This is an upper-level course (Jr/Sr/1^st yr graduate). This means that you will soon graduate and enter industry.

Q. Is it important to learn new things after graduation?

Yes, the electronics world is constantly changing. Much of your digital electronics knowledge is obsolete in 5 years, and much more knowledge has been generated.

Q. How do you learn new things in industry?

Not via courses, Not via weekly quizzes -- Through Self-motivated learning!!! Nobody is going to tell you to learn topics A, B, C -- you have to figure this out for yourself or become obsolete!

Q. So, therefore one of the most important things that we can teach you is self-motivated learning!

In lower level classes (i.e., Digital Devices) we will tell students to understand/memorize N things in a detailed list. We will go over those N things in excruciating detail, leaving nothing to chance.

In upper level courses (i.e, this course!), we will discuss N topics but will not cover all of those topics in the same amount of detail as in a lower level course. We expect the students to show some self-motivation, look up information, ask questions, etc on all of these topics. You will be expected to be able to discuss these N topics at the same level of detail as if we had spent equal amounts of time on them in class. If you do not understand a topic, ask questions of the professor, your peers, and seek outside knowledge sources. This is what will be expected of YOU in industry.

It can be a difficult transition in going from the previous instruction style to this instruction style - the first step is to recognize YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

a. Ask questions! BE CURIOUS!!!! This is one of the most important aspects of an engineer - if you are not curious, then do not be an engineer. If you are simply after money, be an investment broker, speculate in real estate, win a lottery, etc.

b. Investigate alternate data sources other than the professor.

c. Understand the relevance of what you are being asked to learn - after all, you will be expected to perform as a real engineer in a short period of time and you need to understand how to apply this knowledge!

a. Answer questions! Do not stop explaining until understanding is reached. Do it either inside of class or out of class, whatever it takes.

b. Provide guidance as to where additional information on topics can be found.

c. Provide motivation for course topics (why in the heck are we asking the students to learn this material???).