module specification

The module is designed to introduce the most common electronics devices and their applications in small-scale systems.  The module is divided into two broad sections of analogue and digital electronics.  The module is based on formal seminar/lecture sessions followed by comprehensive practicals/tutorials in both areas which provide an opportunity for students to gain experience in using and applying the laboratory’s test and measurement equipment/simulators.

The aims of the module are as follows:
1. 1. To familiarise students with commonly used electronic components, standard laboratory test and measurement equipment and their usage in designing/analysing, building, and testing simple electronic circuits/systems.
2. 2. To introduce students to circuit simulation software and develop an awareness of its strengths and limitations
3. 3. To introduce students to the basic electronics and measurement techniques through practical approach and provide scope for putting theory into practice and develop investigation/analysis skills that exemplify core electrical and measuring principles relevant to the course.
4. 4. To develop the ability to write a well-structured, concise and thoughtful logbook / report / poster.
5. To develop the ability to work independently as well as in team

Electronic devices - theory, operation and applications: resistors and Ohm’s law, capacitors, inductors, semiconductors and P-N junction, diodes, transistors, OpAmps, logic gates and Boolean algebra, flip-flops etc
Simple systems - analysis, design: passive filters, amplifiers, powers supply, combinational logic circuits, timers, counters, displays etc LO1 - LO5

Laboratory skills: Usage and operation of Digital multimeter, Power supply, Waveform generator, Oscilloscope, Breadboard, LCR meter, Soldering iron, Stripboards, Cutters & Pliers, Circuit simulation software (e.g. CircuitWizard), Laboratory code of conduct and Health and safety. LO6, LO7

Study and transferable skills: Reflective learning, Academic skills, Independent and group working LO7, LO8 ULO

The module is usually delivered once a weekly in 3-hours session.  The material is delivered through a series of introductory formal lectures. Formal lectures provide the theoretical base for the subject. A series of progress tests (formative in nature) are given for continuous self-assessment and to prepare students for the final examination. 
The module is heavily supported with formal laboratory sessions in line with module aims and learning objectives. Students work individually (logbook) and in groups (Group Design Casestudy) during the laboratory sessions. Students are encouraged to keep a logbook for reflective learning. A summative assessment component ‘Learning Reflection Essay’ is designed to formally initiate students in this process.
All module material including teaching plan, lecture notes, laboratory handouts, progress / sample tests and up to date reading lists are made available through University’s VLE - Weblearn.
Office hours are made available for one to one problem solving and some directed independent learning.

On successful completion of this module, students should be able:
• LO1.To understand the Ohms law and its applications in finding voltage, current, resistance and power in simple circuits using theoretical calculations and laboratory equipment;
• LO2:To understand the operational behaviour of passive components R, C and L and their uses in simple analogue filters;
• LO3:To explain the fundamentals of semiconductors and their use in diodes and transistors;
• LO4.To analyse and design simple amplifiers using transistors and/or operational amplifiers;
• LO5.To analyse and design and analyse simple logic circuits using logic gates and counters;
• LO6.To gain practical experience of designing, building, testing and debugging of simple circuits using common laboratory equipment and circuit simulation software giving due consideration to laboratory code of conduct, health & safety, sustainability, and ethical working;
• LO7: To work independently and in a group on laboratory tasks and group design casestudy giving due consideration to effective time management, planning and managing tasks & resources, changing technical and team scenarios, quality of the artefact etc
• LO8.To develop study and transferable skills such as reflective learning, logbook keeping, critical thinking, accessing learning resources including library facilities, effective communication with the team and tutors, professional documentation using word processing, spreadsheets, and power point/poster presentation.
• ULO. Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible practitioners/professionals in their discipline.

The module is assessed through reflective learning, individual practical work, group design casestudy and a formal exam.

Learning Reflection Essay (20%):  As part of PISO Action 2017-18, students will submit a Part -1 of “Learning Reflection Essay” in week 7 based on the feedback received from all Level - 4 modules in week 5. Students are required to complete and submit Part -2 of the essay along with final submission of logbook and group design casestudy for this assessment component to be counted towards module grading. [LO8 in part ]

Group Design Case-study & Logbook (50%): In the first semester, students undertake a series of core laboratory activities that are recorded individually by all students in their logbooks. The laboratory work provides a sound base for second semester’s Group Design Case-study where a group of 3 or 5 students are encouraged to go through various stages of the engineering design cycle for a given problem. Students are offered catch-up sessions and are also encouraged to use Wednesday’s open access laboratory in order to complete the missing laboratory work before final submission deadline. [LO6 to 8 mainly], [LO1 to LO5 partly]

Final Exam (30%) This final comprehensive exam assesses the depth and breadth of the theoretical grasp of various building blocks of analogue and digital circuits [LO1 to 5 mainly]

Core Text:
• Tom Duncan (1997), Electronics for today and tomorrow, Hodder Education
• Thomas L Floyd (2015), Digital fundamentals (11thed or later), Pearson, ISBN: 1292075996, http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1792235~S1
• Owen Bishop (2011), Electronics - Circuits and Systems (4thed), Newnes
http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1681084~S1

Other Texts:
• Thomas L. Floyd (2018), Electronic devices: conventional current version (10 ed), Pearson Education, ISBN:1292223014, http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1897655~S1
• Neil Storey (2017), Electronics: A Systems Approach (6thed), Pearson, ISBN: 1292114118, http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b2031171~S1
• Cathleen Shamieh (2015), Electronics for Dummies (3rd ed), John Wiley & Sons
http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1892318~S1
• David Crecraft, David Gorham (2003), Electronics (2nded), CRC Press
http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1440780~S1
• Mitchel E. Schultz (2016), Grob’s Basic Electronics (12thed or later), McGraw-Hill Education, ISBN: 0073373877
http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1889386~S1
• Charles Platt (2012), Encyclopaedia of electronic components - Volume 1,  Maker Media, ISBN: 1449333850, http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1891098~S1
• Keith Brindley (2011), Starting Electronics, Newnes, ISBN: 9780080969930
http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1792231~S1
• Stan Gibilisco and Simon Monk (2016), Teach yourself electricity and electronics (6 ed), McGraw-Hill, ISBN: 1259585530, http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b2031169~S1
• Massimo Banzi and Michael Shiloh (2014), Make: getting started with Arduino (3 ed), Maker Media, http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1792343~S1

Magazines and Journals
Every Day Practical Electronics: http://www.epemag3.com/index.html
Elektorlabs magazine: http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1899622~S1

New Electronics: http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/digital-magazine/
Nuts and Volts: https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine
Electronics for You: https://grab.electronicsforu.com/collections/grab-magazines/products/efy-magazine-subscription

Websites
University Library website:
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/library/

Subject guides and research support:
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/library/subject

Electronic Databases
IEEE Xplore / IET Digital Library (IEL):
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/home.jsp

Wiley Online Library:
https://0-www-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/

Social Media Sources
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/

Other
Lynda: http://www.lynda.com/