DIGITAL ELECTRONICS
Mr. Karasch
William Fremd High School
mkarasch@d211.org

A. DESCRIPTION
    Digital Electronics is an advanced engineering course that introduces students to the basics of digital electronics, and then covers the fundamentals of digital electronics design, while allowing students to experiment with discrete components, integrated circuits, and field programmable gate arrays (FPGA).

B. ORGANIZATION
    This class is presented with both lecture and lab portions.  Much of the class will be devoted to hands-on lab based work.

C. COURSE TOPICS
  1. Introduction To Digital Electronics
  2. Combinational Logic
  3. Sequential Logic
  4. Microprocessors
 
D. TEXT AND REQUIRED SUPPLIES
  1. No Textbook required for class
  2. Supplies: Students will need an Engineer's notebook specifically for this class, and pens.
  3. Students will need to purchase a "Breadboard Companion" Kit for this class, which they will be able to take home and keep.  This will cost $14.00  Students will get a form to take to the cashier so that they can pay for the project.  The cashier accepts cash, and checks made payable to "Fremd High School"
  4. A Scientific or graphing calculator.

E. ASSESSMENTS
    Students will be evaluated in a number of ways.
    1. Engineer's Notebook
    2. Lab Work
    3. Quizzes
    4. Report/Presentation
    5. Final Exam
        1. Engineer's Notebook
            Students will be required to keep a Engineer's notebook in class.  In this notebook, they will document their work thoroughly, and record data from experiments.
        2. LAB WORK
            The overwhelming majority of this class will be based on lab work.  Students will be working on Multisim (a computer program that simulates electronic circuitry), soldering projects, breadboarding projects, and FPGA.  Due to the time and material constraints, extra class time cannot be given for make-up lab work.  Lab work must be completed on the student's own time, so absences are very detrimental. 
        3.  QUIZZES
            Quizzes will occasionally be given in class.
        4.  REPORT/PRESENTATION
            Students may be expected to give a report or presentation on a particular aspect of digital electronics.
        5.  FINAL EXAM
            Students will take a cumulative final exam at the end of each semester, accounting for 20% of their final semester grade.
    
F. CONTACT
    The Applied Technology Office phone number is (847)755-2701.  This is, however, a department-wide voicemail, and is inherently inefficient.  A much better way to contact me is via email at mkarasch@d211.org.

G. SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS
    1.    Ask questions.  There is no better way to tailor your learning experience to exactly what you need.  I welcome almost any question, at almost anytime, so please ask away!
    2.    Keep constant notes in your notebook, and keep your notebook in class unless you need it at home to study.
    3.    Website.  My website http://www.sciencewithmrkarasch.org has all of the notes in PowerPoint format, so that you may go over anything that you didn't fully understand in class.
    4.    Honesty.  Be honest at all times. 
    5.    Be honest with yourself, and drive yourself to complete the tasks to the best of your ability.  DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.  The pace of this class is swift, and if not careful, you may fall behind quickly.
    6.    Have fun!  The use of technology is really fun, and delving into the lab and project work will cement your understanding in the concept of electricity.