Rex N. Fisher                             Computer Science and Engineering Department, BYU-Idaho

ECE 350 Assignments

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IMPORTANT: More details regarding schedules, assignments, and policies are available to registered students on I-Learn.  These items are subject to change, but students will be given advance notification of any changes.

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General Assignment Policy:

 

Late Assignments will almost never be accepted!

 

There are very few circumstances that merit an exception to this rule.  Broken cars, broken computers, broken clocks, broken hearts, lost keys, lost disks, lost calculators, lost papers, too much other homework, dates, discretionary travel, parties, and forgetfulness do not qualify. 

 

The only valid reasons are things that are completely beyond your control.  

 

Examples of things that are beyond your control:  (1) your pregnant wife is in labor, or (2) you are in the hospital.

 

This policy may seem harsh, but your future employer(s) will be just as strict about finishing your assignments on time.  Don't believe it?  Look at this:   

 

"HP attempted to put in a bid to construct a geographical information system for the Polish Power Grid, but missed the deadline. According to the Warsaw Business Journal, the courier dispatched with the bid got stuck in a traffic jam, invalidating the bid. Eight bids were received on time."   (INSIDE HP, Traffic Stymies HP Bid In Warsaw , Tuesday, March 2, 2004) 

The reason for being late did not matter.  All of the time and hard work Hewlett-Packard put into the bid did not matter.  The bid was not accepted because it was late!

 

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Exams:

 

There are three block tests.  Each one is a take-home test that will take you several hours to complete.  Do not wait until the last minute!  You may use your notes, your book, and any other published material.  You may not discuss the test with anyone except me!  

 

If you do not take a test at the scheduled time, you will receive a zero.  There are no makeup tests!

 

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Quizzes:

 

Quizzes are worth about 10 points each.  They cover material assigned in "Step 1 -- Prepare" of each module, and must be taken on-line before class begins.  They motivate you to come prepared to class.

 

Pop quizzes covering past material are also given sometimes at the beginning of class.

If you miss a quiz, you will receive a zero.  There are no makeup quizzes!

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Homework:

 

Most lectures have an accompanying homework assignment.  They are found under "Step 3 -- Ponder & Prove" in most of the modules. 

 

These are due one week later at 5:00 PM, and must be submitted electronically. 

 

Late homework will not be accepted!  

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Lab Experiments:

 

There are lab experiments in the course.  They are found under "Step 3 -- Ponder & Prove" in some of the modules.  Be sure to download, and bring, the required data sheets with you. 

 

All lab experiments must be recorded in a lab notebook.  The lab notebook has special requirements that you should read.  Also, a formal lab report must be turned in for each lab experiment.  Click on its hyperlink to see the proper format.   You can also view an example of a formal lab report.

 

These are due one week later at 5:00 PM, and must be submitted electronically.   

 

Late lab reports will not be accepted. 

Your lab notebook is worth 100 points, and must be turned in for inspection one week before the last day of class by 5:00 PM.  It will be returned on the last day of class. 

 

Late lab notebooks will not be accepted. 

 

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Hardware Design Project:

 

For this assignment, you will be part of a team that must construct, document, explain, and demonstrate a small, battery-operated audio amplifier.  You must specify the required parts, build it and verify that it meets the specified performance standards.  Kits are not allowed.

 

[Audio Amplifier Specifications]

 

[Project Construction Techniques]

 

You will be graded in five categories: construction quality, correct operation, documentation, team contribution, and presentation.

 

Construction Quality

 

The project must be constructed using a permanent or semi-permanent method such as soldering or wire-wrapping. Proto-board construction is not acceptable.

 

Here are some of the grading criteria:

 

1.    Do the solder joints have good wetting and the proper amount of solder?
2.    Are the wire-wraps tight and even, with the right amount of "service loop" left in the wire?
3.    Are point-to-point wires routed neatly?
4.    Does the board layout show some planning?
5.    Are leads cut to the proper length?
6.    Is it the work of a professional?

 

Correct Operation

 

Does the project perform as specified?

 

Documentation

 

Your real-life projects will be supported by dozens, and possibly hundreds, of other technicians and engineers. Your documentation should be so complete that nobody will ever need to ask you questions about what you did and how it was done. 

 

This will be a functional description and not a simple lab report.  You may use any format that logically, and completely, describes your project.

 

This is what I will look for:

 

1.    Is it written at a college level, well-organized, neat, and free from spelling and grammar errors?
2.    Does it list the required specifications?
3.    Does it describe the design details?
4.    Are calculations, data sheets, schematic diagrams, assembly drawings, and theory of operation appropriately included?

 

Team Contribution

 

Nearly every project you work on during your professional life will be done by a team of people.  You will be assigned responsibilities that the team will count on you to fulfill.

 

Things that will affect your score for this portion of your grade:

 

1.   Did you perform the tasks that were your responsibility?
2.   Did you do them well?
3.   Did you do them on time?
4.   Did you "work and play well" with the others on your team? 

 

Presentation

 

The ability to make technical presentations is crucial to your success on the job. You will frequently be required to make formal presentations about your projects to peers and management. Your future project assignments, promotions, and pay raises will be on the line.

This portion of your project will be scored by your peers.

 

Consider the following points:

 

1.    Do you look and sound like a professional?
2.    Are you well prepared, or are you just winging it?
3.    Is the presentation well organized and do the topics follow a logical sequence?
4.    Are visual aid used appropriately, and well?
5.    Are the technical details covered thoroughly and correctly?

 

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Teach/Learn Projects:

 

These are assignments under "Step 2 -- Teach One Another" in many of the modules.  You will post to a discussion board, add information to a wiki, create a power point presentation, teach someone a skill, etc.  These encourage you to share your knowledge with other students.