Digital Electronics

Syllabus PLTW.org     Rochester Institute of Technology - PLTW College Credit info

College Credits Available - ACE Credits Accepted In Colorado (see below)

Course Description:

  This course is designed for students wishing to explore the major fields of engineering to help them to further develop their I-CAP.  In this course students will learn fundamental concepts of engineering, basic knowledge of several fields of engineering, and will develop collaborative and communication skills used in this profession.  Students will be challenged to work together to develop solutions to typical engineering challenges.  Students will maintain an engineering journal where they will practice sketching their design ideas, recording their design process, and take notes from class presentations, discussions, activities and/or textbooks.

Outcomes:

• Students will explore requirements and opportunities in many engineering fields.

• Students will work independently and collaborate to create design proposals.

• Students will use the engineering design process to develop an original solution to a problem. 

• Using computational thinking to solve problems.

• Students will learn, practice, and follow all safety rules for using fabrication tools.

• Students will maintain an engineering journal where they will record their design process.

• Students will create, save and organize their work digitally on computers.



STEM - Proficiencies Standards

"Digital electronics is a field of electronics involving the study of digital signals and the engineering of devices that use or produce them. This is in contrast to analog electronics which work primarily with analog signals. Despite the name, digital electronics designs includes important analog design considerations.   

Digital electronic circuits are usually made from large assemblies of logic gates, often packaged in integrated circuits. Complex devices may have simple electronic representations of Boolean logic functions.[1]  "  wikipedia

"This course is a study in applied digital logic using electronic digital circuits. Students will learn about digital electronic fundamentals, including number systems, logic gates, Boolean algebra, logic families circuit design, flip-flops, combinational and synchronous logic circuit design, logic minimization techniques (Karnaugh maps, Quine-McCluskey), finite state machines, counters, shift registers, encoders and decoders, multiplexers and demultiplexers, data storage, data conversion, data processing, and control. Learning is augmented by hands-on work through virtual labs using the NI Multisim software."  This is the course description from the class taught at Thomas Jefferson State University.  It is the same class taught here.

Electrical Controls

 Logic Simplifier

Unit 1

Fundamentals of Electronics

Unit 2

Combinational Logic

Unit 3

Sequential Logic

Unit 4

Control Systems

Daily Routine

Warm-up Question - Google Classroom

Answered in several sentences.

Think like an Engineer

Team Meeting - Journal

Project Status - Goals - Schedule

Plan like an Engineer

Engineering Project - group work

Design, Build, Test, Repeat

Design like an Engineer

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)- Engineering

Each PLTW Engineering course engages students in interdisciplinary activities like working with a client to design a home, programming electronic devices or robotic arms. These activities not only build knowledge and skills in engineering, but also empower students to develop essential skills such as problem solving, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and perseverance. 

Introduction to Engineering Design (9th grade)

Students dig deep into the engineering design process, applying math, science, and engineering standards to hands-on projects like designing a new toy or improving an existing product.

Principles of Engineering (10th, 11th or 12th grade)

Students explore a broad range of engineering topics including mechanisms, strength of structure and materials, and automation, and then they apply what they know to take on challenges like designing a self-powered car.

Aerospace Engineering (10th, 11th or 12th grade)

Students explore and experience the wonders of flight, aerodynamics, and space exploration.  Student will learn about the field of aerospace and then they apply what they have learned to design and test model planes, rockets, and drones. 

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (10th, 11th or 12th grade)

Students discover and explore manufacturing processes, product design, robotics, and automation, and then they apply what they have learned to design solutions for real-world manufacturing problems. 

Digital Electronics (11th or 12th grade)

Students explore the foundations of computing by engaging in circuit design processes to create combinational logic and sequential logic (memory) as electrical engineers do in industry.

Engineering Design and Development (12th grade - Capstone Project)

Students identify a real-world challenge and then research, design, and test a solution, ultimately presenting their unique solutions to a panel of engineers.