Syllabus for ELT-495

ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY CAPSTONE

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Electronics Engineering Technology Capstone is an in-depth, student-centered activity that requires the integration of theory and practical experience. Students will apply the skills and techniques they have learned to a specific project. The project will identify a real-world electronics engineering technical problem, issue, event, developing technology, or case study in which the student will conduct research by exploring, evaluating, and theorizing a solution in a final paper. On successful completion of the course, students will have met the learning outcomes of the EET degree program.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, you should be able to:

1. Review the criteria for accreditation by ABET’s Technology Accreditation Commission, match them to the student outcomes of the electronics engineering technology program, and generate a capstone project that demonstrates mastery of the outcomes.
2. Design a capstone project based on past academic, professional, and personal learning experiences that involves conducting research on a problem, issue, event, developing technology, or case study in the electronics engineering technology field.
3. Demonstrate proficiency as an independent learner and critical thinker by preparing a comprehensive research paper on a problem, issue, event, developing technology, or case study.
4. Research, interpret, and critically analyze literature pertaining to the capstone project.
5. Synthesize research findings, theories, and practice into a comprehensive explanation and resolution of the problem, issue, event, developing technology, or case study.
6. Communicate effectively by making technical presentations in English using language appropriate to peers and other audiences.
7. Summarize the historical development, current state, and future direction of their field of study as related to the capstone project.
8. Function effectively as a team member with an understanding of cultural diversity.
9. Critique the professional, ethical, and social responsibilities in the electronics engineering technology field as it applies to the capstone project.
10. Submit an ethically responsible final project in an academic, professional format that serves as a bridge to their future work or employment.

COURSE MATERIALS

There are no textbooks required for the course.

Internet resources are included in each module for recommended readings and points to start Web searches for supporting information.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Electronics Assessment/Career Planning is a three-credit online course, consisting of six (6) modules. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and assignments. Module titles are listed below.

1. Module 1: Course Overview and EET Student Outcomes

Course objectives covered in this module: CO1

2. Module 2: Organizing into Teams and Identifying a Capstone Project

Course objectives covered in this module: CO2, CO8, CO9

3. Module 3: Research Methods and Literature Review

Course objectives covered in this module: CO3, CO4, CO5

4. Module 4: Outline and Progress Report

Course objectives covered in this module: CO1, CO2, CO3, CO4, CO5, CO8

5. Module 5: Presentation of Capstone Project Paper

Course objectives covered in this module: CO6

6. Module 6: Submission of the Final Capstone Project Paper

Course objectives covered in this module: CO7, CO10

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in nine (9) discussion forums and complete three (3) written assignments.

Consult the course Calendar for assignment due dates.

Discussion Forums

This course requires you to participate in six (6) graded discussion forums.

DF 1: Top Ranked Methods for Capstone Courses

DF 2: TESC and ABET Program and Student Outcomes

DF 3: Teaming

DF 4: Final Team Problem Statement

DF 5: Oral Project Presentation

DF 6: Project Presentation; Discussion and Constructive Critique

The following Group Discussion Board forums are required but ungraded. They contribute to your overall grade, however, because your mentor takes them into account when using the ELT-495 Grading Rubric to assess your work in this course.

Team Forum 1: Research Methodology and Team Participation

Team Forum 2: Progress Report 1

Team Forum 3: Progress Report 2

Members of your team will also participate in other discussion forums at various points in the course in order to complete course requirements.

Deadlines for posting discussion threads on the class Discussion Board are given in the course Calendar.

For posting guidelines and additional help with discussion board assignments please see the Online Student Handbook located within the General Information section of the course Web site.

Written Assignments

You are required to complete three (3) written assignments. The written assignments are steps in completing your final project paper, and in fact the last assignment is the project paper itself. These formal written assignments are supplemented by the discussion forums throughout the developmental stages of the project paper.

1. WA 1: Problem Statement

1. WA 2: Capstone Project Paper Outline

2. WA 3: Final Capstone Project Paper

Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If it is not compatible, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.

See the Online Student Handbook for additional help regarding preparing and submitting assignments located within the General Information section of the course website.

Final Capstone Project Paper

You are required to complete a final project as a group for this capstone course. The ability to work effectively in a team is one of the program outcomes that each student should achieve. This course requires students to form a group and work collaboratively to select a final project topic and problem statement, research and identify the resources and references, draft the paper, present the paper, and finalize and submit the final paper as a group. The Groups area in this course provides you an online forum to discuss, share, critique, and elaborate among your group members. It is also an online space for you to demonstrate how well your group works together to complete your final paper.

Your final project includes five phases: select a problem statement, prepare a paper outline with bibliography, complete two progress reports, post an oral presentation as a video file, and submit the final paper. You are also required to post discussion comments and constructive criticism of other students' oral presentations on discussion forums.

As part of your final paper grade, you are also required to rate your team members' efforts in completing your final research paper. This will be an anonymous peer evaluation that requires you to download and complete a group evaluation form in Module 6. The mentor will average your peers' ratings, which will count toward 30 percent of your individual final paper grade. The mentor's grading of your team's final paper counts toward 70 of your individual final paper grade.

Your final paper should be 25 to 30 pages long excluding references and attachments. To review a sample final project paper (not in this subject area), go to the Resources area of the course site.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined using the ELT-495 rubric. Be sure to review each element of the Rubric to understand the criteria and details that will be used to assess your final grade.  You will find this rubric in the Rubrics area of the course Web site.

Key elements of the course that will be used to determine your final grade include:

1. Problem Statement—5%
2. Paper Outline—10%  
3. Paper Presentation and Discussions—20%
4. Other Class Discussions—15%
5. Final Project—50%

Keep in mind that the final project paper will count as 50% of your final course grade.  The remaining 50% of your course grade will be determined by your class interactions, products, discussion forums, and written assignments.

Overall course evaluation will be based on the attached rubric which is based on TESC and ABET guidelines and approved Student Outcomes of the TESC EET Program.  All 12 Student Outcomes described in the rubric will be used to evaluate each student.  Each student will be evaluated on each Student Outcome based on the quality, quantity, participation, and responses they employ to satisfy the specific course objectives and assignments.

1. Student Outcome 1:  Demonstrate a fundamental mastery of the knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools required for electronics and/or related fields.  
2. Student Outcome 2: Demonstrate an ability to understand and apply current concepts in the areas of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to problems / issues encountered using proper application of principles and applied procedures or methodologies.
3. Student Outcome 3: Demonstrate the ability to conduct standard tests and measurements in the lab or in the field; similarly, to conduct, analyze, and interpret experiments; and apply results to resolve technical challenges and improve processes.
4. Student Outcome 4:Demonstrate the ability to design or redesign systems, components or processes appropriate for the challenges encountered.
5. Student Outcome 5: Demonstrate effective leadership and participation as a member of a technical team.
6. Student Outcome 6: Demonstrate a capability to solve technical problems through proper identification, research, and systematic analysis of the issue.
7. Student Outcome 7: Demonstrate proficiency in oral, written, and graphical communications in a technical and non-technical setting utilizing standard English.
8. Student Outcome 8: Demonstrate an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature, documents and procedures.
9. Student Outcome 9: Demonstrate the need for and commitment to engage in self-directed continuing professional development and lifelong learning in one’s discipline.
10. Student Outcome 10: Demonstrate professional, ethical, and social responsibilities within the electronics field, while recognizing differences due to culture and diversity.
11. Student Outcome 11: Demonstrate recognition of the impacts of electronics technology solutions in an expanding societal and global context.
12. Student Outcome 12: Demonstrate a commitment to quality, timeliness, and continuous improvement in professional activities.

Based on your demonstrated accomplishments and score for each Student Outcome, your results will be entered into the EET 495 Course Rubric.  At the end of the course, your percentage score will be calculated which compares your accomplishments with the total possible points for each outcome in the Rubric.  Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of D or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings, etc.).

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

1. Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.
   
2. Take time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.
   
3. Familiarize yourself with the learning management systems environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.
   
4. If you are not familiar with Web-based learning be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:

1. To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The Calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking examinations.
   
2. Check Announcements regularly for new course information.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students at Thomas Edison State College are expected to exhibit the highest level of academic citizenship. In particular, students are expected to read and follow all policies, procedures, and program information guidelines contained in publications; pursue their learning goals with honesty and integrity; demonstrate that they are progressing satisfactorily and in a timely fashion by meeting course deadlines and following outlined procedures; observe a code of mutual respect in dealing with mentors, staff, and other students; behave in a manner consistent with the standards and codes of the profession in which they are practicing; keep official records updated regarding changes in name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address; and meet financial obligations in a timely manner. Students not practicing good academic citizenship may be subject to disciplinary action including suspension, dismissal, or financial holds on records.

Academic Dishonesty

Thomas Edison State College expects all of its students to approach their education with academic integrity—the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception. All mentors and administrative staff members at the College insist on strict standards of academic honesty in all courses. Academic dishonesty undermines this objective. Academic dishonesty takes the following forms:

1. Cheating
2. Plagiarizing (including copying and pasting from the Internet without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources)
3. Fabricating information or citations
4. Facilitating acts of dishonesty by others
5. Unauthorized access to examinations or the use of unauthorized materials during exam administration
6. Submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the mentor
7. Tampering with the academic work of other students

Academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal from the College. Students who submit papers that are found to be plagiarized will receive an F on the plagiarized assignment, may receive a grade of F for the course, and may face dismissal from the College.

A student who is charged with academic dishonesty will be given oral or written notice of the charge. If a mentor or the College official believes the infraction is serious enough to warrant referral of the case to the academic dean, or if the mentor awards a final grade of F in the course because of the infraction, the student and the mentor will be afforded formal due process.

If a student is found cheating or using unauthorized materials on an examination, he or she will automatically receive a grade of F on that examination. Students who believe they have been falsely accused of academic dishonesty should seek redress through informal discussions with the mentor, through the office of the dean, or through an executive officer of Thomas Edison State College.

Plagiarism

Using someone else’s work as your own is plagiarism. Although it may seem like simple dishonesty, plagiarism is against the law. Thomas Edison State College takes a strong stance against plagiarism, and students found to be plagiarizing will be severely penalized. If you copy phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or whole documents word-for-word—or if you paraphrase by changing a word here and there—without identifying the author, then you are plagiarizing. Please keep in mind that this type of identification applies to Internet sources as well as to print-based sources. Copying and pasting from the Internet, without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources, constitutes plagiarism. (For information about how to cite Internet sources, see Online Student Handbook > Academic Standards > “Citing Sources.”)

Accidentally copying the words and ideas of another writer does not excuse the charge of plagiarism. It is easy to jot down notes and ideas from many sources and then write your own paper without knowing which words are your own and which are someone else’s. It is more difficult to keep track of each and every source. However, the conscientious writer who wishes to avoid plagiarizing never fails to keep careful track of sources.

Always be aware that if you write without acknowledging the sources of your ideas, you run the risk of being charged with plagiarism.

Clearly, plagiarism, no matter the degree of the intent to deceive, defeats the purpose of education. If you plagiarize deliberately, you are not educating yourself, and you are wasting your time on courses meant to improve your skills. If you plagiarize through carelessness, you are deceiving yourself.