Laboratory-based project-oriented introductory course for electrical engineering

Based on evidence from assessment data and in discussions with engineering employers, the Electrical and Computer Engineering program at York College of Pennsylvania saw the need to revise its freshman engineering experience. This paper describes the need for this new course and discusses the architecture and pedagogy of the course. Of particular interest were the goals of ensuring all students developed proficiency in operating basic electric/electronic test equipment, skills in basic DC circuit analysis techniques, exposure to a broad range of electric/electronic devices, and introduction to fundamentals of engineering design. Consequently the course was primarily laboratory based and project oriented.