The Three Circles of Engineering Education

Integrating Project work experience with theory and practicals

OUTLINE of general instructions to be given to all students of ECE department

1. System =  Integration of subsystems
2. System : A whole designed from parts (subsystems) to perform one or more tasks with or without one or more inputs.
3. System can respond to external events or internal events if made intelligent.
4. Intelligence can be built into a system using microcontrollers.
5. Programming is intelligence built into the system.
6. Subsystems are either intelligent or  not depending on what they have.
7. Integration is collection of right subsystems and connection in a way to obtain optimum performance from the final system.
8. Skills required : Idea generation, Scope, Programming, debugging, coding, Client requirements, device limitations, circuit/program analysis, circuit/program synthesis, troubleshooting, safety regulations,  device  sourcing, costing, understanding constraints, budgeting, plan, communication interpersonal skills, interdisciplinary skills etc.
9. Top-down approach : Begin with an idea à block diagram à simulationà breakdown into modulesà create performance specifications for each module à Assign each module to a team with tight cost-time-performance-size etc constraints à Keep testing the complete system using stubs / available modules.
10. Bottom-up approach : Devicesàdevice specific circuitsà circuit specific modulesà module specific subsystemsà subsystem specific systems.  Here specifications go hand in hand with each stage of development.
11. Knowledge bank : Must contain : Ideas, Reports of successes and failures ( with specific reasons for both the success and failure),  Devices and specifications, Tested circuits and specifications, Tested modules/Programs with performance specifications.

The above activities must be done as a close knit organization with frequent interaction among all students and teachers with minimal push or pressure from the department. Department will conduct WORKSHOPS/GUEST LECTURES/SEMINARS to help students orient themselves in this direction.

By regularly looking at the outputs generated by the above activities, we can harness new ideas, new modules, and new solutions to new problems:

The objective of this exercise is to make all students (irrespective of their individual knowledge/talent/skill/preparedness)  to contribute to the third circle called Project oriented Experience which completes the engineering education and prepares for real environment.

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