Electron Control: Understanding and Constructing the Fundamental Digital Circuitry of Computing

Overview

Although the conceptual ingredients for the modern computer date back to the 1830s, the hardware to enable its operation at useful speed and interface had to await inventions of physics: the transistor (Nobel Prize in Physics, 1956) and the integrated circuit (Nobel Prize in Physics, 2000). We will use these components to build from scratch on a connection board the fundamental circuitry of computing, including circuits that make decisions, add, count, store and move information, and make LEDs (Nobel Prize in Physics, 2014) light up in revealing patterns.

"Electron control has changed my perspective on modern technology. I can now know how complex the devices we use every day really are."

- 2021 Electron Control Student

Physics – Electrical Engineering – Computer Engineering

Dr. John Gardner

Biography

John Gardner earned physics degrees from Princeton (AB) and the University of Illinois (PhD), and has spent twenty years teaching college physics and ten years teaching high school physics, most recently at a Virginia Academic-year Governor’s School. He specializes in student laboratory experiences and is returning for his fifth year at the Summer Residential Governor’s School at University of Lynchburg. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, biking, and running Lynchburg’s Blackwater Creek Trail system while listening to audiobooks free on his older sister’s Audible subscription.

Personal Statement

Students already come to electron control with the interest and ability to learn and to make great progress. the function of the class is to provide a framework Dash lab equipment, some concept development, assistance, and encouragement (overt or wry) Dash to facilitate the student’s exploration into the world of digital and analog circuitry. I’m lucky to share in that exploration with them.

"In this class, you start with the fundamentals, then you can apply the concepts to solve complex problems."

-2021 Electron Control Student

Class of 2021

Class President 2021

"The class has allowed me to explore aspects of different career paths which has been incredibly eye-opening. It has inspired me to think about pursuing electrical engineering in the future. "

- 2021 Electron Control Student

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