Conference Session

Improvements in ECE Circuit Analysis

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

TomHenry J. Reagan, Colorado School of Mines; Stephanie Claussen, Colorado School of Mines; Eric Lyne

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

aims toidentify trends, consensus, and discrepancy amongst high quality studies in the field [1], [2], [3],[4]. SLRs differ from typical ‘narrative’ literature review (borrowing Borrego’s terminology) inthat it employs “transparent, methodical, and reproducible procedures” [1]. SLR is anappropriate technique for addressing our research question because it provides a systematicmethod for selecting and synthesizing the results of high quality studies from a large database.Furthermore, the field of research in pedagogical techniques for teaching introductory circuits ismature enough to warrant such a review, an important criteria for carrying out a successful SLR[1].Writing about SLRs presents semantic challenges which necessitate clarity and

Conference Session

Course Transformation in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Christopher D. Schmitz, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Geoffrey L. Herman, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Timothy Bretl, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

). American c Society for Engineering Education, 2020The Effects of Second-Chance Testing on Learning Outcomes in a First-Year STEM Course in EngineeringIntroductionStudents entering college in an engineering discipline often struggle in their first semesters.While the reasons for their difficulties may vary, it is often the summative course assessments(exams) that serve as the first “wake-up call.” Many under-performing students are suddenlyconvinced to reassess their approach to college-level studies. Increased frequency of assessmenthas been found to improve retention of the learning objectives [1, 2]. In our first-yearengineering course, ECE 110 Introduction to Electronics at the

Conference Session

Improvements in ECE Circuit Analysis

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Brian J. Skromme, Arizona State University; Wendy M. Barnard, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

approach hasbeen used in two sections of a linear circuit analysis course in Fall 2019, and student survey datais presented to show preference for the new method over the usual textbook method. Aninteractive multiple-choice tutorial describing the new method has been integrated into a step-based tutoring system for linear circuit analysis.1. IntroductionElementary linear circuit analysis is one of the most widely taught gateway courses in virtuallyall engineering schools. For example, such a course was taught to 1364 students in 26 classsections in Summer 2019 through Spring 2020 at the author’s institution alone. Such coursesvary in that they may sometimes include topics in electronics or signal processing, but in generalthey tend to cover a well

Conference Session

Capstone, Undergraduate Research, and Projects in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Deng Cao, Central State University; Cadance Lowell, Central State University; Craig M. Schluttenhofer, Central State University; Augustus Morris, Central State University; Austin R. Erdman, Central State University; Torry Johnson; Jeffrey D. Taylor Jr., Central State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

details in this work. One project’s goal was to identify Soybean (Glycine max)in its Cotyledon (VC) and 1st -5th trifoliate stages, the other project’s goal was to identifyHemp (Cannabis sativa) in its three variations. The databases used in these projects werebuilt from real field images, which contain 9 common weed species. The students’achievement, as well as discovered issues, are assessed and reported in this work. Thestudents’ projects will be further used to support our 1890 Land Grant and CBG research.1. IntroductionIn recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most intriguing researchtopics in the world. As one of the most successful AI structures, deep learning was appliedto various fields including computer vision

Conference Session

Improvements in ECE Circuit Analysis

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Alejandro H. Espera Jr., Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Nicole P. Pitterson, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; René Alexander Soto-Pérez, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

inventoryIntroductionEngineering core concepts do not necessarily change in time, yet innovations in accessing,capturing, and assessing mental models of learners are needed to guarantee that pedagogicalapproaches align with the learners’ current understanding [1]–[3]. Abstract concepts such aselectricity require varied approaches that effectively facilitate both teaching and learning [3].According to the theoretical framework of conceptual change, students’ role in navigating andlearning these difficult concepts should include extensive engagement in the construction of theirown knowledge and skills, i.e., with the help of multiple and effective approaches to the designof learning environments where students are exposed to [4], with particular focus on properassessment

Conference Session

Embedded Systems and Cybersecurity in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Garry Ingles; Aaron Carpenter, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

technique called “Moats and Bridges” frompublished research in the computer architecture security community [1].FPGA logic blocks are capable of attacking co-resident logic blocks via side-channel attacks toreveal the inner-workings of the victim logic, as demonstrated in existing research in thecommunity. The “Moats and Bridges” technique changes the synthesis process and providesisolation to logic modules. The synthesis process could otherwise lead to placement of logicblocks that breeds vulnerabilities and back channels. The work-in-progress discussed here willprimarily focus on understanding and implementing the Moats and Bridges techniques andtechnology. Through the research, the activities provided insight towards the more

Conference Session

Assessment of Learning in ECE Courses

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Caroline Crockett, University of Michigan; Cynthia J. Finelli, University of Michigan; Harry Courtney Powell, University of Virginia

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

purpose of this work-in-progress paper is to present our methodology forfeedback from the community, our preliminary results from the initial Fall 2019 data, and to start a larger conversationabout the importance of studying conceptual understanding from a longitudinal perspective.1 IntroductionThis work-in-progress paper outlines our planned study of students’ conceptual understanding of signals and systems.Signals and systems (SS) is the focus of an electrical engineering (EE) science course at most universities, and topicsin SS, such as filtering and Fourier transforms, are fundamental to control theory, signal processing, and machinelearning. Despite the importance educators place on SS concepts, previous studies have shown that students

Conference Session

New Developments in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Brian E Faulkner, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

. Thispaper shares two examples of the applied circuits homework exercises, the task design philosophyand student responses to feedback surveys.1 Introduction and BackgroundMany engineering students who are not electrical engineers will take a course in electric circuitsduring their undergraduate degree. For mechanical engineering students, this is often aprerequisite for mechatronics or robotics courses, for biomedical engineers it may be followed bystudy in medical instrumentation 1 and it is the final exposure to electrical phenomena in collegefor most civil engineers. Many of these students believe their circuits course is irrelevant to theirchosen path of study, that they need only concern themselves with the world of pounds and feet,and never

Conference Session

Insights for Teaching ECE Courses

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Kent A. Crick, Iowa State University; Matthew T. Seipel, Iowa State University; Lisa M. Larson Ph.D., Iowa State University; Mack Shelley, Iowa State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

. American c Society for Engineering Education, 2020 Building Community, Providing Scholarships, Developing Leaders: Recruiting and Retaining Underrepresented Students in Engineering and Computer Engineering Departments (WIP) The underrepresentation of women and people of color in engineering is welldocumented in the literature [1]. Women constitute 47% of the overall workforce but only 28%of jobs in science and engineering belong to women. This deficit is particularly noticeable in thefields of computer science and engineering as women comprise just 26% of the computer scienceworkforce and hold only 15% of engineering positions. This gender divide begins to emerge atthe

Conference Session

Active and Cooperative Learning in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Jun Ouyang, University of California, Davis; Hooman Rashtian, University of California, Davis

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

hasdeveloped a set of experiments based on a robotic arm in [1]. However, the robotic arm is costly and mayrequire students to share its usage. As another example, the work in [2] utilizes LEGO Mindstorm robotswhich again is a costly solution. In our institution, while Control Systems is listed as a lab course, the labcomponent of the course consisted of MATLAB and Simulink assignments on designing various controllerssuch as lead-lag and PID controllers. While MATLAB is a very strong tool in teaching control theory andis widely used by numerous instructors, it does not provide the hands-on experience needed to inspirestudents to learn control theory. To address this problem and to give students the opportunity of havinghands-on experiences outside

Conference Session

Course Transformation in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Mohamed Khaled Elshazly, University of Toronto; Hamid S. Timorabadi, University of Toronto

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

, utilize converters that are operated in ablack box manner by the students. This causes some difficulty in relating theoretical concepts topractical circuit operation, particularly with switching control where students are unaware of thealgorithms being used. Moreover, the strict safety measures and lengthy instruction-basedexperimental procedures leave little room for independent exploration or trial and error.In Fall 2018, motivated by the many promising reports of incorporating simulations inundergraduate classrooms [1 - 6], we developed LabSim. LabSim is a set of simulation files forvarious switch-mode power converters implemented in Simulink [7] using visual PLECS blocks[8]. The purpose of LabSim is to provide students with an avenue for

Conference Session

New Developments in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Branimir Pejcinovic, Portland State University; Melinda Holtzman, Portland State University; Phillip Wong, Portland State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

this problem has been the introduction of a two-quarter coursesequence in the sophomore year: ECE 211 Introduction to Design Processes and ECE 212Introduction to Project Development. For brevity, we will call this sequence the Cornerstonecourses. We have provided an introduction to these courses in [1], but at that time we were stillin the middle of our first implementation. In this work we will focus on the details of the coursedesign, assessment used, and lessons learned from the first three offerings of the courses.In the following sections we will discuss: I. Overall ECE curriculum at our university (to provide proper context), II. more detailed course learning outcomes and descriptions, III. assessments used and results, and IV

Conference Session

Active and Cooperative Learning in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Marnie Wong, Arizona State University; Lindy Hamilton Mayled, Arizona State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

Conference Session

Improvements in ECE Circuit Analysis

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Kun Yao, University of Georgia; Adel W. Al Weshah, University of Georgia; Nathaniel Hunsu, University of Georgia

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

. Problem 1 examined students understanding of theinternal resistance of voltmeter/ammeter and short circuit, shown in Fig.1. Problem 2focused on series/parallel connection, shown in Fig.2. Lastly, Problem 3 focused onohm’s law. Besides, each item also included a confidence rating for student to choosehow confident they felt about the option they chose. The confidence rating scaleranged between 1 (being “Very unsure”) to 5 (being “very sure”).Sample of ProblemsSample 1Conceptual Content: Which circuit is most likely to make thepower supply and ammeter damaged? _______________Confidence Rating Scale: How sure (confident) are you when answering the above question? (Tick the box.) Very unsure Fairly In doubt

Conference Session

Curricular Advancements in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Shiny Abraham, Seattle University; Kenneth A. Connor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

underlying goal of this work is to combine thetraditional knowledge-based curriculum with skills-based experiences to broaden students’horizons, while helping them develop transferable knowledge and skills. Skills-based learningalso opens up opportunities for hands-on learning in which experimentation plays a key role –also known as Experiment Centric Pedagogy. This is based on the idea that engineeringeducation should have plenty of activities that enable students to act like engineers.IntroductionEmerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Augmentedand Virtual Reality (AR and VR), and Autonomous Vehicles, among many others, haveincreased the global demand for skilled workers [1]. However, recent graduates

Conference Session

Embedded Systems and Cybersecurity in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

James Peyton Jones, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

associatedlecture course in order to apply, analyze and create embedded / IOT solutions to practicalengineering problems. Rubric-based assessment demonstrates that the large majority (>90%) ofthe class met these outcomes. A further outcome relates to improved motivation and learningthrough reversing the traditional course sequence. Assessment of this outcome is still a work inprogress but initial survey results are encouraging and show that the course was well received.IntroductionEmbedded systems and the Internet of Things (IOT) are becoming increasingly important withapproximately the same number of IOT devices as people on the planet [1], so it is important toreflect these changes in the Engineering Curriculum. Traditional courses tend to adopt

Conference Session

New Developments in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Salman Mohagheghi, Colorado School of Mines

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

engineering students who are innovative and risk-takers and who think beyondtraditional engineering approaches. In fact, many institutions of higher education offer courses andprograms that are specifically designed with this goal in mind. While initially the main objectiveof entrepreneurship education was encouraging students to create new ventures, more recentlythere has been a shift in focus to a broader concept which emphasizes entrepreneurship as a wayof thinking and behaving [1]. A student with this mentality would not only be successful indeveloping startups and ventures but can also take the creativity and self-confidence to any otherjob in industry or academia.Developing an entrepreneurial mindset and building self-confidence can (and should

Conference Session

Active and Cooperative Learning in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Werner Creixell, Texas A&M University; Rachelle M. Pedersen, Texas A&M University; Susan Niki Ritchey, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

project.IntroductionEngineers today are expected to maintain a combination of technical problem-solvingcapabilities, content literacy, and societal skills of communication, creativity, and collaboration 1 .Effective teaching practices and educational constructs have become an increasing focus inundergraduate engineering programs as universities continue to improve the quality of educationfor the next generation of engineers to meet these societal needs. Although extensive research hasbeen done to connect how people learn with effective active learning methods in undergraduatecourses, research continues to show that universities typically tend to lean on traditionallecture-style approaches 2 3 4 . This work-in-progress paper seeks to show how a Project-BasedLearning

Conference Session

Course Transformation in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Karl Brakora, Grand Valley State University; Lihong (Heidi) Jiao, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

offering custom PCB design courses practical during a single semester.As little as three years ago, the cost and complexity of purchasing small-scale, multi-projectPCBs created as significant burden on the organization of a course. Substantially similar coursesin the past have trained students to design PCBs that would not be fabricated [1] or chose tobuild primitive circuit boards in-house [2]. The option of letting students obtain their own PCBsfrom discount manufacturers has existed for the last ten years. Discount PCB manufacturerssuch as Advanced Circuits (Aurora, CO), which has been used in previous PCB-based embeddedsystems courses [3], offered students two-layer boards at $33 each or four-layer boards at $66each while charging an extra $50

Conference Session

Capstone, Undergraduate Research, and Projects in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Rod Blaine Foist, California Baptist University; John Butler, California Baptist University; Gibson Fleming, California Baptist University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

/repositories.Introduction—Educational Research Using LabsLaboratory projects can be strategically used to improve the Electrical and ComputerEngineering (ECE) curriculum across all four years, according to National Science Foundation(NSF) research done by Chu [1]. The aim is to enhance student learning and better preparegraduates for new challenges. Chu’s viewpoint is that a good engineer must not only becomeknowledgeable in certain content areas (components, learned in individual courses), but also beable to apply and integrate that content to solve complex, real-world problems.Motivation for Chu’s work came from an earlier 5-year study of engineering education [2]. Thatstudy found a deficiency in the curricula—subjects were taught in isolation, did not have

Conference Session

Capstone, Undergraduate Research, and Projects in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Ying Lin, Western Washington University; Steve Sandelin

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

design the analog and digital circuity needed to configureand control the timer to produce desired output. The end results of this course project are twoengaging and fun circuits highlighted as follows.  The first one is a photo-Theremin which demonstrates the same concept as a traditional Theremin, of alternating the time constant of an oscillator circuit, to produce a Theremin like instrument that uses variations in light intensity instead of variation in local electric fields.  The second circuit realizes the activation and de-activation sequencing as demonstrated by a bank of LEDs turning on and off sequentially.The collaborative nature of this course project offers multiple benefits, such as 1

Conference Session

Active and Cooperative Learning in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Safeer M. Khan P.E., Arkansas Tech University; Mohamed Ibrahim, Arkansas Tech University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

modern engineering profession is built on constantly dealing with decisionmaking based on inadequate data from unreliable sources, ambiguity and continuous shifting ofthe project objectives, and challenging demands from all stake holders including governmentagencies, interest groups and general public. Many research studies have been based on datacollected from industries to determinethe hands-on technical and inter-personal skills required ofengineers(e.g. [1], [2]). Analysis of data has highlighted some key shortcomings of engineeringstudents with respect to requirements of professional careers. Areas for improvement includecommunication and teamwork skills, awareness of ethical, social, environmental and economicissues, and application of

Conference Session

Assessment of Learning in ECE Courses

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Jinhui Wang, University of South Alabama

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

teaching andlearning (SoTL). And it was used in a University course - EE 263: Digital Logic Design. Thecourse evaluation showed that with new feedback method, the evaluation measurement for overallperformance of instructors increases by 11.3%. Regarding to course policies, useful feedback,course comparison, examinations and assignments, difficult concepts, and online materials, theevaluation measurement increases respectively by 10%, 10%, 6%, 15%, 8%, and 6%.1. IntroductionThe current practice on feedback in Universities is that students provide feedback to theirinstructors in the mid-term or final-term of the course, that are primarily unidirectional. While thisapproach may partly improve the teaching and learning, but sometimes, it will produce

Conference Session

Curricular Advancements in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Douglas W. Jacobson, Iowa State University; Julie Ann Rursch, Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

workforce trained in elements of cyber security.The demand for workers in computer and information technology occupations is well-documented. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 12 percent growth in the number ofjob offerings from 2018 to 2028[1]. This is much faster than the average for all otheroccupations. And while this number is staggering and leaves us to wonder how to fill the gap ofgeneral technology workers, the growth expected in the more specialized information securitysubsector is projected at a whopping 32 percent growth during the same period[2]. Clearly, thereis a need for colleges and universities nationwide to begin programs or fortify existing programsto produce graduates with cyber security skills.However, building a

Conference Session

Assessment of Learning in ECE Courses

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Claire Lynne McCullough P.E., High Point University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

has over 30 years’ experience in engineering practice and education, including industrial experience at the Tennessee Valley Authority and the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Her research inter- ests include Engineering Ethics, Image and Data Fusion, Automatic Target Recognition, Bioinformatics and issues of under-representation in STEM fields. She is a former member of the ABET Engineering Ac- creditation Commission, and is on the board of the ASEE Ethics Division and the Women in Engineering Division. c American Society for Engineering Education, 2020 Can ABET Assessment Really Be This Simple?AbstractWith the hard roll-out of ABET’s new outcomes 1-7 in the 2019

Conference Session

New Developments in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Akshay Sarin, University of Michigan; Sung Yul Chu, University of Michigan; Heath Hofmann, University of Michigan; Al-Thaddeus Avestruz, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

activity. This evaluation showed that 96% of thestudents had developed an intuition for inductor design, and 62.5% of the students were able tocorrectly identify the concept for magnetic coupling including proper alignment, the distancebetween two coils and the relative size of the receiver coil with respect to the transmitter coil. Thestudents gave an average rating of 8.2/10 for how much they liked the competition, furtherindicating their engagement in the activity.IntroductionThe transportation sector accounts for 28% of global energy consumption and 23% of total CO2emissions [1]. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommends up to 60%reduction of the CO2 emissions from the transportation sector by 2050 to meet the target of

Conference Session

Insights for Teaching ECE Courses

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Jie Sheng, University of Washington, Tacoma

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

. Each group was formed by members withdifferent background, e.g., one from CES program and another from EE program. Individual efforts wereassessed based on group work evaluation to ensure fairness and equity. According to students’ feedback,the cooperative learning method has successfully promoted students' learning and decision making; italso greatly enhanced students’ racial tolerance and critical thinking capability.The contribution of this paper is that we provide a review to share our experience in teachingMicroprocessor Systems Design in the past decade. Details to be presented include: (1) how we designour curriculum course sequence to ensure students get both the fundamentals and the hands-on exercisein one quarter; (2) how we help

Conference Session

Capstone, Undergraduate Research, and Projects in ECE

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Joel C. Adams, Calvin University; Noah Pirrotta, Medallion Instrumentation Systems; Mark Michmerhuizen, Calvin University; Philip M. Holmes, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Peter Oostema, Carnegie Mellon University; Benjamin Kastner, Churchill Navigation

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

Society for Engineering Education, 2020 Crayowulf: A Multidisciplinary Capstone ProjectABSTRACTSenior capstone projects provide an excellent means of having students apply and integrate manyof the topics they have learned over the course of their undergraduate education. In this paper, wedescribe a two-semester (10-month) senior capstone project in which a multidisciplinary group—one computer science student, one electrical engineering student, and two mechanical engineeringstudents—worked as a team to implement an innovative Beowulf cluster design. The clustercommemorates the Cray-1 supercomputer, with a small hexagonal aluminum case enclosing adistributed multiprocessor consisting of five Nvidia Jetson TX2 single board

Conference Session

New ECE Laboratories

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Mark William Thoren, Analog Devices Inc.; Taufik Taufik, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

” lab exercises on topics frombasic circuits to data conversion to communications and software defined radio [1-2] that is usedby various schools to augment their existing programs. In addition, the company has beensupporting local universities in enhancing their electrical engineering programs [3-4],incorporating learnings from these collaborative efforts into new exercises.The power electronics section of the Active Learning curriculum was lacking in content, so anew effort was started in 2017 to address this gap. Since this effort was starting from scratch, itwas decided that lab material would be tested at local universities in a workshop setting as it wasbeing developed, in an effort to maximize quality and minimize potential pitfalls and

Conference Session

New ECE Laboratories

Collection

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Pelin Kurtay, George Mason University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

designing a PCB on their own. The importance of teachingPCB design through a formal course has been a topic explored by other faculty groups at variousinstitutions [1], [2]. There are some higher learning institutions who offer courses on PCB designsuch as in the form of popup courses [3], or through student organizations such as the IEEEstudent chapter [4] however many of these offerings are traditionally non-credit and not typicallycounted towards a faculty’s teaching load [5]. There are some institutions that have integratedformal PCB design as part of their curriculum, however it is usually part of another course.PCB design activities may typically occur sometime starting in the sophomore (or later years)where classes increasingly incorporate