Week of Oct 29

This week, we will start making AOI logic circuits.  Starting with designing in Multisim and then building on a breadboard.  We will make our designs "come to life".  For now, we are not worried about simplifying our expressions.  We will learn how to simplify logic expressions on Friday.

I expect a string of videos for the next little while.  All of the topics will be new and complicated.  We will want to have the extra time to practice in class instead of having to listen to the foundation of the topic. The video for Wednesday is on building your designs on a breadboard.  I will update this blog with a video for Friday (simplifying logic expressions using Boolean algebra).

I also have the video for Friday up as well.


Wednesday is WOW, so you have a chance to make up missing or incomplete work, if you need to.  Also, Thursday is a late start day.

Progress reports will be sent home this week.  Look for those as well.  Note that this is a 5 week six weeks, so the grading period ends next Friday (11/9).  Be sure to stay on top of assignments and grades as you will have one less week after progress reports to get caught up.

Week of October 22

We start a more in-depth study of the AOI combinational logic this week.  It includes a study of binary number conversions and writing truth expressions, truth tables, and designing combinational logic circuits.  Make sure that you leave your journals in class this week, so that I can complete a journal check for you before grades are due next Tuesday.  Watch the video on Thursday's lesson before class.

Don't forget that Friday is a pep rally, and Thursday is a late start.  Consult the RRHS main web page for the bell schedules on those days.

This is also the last week of the mid-six weeks progress reporting period.  All work needs to be done and turned in by Friday so that we can finalize grades early next week.  Progress reports will be sent out next Friday (November 2).

Money for College  
Be sure to keep up with the Scholarship Page that I have tabbed at the top of this page.  I will drop scholarship opportunities there as I find out about them.  The latest is Milwaukee School of Engineering.  They offer scholarships for students who have successfully completed one or more Project Lead the Way class.  If you are in our engineering program, want to major in engineering in college, and need more help than you are getting from A&M or Texas, MSOE might be worth looking in to for you with up to $12,000 in scholarships provided.  I will update it from time to time with others as they come available.

Week of October 9

Everyone should be finished with the combinational logic activity by now.  We will cover sequential logic on Tuesday and continue some Thursday and then analyze the digital portion of the game board counter.  We will start the next major unit next week, which looks at combination logic more in depth - first how to design with AOI and then using NAND gates.  Check Moodle for a video on this topic. 

Don't forget that Monday is a holiday.

Samsung Field Trip
For those going on the Samsung field trip on Tuesday, be at my room (601) at 8:45.  We will meet there so that you can leave any items that you don't need with you in the storage room.  Samsung does not allow any type of electronic devices (including phones, MP3 players, cameras, and USB drives or storage cards) in their facility.  It would be best for you to leave them at home or with a friend on Tuesday.  The bus will be unattended and unlocked in Samsung's parking lot and may not be secure for you to leave valuable items.  The bus needs to leave at 9:00 because Samsung wants to start at 9:45.  In addition to the travel time, it will take 10 or so minutes to get everyone signed in through security.  We should return to the school between 2:00 and 2:30, so you will be back for the start of 8th period. Samsung will feed us a pasta bar for lunch. 

PSAT October 17
Juniors and Seniors will take the PSAT test during the morning periods of next Wednesday (Oct 17).  Freshman and sophomores are still expected to be at school and will have classes planned for them.  When all have finished testing, we will continue with the regular 7th & 8th period schedules for the afternoon.