Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Week of Oct 29

This week, we will start studying logic expressions and learn how to write logic expressions from the truth table and from a circuit diagram as well as the other way around.  Both lessons will have a video to instruct you what you should be doing for the assignments.  At the end of this unit, we will create our most complex circuit to date on Multisim and then bread-board it.  At this point, neatness counts, so pay attention to your wire routing and selection of individual devices so that your circuit is as easy to trouble-shoot and problem free as possible.

There are actually 2 different videos for class in the first part of the week: one to create the logic expression from a truth table and the other to create the truth table given a logic expression.

We will then go between logic expressions and circuit diagrams in the latter part of the week.


This Week at RRHS
We have a late start on Thursday, so there will be no tutorials and school begins at 9:25 on Thursday.  Friday will be a pep rally schedule.

College Rep Visits this Week
Monday - University of Texas
Tuesday - Texas A&M

Field Trip
On Friday, November 8, you can visit Texas State University's school of engineering.  There is no cost; they will provide lunch; and you may ride the bus from RRHS to San Marcos.  The bus will leave RRHS from the 700 bldg bus loop (along Lake Creek Street) at 7:30 a.m.  Be on time since we need to be in San Marcos before 9:00.  We will return around 3:30 or 3:45, in time for the end of the school day.  If you are interested, you need to fill out this form to let me know that you are interested and see me for 2 different permision forms that will need to be completed and returned to me this week.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Week of Oct 21

This week in class
I don't expect a video for this week until the class on Friday, which will be over binary number conversions.  Some of you may already know binary numbers quite well.  You should already be finished with all of the sequential logic assignments.  If you are not, then get this done right away even if it takes some tutorial time.  We will cover data sheets and device info on Monday & Tuesday and solder the game board counter this week.  The binary numbers will start on Friday (A day) and Monday (B day).

This week at RRHS
There are no special schedules this week (no late start, pep rally, etc.). However, Friday is the last day for the progress reporting period.  Make sure that your grades are all up to date before Friday so that your report is accurate.  If I graded an assignment and you had your journal at home, make sure to show it to me the next class day so that I can update that grade.

College Rep Visits This Week
Tuesday - U.S. Army
Next week:
Monday (Oct 28) - The University of Texas
Tuesday (Oct 29) - Texas A&M University


Opportunities for Aspiring Engineers
HAS/WISH
Each year, NASA hosts the High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program.  High school students can apply to NASA on the link provided, but applications must be in by November 15.  If selected, you will get to participate in a series of on-line training sessions and discussions with NASA engineers and other selected students. A select group from that will be selected in the spring to attend a week long camp at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) next summer.  Student teams will work alongside NASA engineers on a space design project and present their solution to JSC engineers and executives.  Best of all, the cost is completely free, including lodging and transportation to JSC in Houston.

If you are interested in the above, and are one of our female students, then consider the WISH program (Women in STEM High School). It is very much the same thing except for being limited to girls only, and the deadline to apply is December 1.  Consider applying to both to increase your chances.

If you are interested in visiting the Ingram School of Engineering at Texas State in San Marcos, be sure that you sign up and then get two permission forms from me: one for Texas State and the other for RRISD.  The visit will be Friday, November 8, which is an A day.  The bus will leave from the 700 bldg bus loop at 7:30 a.m. and return to RRHS around 3:45.  If you are interested, let me know right away since the event date is near.  You will also need to fill out a survey for Texas State on your interests in engineering.

Finally, make sure that you have signed up on my information form if you are attending FAME at A&M on November 16-17, even if you are providing your own transportation.  I would like to know which of our students are attending. If you want to ride a bus over there, then you definitely need to fill out that form and get a permission form from me.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Week of Oct 7

In class This Week
We will finish up the unit studying the basics of analog electronics.  After you analyze the analog section of the game board counter, we will do the 2nd soldering project: the game board counter itself.  Make sure that you read the directions carefully so that you put the components in to the board in the correct order and that show me your working board when finished.

Since these two items are closing out the existing unit, I don't expect any videos for this week.

This week is a late start on Thursday and begins the 2nd six weeks.  However, be warned that this "six weeks" is really only 5 weeks long.  Progress reports come out after 3 weeks, which means that you will only have about a week and a half after they go home before the end of the six weeks.