A New Approach To Teaching Introduction To Electrical Engineering At The United States Coast Guard Academy
- Conference
- Location
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Chicago, Illinois
- Publication Date
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June 18, 2006
- Start Date
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June 18, 2006
- End Date
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June 21, 2006
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Electrical and Computer
- Page Count
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19
- Page Numbers
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11.80.1 - 11.80.19
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--32
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/32
- Download Count
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444
Paper Authors
David Godfrey U.S. Coast Guard Academy
David Godfrey, MSEE, PE, is an assistant professor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA). He graduated from USCGA with his BSEE in 1992 and earned his MSEE from University of Rhode Island in 1997. He holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Address: U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Department of Engineering, 27 Mohegan Ave., New London, CT 06320-8101; telephone: 860-444-8536; fax: 860-444-8546; e-mail: dgodfrey@exmail.uscga.edu.
Joseph Staier U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Joseph Staier, MSIT, is an assistant professor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA). He graduated from USCGA with his BSEE in 1992 and earned his MSIT from Naval Post Graduate School in 1996. He holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Address: U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Department of Engineering, 27 Mohegan Ave., New London, CT 06320-8101; telephone: 860-444-8541; fax: 860-444-8546; e-mail: jstaier@exmail.uscga.edu.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AT THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY Abstract
“Introduction to Electrical Engineering” has been a required course for non-engineering majors at the United States Coast Guard Academy for over thirty-five years. The course’s purpose has been to provide non-engineering majors a basic knowledge of electrical engineering. A cornerstone of this knowledge was an understanding of electrical circuits and electromechanical machines.
As advances have made technology more prevalent, the course added topics (e.g., electronic navigation, computers) to maintain its relevancy. In the twelve years since the last significant change, the pervasiveness of technology in society has increased dramatically. Additionally, student and Coast Guard fleet feedback indicated that the course needed a significant overhaul.
During the summer of 2004, the authors rewrote the course, creating a new course that focuses on technology’s impact on society. By removing circuits and machines, the course now covers a broader range of electrical engineering fields such as image and signal processing, data compression, electronic navigation, communications, and computer networks and security. The course examines current trends; with a focus on how the Coast Guard and Homeland Security use technology and discusses the ethical issues that arise with the potential misuse of technology.
The authors developed several innovative lesson plans, laboratories and even a series of debates to improve the students’ understanding of technological trade-offs, while developing their critical thinking, writing and oral presentation skills. With these skills, the students will be able to make more informed decisions on how to appropriately apply technology.
Now in its third semester, the course has obtained overwhelmingly positive feedback. This paper will review the impetus for the change, an overview of the new course material, a summary of the students’ feedback and the assessment methods. It will discuss the lesson plans, laboratory exercises and projects developed to teach this material.
Introduction
Upon graduation from the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), each graduate receives a commission as an Ensign in the Coast Guard and a Bachelors of Science in one of eight fields, four engineering majors: Civil; Electrical; Mechanical; Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering; and four non-engineering majors: Operations Research and Computer Analysis; Marine and Environmental Science; Management and Government.
“Introduction to Electrical Engineering” (IEE) has been a required course for non-engineers at the Academy for over thirty-five years. The course provided the Academy’s four non- engineering majors with a basic knowledge of electrical engineering, enabling them to function in a technological environment. The course is usually offered both fall and spring semesters with
Godfrey, D., & Staier, J. (2006, June), A New Approach To Teaching Introduction To Electrical Engineering At The United States Coast Guard Academy Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--32
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