No previous electronics knowledge or math beyond basic algebra is assumed.

DETAILED COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course, as I teach it, has a dual purpose. It is intended to make the students more informed citizens of the technological society we live in and more informed consumers of that technology. Secondly, it is a way of exposing people to a potential career field. Many jobs in our increasingly automated world require technical training. These jobs tend to pay well and provide a real career path. This class allows people to get a basic understanding of the electronics technology that fills our world and possibly decide that a career in technology might be more interesting and more accessible than they previously thought.

Late work: I do NOT accept any work turned in AFTER we have had a quiz on that unit. (for example, any work regarding batteries MUST be turned in BEFOR we have a quiz on batteries. AFTER the quiz I will no longer accept any work regarding batteries.)

TEXT: Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics, by Stan Gibilisco (Links to an external site.). The edition does not matter. The book is also available as a free pdf download on the web. 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: The instructor will provide handouts as additional material for the class. These materials should be kept in a notebook and considered part of the required reading for the class. The book for the class is not a comprehensive source book for all of electronics. Other sources, especially the internet, can act as useful supplemental material for the course. Some good sources for “plain language” explanations of electronic concepts are allaboutcircuits.com (Links to an external site.) or wikipedia.orgLinks to an external site. or electronics.howstuffworks.com/ (Links to an external site.). Youtube also have great videos on most concepts. Just be aware that some are much better than others. Watch more than one on a particular subject.

 

Purchase of a scientific calculator is helpful, but not required. (I like the TI-30XA. It costs about $11.)

 

ADDS/DROPS/WITHDRAWLS: If a student decides to not complete the course, that student is responsible for completing the proper “drop” paperwork. If a class is not officially dropped, the student will receive an “F” grade on their permanent transcript. Adds, drops and fee payments must be done by the required deadlines.

 

TESTS: The course will have a final exam as well as periodic quizzes throughout the semester. Late submissions will not accepted as I most often return them the following day. In cases of personal emergency, extensions may be allowed per discretion of the instructor.

 

GRADING: The labs  (online this semester, unless we can return to class) are 60 % of your grade. The quizzes are 20% and the final are 20% of your final grade. The breakdown of the final course grade is as follows: 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D, <60% = F

 

SPECIAL NEEDS: Please contact me privately if you have any special needs for the class. I will do everything in my power to make sure you have a rich, pleasant experience in my class.

 

As things are changing often due to  Covid-19, the syllabus may change per Instructor discretion. For example, we may not be able to give a secure Final, so the percentages for each category could change. I will keep you updated if things change.