David Benson

The ECE 102 and ECE 103 courses are both growth-oriented classes designed to help students: 1) explore the different opportunities in Engineering and Engineering-adjacent careers, 2) develop Engineering Design skills through teamwork activities and class projects, and 3) develop skills which will help them grow as Engineers.   Students in this class will learn how to solder and design projects for laser cutters and 3D printers.   Students will also learn how to program and build projects with Arduino. 

No prior knowledge about programming or Physics is required for these courses -- all content will be taught during the term

Students in ECE 102 will complete a self-selected, end-of-the-term project which will extend their Engineering skills.   Past projects have included designing and building finger joints, building models of Fowler flaps (Aero), building fading LED projects (like Minecraft torches) and tic-tac-toe games.   Each project is unique and depends on the student's drive and interest.  

Students in ECE 103 will work on a semester-length design project.   Past projects have included building color-pickers for assembly lines and transport stretchers for complex evacuations.

ECE 211, ECE 212 and ECE 215 are core classes for Mechanical and Civil Engineering students.   These courses are taught from a skills-based perspective so that students can bridge their Math-minds and Physics-minds.   Projects and class activities for these classes include bridge building and analysis using force sensors and tensile testing (breaking metals and measuring the stresses and strains during the process)