ECE 1100: Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering

ECE 1100: Introduction toElectrical and Computer Engineering Spring 2011 Wanda Wosik Associate Professor, ECE Dept. Notes 3 Slides adapted from lectures by Drs. Dave Shattuck/David Jackson/Charlson

Landis Chapter 1: Keys to Success Key Idea: Each of you can be successful in earning your BSEE. It will take... • Determination • Effort • Approach

Set Goals • “Goals give you something to measure yourself against.” • “Goals give your life direction.” • Landis, Chapter 1. • Clarify your goals (this can be hard). • Short-term goals (next calculus exam, etc.). • Long-term goals (graduating with BSEE, career, family)

Set Goals Set realistic, but high goals, and keep them clearly in mind. That requires commitment. Examples of goals: Summa Cum Laude: 3.75 < GPA < 4.0 Magna Cum Laude: 3.50 < GPA < 3.74 Cum Laude: 3.25 < GPA < 3.49 A: 4.0 A-: 3.67 B+: 3.33 B: 3.0 B-: 2.67 C+: 2.33 C: 2.0 C-: 1.67 D+: 1.33 D: 1.0 D-: 0.67 F: 0.0

Set Goals (cont.) Another example: Engineering Dean’s List (complied every semester) • GPA > 3.50 that semester • No D, F, or U allowed • 9 hours or more that semester

Set Goals (cont.) Another example: To make an A in ECE 2300 and ECE 2317 This is a difficult goal: often, only about 50% of the students pass the course. Much fewer make an A.

Determination: Don’t Give Up Use failure as a lesson, not as an excuse to give up. Example: You don’t pass ECE 2300 the first time. What do you do? Don’t give up. Try to determine what is wrong and take action. (Was it really a lack of ability, or (more likely) a lack of effort?)

Determination: Don’t Give Up One of the inspiring examples of determination: Prof. Stephen Hawking • Discovered "Hawking Radiation" • Author of "A Brief History of Time"

Effort: Work Hard Aptitude vs. Effort Both are important… For MOST students: Your grades will reflect your effort as much (or even more) as your aptitude. This is true about success in life, in general.

Effort: Work Hard (cont.) Quote by Thomas Edison “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Peter Principle In time one reaches his level of incompetence

Approach: Work Smart • Prioritize • Learn to control your time • Form a study group • Learn to use available resources • - computer tools • - instructor’s office hours • - student groups

Prioritizing Assume that everything on your “to-do” list is not going to get finished, and make sure that the things that don’t get finished are the least important things. Ask yourself: “Am I doing the most important things right now?

Prioritizing (cont.) High Priority Items: • Doing homework • Reading class material and coming to class prepared. • Taking advantage of problem sessions. • Making time to see your instructor during office hours • (especially when you are not clear on how to approach a • homework problem).

Approach: Work Smart • Prioritize • Learn to control your time • Form a study group • Develop good study skills • Learn to use available resources • - instructor’s office hours • - student organizations • - computer tools

Time Management Learn to control your time Students have trouble getting everything done, because… • They often don’t know how to budget their time; • They are over-committed. • Both Commitments: - family - work - classes/projects/reports/labs - recreation

Time Management (cont.) What is the Rule of 4? • Assume that you will spend 3 hours outside of class, for every hour in class every week (4 hours total). • Example: ECE 2300. This is a three hour class (second digit in the course number means # hrs). There are three hours of lecture per week. • Rule of 4: spend 12 hours per week on that class (9 hours outside class, 3 hours inside class).

Time Management (cont.) What is the Rule of 60? Assume that you will have a MAXIMUM of 60 hours per week to spend on your classes. This includes class time, study time, homework time, etc. This means that 15 hours of courses will occupy all of your time!

Time Management (cont.) Recommended max hours (students not on probation): not employed: 15 hours 1 - 20 hours: 14 hours 20 - 30 hours: 13 hours 30 - 40 hours: 10 hours

Time Management (cont.) Don’t over commit yourself. It is more important to have a high GPA than to graduate one semester sooner. This is especially true when taking your first “hard core” ECE classes: ECE 2300 (Circuit Analysis) ECE 2317 (Electricity and Magnetism)

Time Management (cont.) Full time student: 12 hours or more (less in the summer). Max. hours = 19 for Engineering students (up to 22 with permission and a 3.0 GPA) BSEE in 4 years requires 16 - 17 hours per semester (133 total hours). Normally, there is no minimum required number of hours that you must enroll for each semester. (There is a 7 year time limit on course validity, however, for ECE courses at the 3000 level or higher.)

Time Management (cont.) Do not procrastinate! Common scenario: • Student gets behind in class. • Student makes poor grades during the semester. • Student approaches professor at the end, asking what they need to do to pass the course or do good in the course. (It is usually too late) • Student feels that he/she can make up for it on the final exam (almost never happens). • Student asks after the end of the semester: “Is there anything I can do to change my grade?” Answer: NO

Approach: Work Smart • Prioritize • Learn to control your time • Form a study group • Develop good study skills. • Learn to use available resources • - instructor’s office hours • - student groups • - computer tools

Study Group Try to find a small study group, because... • You’ll learn more effectively and efficiently • You’ll probably study more • It’s better preparation for the “real world” Q. What if it doesn’t work? A. Try another study group!

Study Group (cont.) Word of Caution: Do not cross the line between studying together and cheating together. Recommendation: • Discuss concepts together, approaches to a problem. • Review topics together, quiz each other. • Make sure that what you put on your homework is your own work.

Approach: Work Smart • Prioritize • Learn to control your time • Form a study group • Develop good study skills • Learn to use available resources • - your instructor • - student groups (IEEE) • - your advisor • - College and Campus resources

Learn Good Study Skills • Use a study group if it helps you. • Take a break when you are “saturated”. • Get help when you are stuck. • Learn to ask yourself questions about the material. • Use homework as a guide to what you know and don’t know. • Take “practice” exams.

Approach: Work Smart • Prioritize • Learn to control your time • Form a study group • Develop good study skills • Learn to use available resources • - your instructor • - student groups (IEEE, etc.) • - Campus and College resources • - your advisor

Making Use of Your Professors What your professors can do for you: • Give you extra help and advice • Make suggestions for studying • Help you make a career choice • Write a recommendation letter • Hire you in their research lab • Guide you into graduate school

How to Annoy Your Prof. • Come to class late (or not at all). • Read outside material (e.g., a newspaper) in class. • Talk in class. • Sleep in class. • Don’t turn in homework (or don’t do it honestly) , don’t visit him/her for help, then complain the exam was too hard.

How to Make Your Prof. Happy • Come to class on time. • Pay attention in class. • Ask questions in class. • Come to see the Prof. during office hours with good questions. • Do well on the homework, quizzes, exams and projects.

Go to See Your Professors Most prof’s have office hours, e-mail, and voice mail. Find out what these are. Go to the professor if you have questions, even if you think the questions are stupid. Don’t skip class, and then expect a private tutoring on what you missed.

Student Groups IEEE Student Branch • The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering is • the largest technical professional society in the world. • The student branch is there to help you. • The student office is located at the back of the “Y” building (room 136-Y). Phone: 713-743-4469 • email: uh.ieee@gmail.com • web: http://www.ieee.uh.edu/index.php • Prof. Crisan is the IEEE student branch counselor.

Student Groups (cont.) National Honor Societies Tau Beta Pi (Engineering honor society) 104-D; (713) 743-4238, email: tbp@egr.uh.edu, web: http://www2.egr.uh.edu/~tbp Faculty advisors:Drs. Betty Barr, Joe Charlson, Thomas Hebert, David Zimmerman Eta Kappa Nu (EE honor society) 241-Y; (713) 743-4238 email: hkn@egr.uh.edu, web:http://www2.egr.uh.edu/~hkn/aboutus.html Faculty advisor: Dr. Joe Charlson

Student Groups (cont.) Specialized Student Groups (see the campus phone book or ECE Dept. website for contact information: look under the link people/student organizations) • AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) • NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers) • MAES (Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists) • SWE (Society of Women Engineers)

Campus Resources • Campus Publications: • Undergraduate Studies Catalog (course descriptions and many other useful things - in the bookstore and on online version at http://www.uh.edu/academics/catalog) • Student Handbook (from the Dean of Student’s Office and at http://www.uh.edu/dos/hdbk/index.html) • Telephone Directory (online directory at http://www.uh.edu/dir_services/) • Class Schedule (http://www.uh.edu/enroll/rar/class_schedule.html)

Campus Resources (cont.) • Campus Services • Learning Support Services(LSS), 321 Social Work Building, http://www.las.uh.edu/LSS/): tutoring in most subjects, and workshops in reading, study skills, and exam preparation. • UH Writing Center, 210-217 Agnes Arnold Hall: help with writing assignments. • http://www.uh.edu/writecen/

Campus Resources (cont.) • Campus Services (cont.) • Counseling and Psychological Services (226 Student Service Center, http://www.caps.uh.edu/) • Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) (CSD Bldg. 568, room 100, http://www.uh.edu/csd/) • University Health Center (HC Bldg. 525, http://www.uh.edu/admin/hc/) • University Career Services (106 Student Service Center I, www.career.uh.edu) • Scholarships and Financial Aid (31 Ezekiel W. Cullen Bldg., http://www.uh.edu/enroll/sfa/)

Campus Resources: Engineering Career Center • It exists to help you gain job experience and/or to find a job after you graduate. • It is available to all Engineering students. • Industrial Scholar Interns Program (ISIP) • CO-OP • Job fairs and workshops (the next one is on Feb. 9th) Director: Vita Como (vcomo@uh.edu) Office: 302-D; (713) 743-4230 http://www.egr.uh.edu/career/

Campus Resources: Industrial Scholars Internship Program • A highly competitive program that offers both scholarships and job experience. 3.0. GPA is required. • Students may apply to get a scholarship after their first year. • Job placement is usually done when students are within 45-50 hours of graduating. • Students get experience working for a company (who may decide to hire them later after they graduate). • Students work for 10-20 hrs/week and take a min of 12 class hrs in this semester Manager: Leslie Coward (lcoward@uh.edu) Office: 302-D3; (713) 743-4230 http://www.egr.uh.edu/isip/

Campus Resources: COOP CO-OPerative Education • Students usually apply after taking sophomore-level courses. • Pairs of students alternate semesters between working for a company and attending classes (some part-time jobs may be available as well). • Students get experience working for a company (who may decide to hire them later after they graduate). • Required GPA: 2.25. Director: Jerry Davenport Office: 302-D3; (713) 743-4230 http://www.egr.uh.edu/coop/

Campus Resources: Engineering Career Center • Interested? • Make sure that you have a valid UH email alias (to find out about notices). • Make sure that the Engineering Career Center has an updated copy of your resume. • Take advantage of the web-based system called “eConnection.”

Campus Resources: Engineering Career Center eConnection The Engineering Career Center has created a web-based system to connect employers and students in the Cullen College of Engineering. • It is available to students officially enrolled in the Cullen College of Engineering • It allows students to conduct their job search on-line • It provides detailed information about employer job postings and interview schedules Go to www.egr.uh.edu/career and then click on “Students” and then “eConnection”.

College Resources: PROMES PROgram for the Mastery of Engineering Studies (“Promise”) Focuses on student recruitment and retention • academic advising • academic excellence workshops • scholarships Location: E301-D3; (713) 743-4222 http://www.egr.uh.edu/promes/ Director: Dr. Kathy Zerda promes@egr.uh.edu

College Resources: PROMES PROMES offers study groups and social activities that will allow you to meet people with similar interests and courses. You will also have the opportunity to meet former PROMES students who are now engineers working in industry. PROMES can help you work with the university’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and assist you in securing grants and scholarships, and obtaining work-study jobs on campus and summer internships. PROMES can also direct you into a cooperative education (Co-op) program, where you alternate a semester of work in industry with a semester of study on campus. PROMES offers special courses and highly successful workshops designed to give you a good start in engineering. PROMES students who have successfully completed these courses and participated in the workshops will be able to lead study sessions and facilitate workshops. PROMES staff work with you, providing help and advice.

College Resources: Computer Tools The Engineering Computing Center (ECC) is a set of rooms full of computers that are available for Engineering students. It is on the first floor of building D3 (Engr. Bldg. 2), in room W129-D3 (713-743-4241). These computers have useful software on them. • Mathcad, Mathematica, Matlab (calculations) • Microsoft Word (word processing) • Microsoft Excel (data manipulation and analysis) • Microsoft Powerpoint (presentations) • Multisim (circuit simulation) • COMSOL Multiphysics (engineering/science)

College Resources: Computer Tools The ECC has three group study areas available for student use in Room W 129K. A "reservation form" is available at the ECC Front Desk for students to reserve a study area in advance. Each study area has a Wide Screen Flat Panel Monitor that is USB compatible to a laptop. Students may also reserve a mouse and/or a keyboard. Whiteboards and markers are also available for student use. The study areas are open during regular ECC hours.

College Resources: Computer Tools (cont.) To get an email account: Go to the front desk inside the ECC and show them your Cougar 1 card. Note: you should already have an email ALIAS (e.g., jsmith@uh.edu). You can see your alias by using the online directory (http://www.uh.edu/directory). Make sure that it points to a valid address! You can set this in PeopleSoft (www.uh.edu/mypeoplesoft).

ECE 1100: Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering