Course Resources

Instrumentation Board and Parts Kit Information
Metacognition Journal
Portfolio
Proof of Skills Links
Lab Documents
Resources by Class Day

Instrumentation Board and Parts Kit Links

Proof of skills is meant to prepare everyone to be able to complete the laboratory assignments that will comprise the bulk of the work this semester. These skills form the foundation of your work as an EE or CSE and as a student at RPI in general. Below you will find sign-up sheets for each day of Proof of Skills (Class 02 through Class 06) and documents to guide you in obtaining these skills and keeping track of your progress. During the first 6 classes, your main homework assignment is to complete your Proof of Skills categories. A couple of examples are also linked to give you a better idea of what you should submit.

Proof of Skills Sign-Up Sheet Links

Proof of Skills Documents

Proof of Skills Submission Examples

Lab Documents

After Proof of Skills days, the main focus of the course is completing laboratories. There are three laboratores that focus on different aspects of the fundamentals of EE and CSE, which will teach you how to apply the concepts you have learned in lecture to hands-on projects. To demonstrate that you have mastered each of these concepts, you will have to submit a Proof of Concept, in which you will have to show consistent results between mathematical analysis, functional simulations and experimental measurements to prove that you have applied the concept correctly. An overview of Alpha Labs (more guided lab experiences) and Omega Explorations (open-ended lab experiences), along with lab-specific instructions are linked below. Documents for your project plan, proof of concepts, and omega explorations are also linked below.

Lab Instructions

Project Plan

Proof of Concepts

Omega Exploration Documents

Exploration Map Template || Exploration Map Example
Presentation Video Guidelines || Presentation Video Examples
Lab02: Clean Room & Diode Exploration

Lab03: EMPAC Signals Exploration

Resources by Class Day

In this section you will find links to documents related to a particular class day, such as instructions for in-class activities or slides from a guest speaker. Slides and notes from lectures are posted in a Box folder, linked below (also linked on the main Intro to ECSE page):

Lecture Notes

Class 01 - Course Overview and Introduction

Lecture Notes

In-Class Activity

Due by the beginning of next class:

Proof of Skills

Sign up for your Proof of Skills category for Class 02 (follow "Day 1 Sign-Up Sheet" link above)
Complete AT LEAST the minimum Proof of Skills for the category you signed up for (see bottom of the column of the category you signed up for on the sign-up sheet)

In-Class Activity

Submit Group Design Ideation: ECSE and Society Poster Document and all Personal Cards in Gradescope as a group (with all names added to the submission). You can meet on WebEx teams or by email...get it together!
Submit Metacognition Journal Entry on the Design Ideation: ECSE and Society activity on Gradescope (see Metacognition Journal instructions at top of webpage)

Course Materials

Purchase the ADALM2000 Instrumentation Board or the Analog Discovery 2 Instrumentation Board from the RPI Bookstore or online (especially if you are doing Proof of Skills for experimentation!)
Purchase the ADALP2000 parts kit from the RPI Bookstore or online store (especially if you are doing Proof of Skills for experimentation!)

Class 02 - Outcomes, Goals, and Personal Goals, Proof of Skills Day 1

Lecture Notes

Due by the beginning of next class:

Proof of Skills

Sign up for your Proof of Skills category for Class 03 (follow "Day 2 Sign-Up Sheet" link above)
Complete AT LEAST the minimum Proof of Skills for the category you signed up for (see bottom of the column of the category you signed up for on the sign-up sheet)

Course Materials

Purchase the ADALM2000 Instrumentation Board or the Analog Discovery 2 Instrumentation Board from the RPI Bookstore or online (especially if you are doing Proof of Skills for experimentation!)
Purchase the ADALP2000 parts kit from the RPI Bookstore or online store (especially if you are doing Proof of Skills for experimentation!)

Class 03 - Ethics Conversations, Proof of Skills Day 2

In-Class Activity

Discussions on Ethics

Due by the beginning of next class:

Sign up for Proof of Skills Day 3 (see sign-up sheet link above)
Complete the minimum Proof of Skill for your chosen Day 3 topic
Complete your Day 2 Proof of Skills category to stay on schedule!
Submit your ethics discussion document on Gradescope.
Write a metacognition journal entry on today's ethics discussion and submit it on Gradescope.

Class 04 - Good Failure: Is this Right? Proof of Skills Day 3

Due by the beginning of next class:

Sign up for Proof of Skills Day 4 (see sign-up sheet link above)
Complete the minimum Proof of Skill for your chosen Day 4 topic
Complete your Day 3 Proof of Skills category to stay on schedule!

Class 05 - Questions for the Profs, Proof of Skills Day 4

Please watch before Class 07. You can start now!
- The Basics: Ohm's Law. What is current, voltage, and resistance?
- and/or look over Electric Circuit Fundamentals Patterson Notes Spring 2023
Due by the beginning of next class:

Sign up for Proof of Skills Day 5 (see sign-up sheet link above)
Complete the minimum Proof of Skill for your chosen Day 5 topic
Complete your Day 4 Proof of Skills category to stay on schedule!

Class 06 - Alpha/Omega Lab Design Ideation and Planning, Proof of Skills Day 5

Find your lab groups today (2 or 3 people maximum)!
- Make a WebEx Team Space and label it Last Name | Last Name | Last Name | Alpha or Omega or Both
- Example: Corgan | Chamberlin | Iha | Both
Complete your Project Plan (see template and example above) to prepare for labs this semester. Fill out your project plan for Lab01 through Lab03!

Due by the beginning of next class:

Submit your project plan on Gradescope
Complete your Day 5 Proof of Skills category to stay on schedule! Check your section's calendar or Gradescope for the Proof of Skills due date. Remember: you will get opportunities to optimize later in the semester to improve your score!
Attempt Problem Set 1 (your homework) on Gradescope before Class 07...you'll get multiple attempts to get it right!
Watch the background videos linked under Class 07 and take notes on them.

Class 07 - Lab01 Part A: Basic Analysis and Engineering Practices - Math as a Tool

Background videos to watch before class (take notes and be ready for a discussion!):

Current Law
Voltage Law
Resistors in Series
Resistors in Parallel
All videos above are summarized in these notes mentioned in Class 5 Circuit Analysis Techniques Sawyer notes Fall 2021

Due by the beginning of next class:

Attempt Problem Set 2 (your homework) on Gradescope before Class 08.
Watch the background video and review background notes linked under Class 08 and take notes

Class 08 - Lab01 Part A: Basic Analysis and Engineering Practices - Math as a Tool

Background Notes:
- Spring 2023 Lecture 08 - Up until "Circuit Analysis Method #2: KCL/KVL/Ohm's Law"
Background video to watch before class:
- Identifying Nodes
- Voltage Dividers
Due by the beginning of next class:

Watch the background video and review background notes linked under Class 09 and take notes.

Class 09 - Lab01 Part B: Basic Analysis and Engineering Practice - Math as a Component (Design)

Background Notes:
- Spring 2023 Lecture 08 - "Circuit Analysis Method #2: KCL/KVL/Ohm's Law" until the end
Background videos to watch before class:
- Matrix Multiplication
- Solving Matrix Equations using Matlab
Additional How-to Video for Matrix Algebra...
- Matrix Multiplication General Case

Class 10 - Lab01 Part B: Basic Analysis and Engineering Practice - Math as a Component (Design)

In-Class Activity

Is this Good Documentation?

Background videos to watch before class:

Tolerance of Resistors: Simulation in LTspice

Due by the beginning of next class:

Gradescope submission for "Is this Good Documentation?"
Watch the background video and review background notes linked under Class 11 and take notes.
Attempt Problem Set 3 on Gradescope.

Class 11 - Lab02: Linear Systems and Beyond: Part A - Defining Linear and Non-linear Devices with Current Voltage Characteristics

Background Notes:
- Spring 2023 Lecture 11
Background videos to watch before class:
Due by the beginning of next class:

Lab01 Proof of Concepts (Alpha and Omega)
Lab01 Presentation Video and Exploration Map (Omega only)
Watch the background videos and review background notes under Class 12 and take notes.

Class 12 - Lab 02 Part B: Linear Resistive Network using Nodal Analysis and Linear Algebra (Design)

Background Notes:
- Spring 2023 Lecture 12
Background videos to watch before class:

Due by the beginning of next class:

Metacognition Journal Entry on the lecture about EE vs. CSE vs. CS.
Watch the background videos and review background notes under Class 13 and take notes.
Prepare your Proof of Skills for Optimization #1 (due by Class 13). Please see the Instructions for Proof of Skills Optimization Submissions
Attempt Problem Set 5 on Gradescope.

Class 13 - Lab 02 Part B: Linear Resistive Network using Nodal Analysis and Linear Algebra (Design)

In Class: Plan of Study Review with:

Rama Hamarneh (ECSE Undergraduate Student Coordinator)
Jennifer Yager (ECSE Hub Advisor)
Karen Lewis (SoE Hub Manager)

Background Notes:

Spring 2023 Lecture 13

Background videos to watch before class:
- Nodal analysis with multiple sources
- LTspice simulation with multiple sources
Additional How-to Videos for Matrix Algebra:
- Matrix Multiplication 3x3 and 3x1
  Matrix Multiplication 3x3 and 3x3
  2x2 Matrix Inversion
  3x3 Matrix Inversion
Due by the beginning of next class:

Watch the background videos and review background notes under Class 14 and take notes.

Class 14 - Lab 02 Part C: Operational Amplifiers

Background Notes:

Spring 2023 Lecture 14

Background videos to watch before class:
- Derek's high level description of How Op Amps Work - DC to Daylight:
- Sawyer's Circuits level description of Op Amp function (you can skip the quiz...)
Due by the beginning of next class:

Lab02 Parts A & B Proof of Concepts
Attempt Problem Set 6 on Gradescope.
Review the background notes and watch the background videos under Class 15 and take notes.
Fill out Mid-Semester Survey on Gradescope.

Class 15 - Lab02 Part D: Applications - Transfer Functions, Sensor Decisions, Control, Imaging (Design)

Background Notes:

Spring 2023 Lecture 17

Background videos to watch before class:

Sawyer's real live Circuits class on Op Amps...EXPLORE!...skip around on navigation menu one or two topics...don't watch the whole thing..unless you want to!
Doug Mercer's How to read a datasheet....EXPLORE!...skip around on navigation menu one or two topics...don't watch the whole thing...unless you want to!

Due by the beginning of next class:

Lab01 Optimization
Watch the background videos under Class 16 and take notes.

Class 16 - Lab02 Part D: Applications - Transfer Functions, Sensor Decisions, Control, Imaging (Design)

Background Notes:

Spring 2023 Lecture 17

Background videos to watch before class:

Transfer Function of a Voltage Divider Pt. 1 - this is partially review, since you should know the voltage divider equation, but it explains it in the context of a transfer function.
Transfer Function of a Voltage Divider Pt. 2 - discusses how we experimentally verify or measure a transfer function
Transfer Function of Inverting Amplifier Circuit - using the golden rules of op-amps and voltage dividers, the transfer function for the inverting amplifiers is derived.