Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering: Electronics Technology

Course Description:

Electronics I is a first course in the interesting and challenging field of Electricity – Electronics. It will acquaint the student with basic fundamentals of electronics and their practical applications. Interesting experiments will enable students to discover for themselves many electronic principles and performing interesting activities will enable students to understand basic electronic circuits. Upon completion of this program, the student will have a broad general knowledge of electricity and electronics and also an interest which will lead to further and more advanced studies.

Course Standards:

Standard 1: The student will be able to understand and demonstrate safe practices.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will work around low and high voltages safely.
    
2. The student will use correct safety procedures with electronic equipment.
    
3. The student will use de-soldering and soldering equipment properly.

Standard 2: The student will be able to understand the physics of electronics.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will understand how and why electrons flow.
    
2. The student will understand the physical properties of conductors, resistors, and semi-conductors.
    
3. The student will understand the production of electricity.

Standard 3: The student will understand the properties of electrical circuits.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will define voltage, current, and resistance and explain their relationships (Ohm’s Law).
    
2. The student will be able to compute total resistance of a series and parallel circuit.
    
3. The student will be able to compute problems using Ohm’s Law.
    
4. The student will demonstrate the use of meters to measure ohms, amps, and volts.
    
5. The student will be able to calculate and understand concepts of power.

Standard 4: The student will understand, build and test DC circuits.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will understand the effects of capacitance of DC circuits.
    
2. The student will demonstrate breadboarding techniques.
    
3. The student will understand the effects of magnetism on electrical components.
    
4. The student will demonstrate knowledge of electronic symbols and abbreviations.
    
5. The student will be able to calculate voltage drop in a DC circuit.

Standard 5: The student will understand, build and test AC circuits.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will demonstrate using meters and oscilloscope on A.C. circuits.
    
2. The student will understand the theory of operation and the characteristics of transformers.
    
3. The student will understand the relationship of capacitors and inductors in the A.C. circuit.

Standard 6: The student will be able to identify, test and understand how semi-conductors work.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will explain how common semi-conductors work and how to test them with meters.
    
2. The student will explain how semi-conductors are used in a circuit.

Standard 7: The student will demonstrate proper techniques of soldering and desoldering.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will be able to desolder and solder components of a circuit board.
    
2. The student will be able to solder components into a circuit board to complete a project.

Integrated Minnesota Academic Mathematics Standards

Standard: The student will use positive and negative rational numbers, represented in a variety of ways, to quantify information and to solve real-world and mathematical problems.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will represent rational numbers as fractions, mixed numbers, decimals or percents and convert among various forms as appropriate.
    
2. The student will use scientific notation with positive powers of 10, with appropriate treatment of significant digits, to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
    
3. The student will locate and compare positive and negative rational numbers on a number line.

Standard: The student will compute fluently and make reasonable estimates with rational numbers in real-world and mathematical problems. Understand the meanings of the basic operations, and appropriately use calculators and other technologies to solve problems.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers.
    
2. The student will use the inverse relationship between extracting square roots and squaring positive integers to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
    
3. The student will calculate the percentage of increase and decrease of a quantity in real-world and mathematical problems.
    
4. The student will convert among fractions, decimals and percents and use these representations for estimations and computations in real-world and mathematical problems.
    
5. The student will understand and compute positive integer powers of nonnegative integers and express examples as repeated multiplication.
    
6. The student will apply the correct order of operations and grouping symbols when using calculators and other technologies.
    
7. The student will know, use and translate calculator notational conventions to mathematical notation.

Standard: The student will demonstrate and understanding of rate of change graphically and numerically.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will demonstrate, numerically and graphically, an understanding that rate is a measure of change of one quantify per unit change of another quantify in real-world and mathematical problems.
    
2. The student will plot points on the graph of a linear function and identify the slope or rate of change.

Standard: The student will use real numbers, represented in a variety of ways, to quantify information and to solve real-world and mathematical problems and appropriately use calculators and other technologies to solve problems.

Benchmark:

• The student will recognize the impact of units such as degrees and radians on calculations.

Integrated Minnesota Academic Science Standards

Standard: The student will understand the nature of matter including its forms, properties and interactions.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will identify protons, neutrons and electrons as the major components of the atom, their mass relative to one another, their arrangement and their charge.
    
2. The student will differentiate between an atom and a molecule.

Standard: The student will understand energy forms, transformations and transfers.

Benchmarks:

1. The student will differentiate between AC and DC current.
    
2. The student will describe the risks and benefits of fossil fuels, renewable sources and nuclear power as sources of usable energy.

Standard: The student will understand the nature of force and motion.

Benchmark:

• The student will describe the effect of friction and gravity on the motion of an object.

Standard: The student will understand the forces of nature and their application.

Benchmark:

• The student will recognize the factors that affect the presence and magnitude of gravitational, electromagnetic, weak and strong nuclear forces.

Entire List of Curriculum Activities