Electronics Technician distance education program
Encyclopedia
The Electronics Technician (ET) Distance Education program provides flexible, skills-based training in electronics
. It has been developed for adult learners pursuing electronics technician
-level training through independent study, specifically students who cannot attend college full-time because of work or family commitments. The program was developed and launched in 1997 by Dr. Colin Simpson, a best-selling author and electronics professor at George Brown College
in Toronto
, Canada
. Since then, the award-winning program has grown to become the largest of its kind in the world.
With over 10,000 students studying electronics at a distance, the ET distance education
program has effectively broken down the barriers that prevent students from accessing technical course material on-line. Of note is that the program has broken the gender barrier in the study of electronics. Typically, less than 2% of students who study electronics in Colleges and Universities are female. In the ET distance education program almost 20% of the student’s are female, which has been attributed to the accessibility of the learning material and the integrative multimedia
courseware which is designed to scaffold student learning and accommodate learning style differences .
, President of Electronics Workbench
(EWB), with the concept of integrating course material from Simpson’s Principles of Electronics
textbook with laboratory simulation software
developed by EWB . The Learning Management System
was developed by Logic Design Inc which integrated the course material, multimedia and simulation software, and included real-time testing and assessment. At the time, there was considerable opposition among the electronics education community regarding the use of simulation software for the delivery of electronics curriculum. Many educators felt that a “hands on” methodology was the only valid method of learning electronics, and that simulation was a less-effective substitute .
Simpson and Koenig embarked on a series of lectures, conference presentations and meetings with accrediting organizations throughout 1996, where they demonstrated that electronics simulation software could achieve identical results to laboratory experiments performed with real equipment . In January, 1997 the program received approval and accreditation from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and was launched in April, 1997. In its first year, the program enrolled over 500 students from 17 countries, with over 30 companies sponsoring employees .
In 1998, the program received the Program Excellence Award, from the Association of Canadian Community Colleges
, a consortium of 155 Colleges. It was the first time a distance education program had earned this award and was noted by ACCC President, Gerald Brown, as a “landmark achievement in the field of distance education”.
In 2003, the program received a $1 million grant from the Government of Ontario for the development of a “virtual campus
” to support students who were enrolled in 85 cities and towns throughout the province. The award was presented by TVOntario
President, Isabel Bassett
.
In 2007, the program underwent a significant revision when the laboratory software simulation was changed to CircuitLogix
, which included both 2D and 3D simulation. The simulation capability of the new simulation software allowed for further integration of course theory and lab and greatly enhanced the program’s virtual learning environment
In recent years, the program has expanded through partnerships between Colleges across North America, enabling the program to be supported in local areas. In addition to the accreditation offered by Colleges delivering the program, graduates are also eligible for certification by external accrediting organizations such as the Electronics Technicians Association
and the International Society of Certified Engineering Technicians. Colleges who are part of this consortium include: Allegany College of Maryland
, Allen County Community College, Anne Arundel Community College
, Brooklyn College
, Edison College, Hocking College
, Horry-Georgetown Technical College
, MiraCosta College
, Mount Wachusett Community College
, and Valencia Community College
,.
, Voltage
, Resistance
, Ohm's Law
, Parallel and Series Circuits, Magnetism
, AC/DC Circuits, Capacitance
, Inductance
, Transformers
, Resonance
, Filters, control relays, relay logic
, Transistors, Semiconductors, Amplifiers, Integrated Circuits and Digital electronics. . The interactive multimedia program presents twenty-three modules of interactive curriculum using text, video, 2D and 3D animations, photos, audio clips and interactive electronic circuit simulation using CircuitLogix. The simulation software provides more than 400 laboratory projects as part of the curriculum, allowing students to design circuitry, perform tests and work with electronic equipment as though in a real electronics workshop .
The program is delivered in an asynchronous, self-paced format and allows the student to determine the time required to complete the program. Due to the empirical
nature of electronics curriculum, and the high level of integration of lab simulation software, students are able to successfully complete the course material with a minimum amount of interaction with faculty and staff at the College. When support is required, it is provided through the “virtual campus” .
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
. It has been developed for adult learners pursuing electronics technician
Electronics technician
Electronics Technicians help design, develop, test, manufacture, and install electrical and electronic equipment such as communication equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and computers. They may be employed in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and...
-level training through independent study, specifically students who cannot attend college full-time because of work or family commitments. The program was developed and launched in 1997 by Dr. Colin Simpson, a best-selling author and electronics professor at George Brown College
George Brown College
George Brown College is a public, fully accredited college of applied arts and technology with three full campuses in downtown Toronto, Ontario...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Since then, the award-winning program has grown to become the largest of its kind in the world.
With over 10,000 students studying electronics at a distance, the ET distance education
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
program has effectively broken down the barriers that prevent students from accessing technical course material on-line. Of note is that the program has broken the gender barrier in the study of electronics. Typically, less than 2% of students who study electronics in Colleges and Universities are female. In the ET distance education program almost 20% of the student’s are female, which has been attributed to the accessibility of the learning material and the integrative multimedia
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
courseware which is designed to scaffold student learning and accommodate learning style differences .
History
In 1995, Simpson approached Joe KoenigJoe Koenig
Joseph Koenig is a Canadian entrepreneur who was founder and president of Electronics Workbench. Koenig’s first company was Interactive Image Technologies in Toronto, Ontario, and specialized in producing educational movies and documentaries...
, President of Electronics Workbench
Electronics Workbench
The National Instruments Electronics Workbench Group is responsible for innovating the electronic circuit design software NI Multisim and NI Ultiboard, which was previously a Canada-based company that first produced MultiSIM, and integrated ULTIboard with it....
(EWB), with the concept of integrating course material from Simpson’s Principles of Electronics
Principles of Electronics
Written by Colin Simpson, the book Principles of Electronics, is designed to accompany the Electronics Technician distance education program and contains a concise and practical overview of the basic principles, theorems, circuit behavior and problem-solving procedures of Electronic circuits and...
textbook with laboratory simulation software
Simulation software
Simulation software is based on the process of modeling a real phenomenon with a set of mathematical formulas. It is, essentially, a program that allows the user to observe an operation through simulation without actually performing that operation...
developed by EWB . The Learning Management System
Learning management system
A learning management system is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, and reporting of training programs, classroom and online events, e-learning programs, and training content...
was developed by Logic Design Inc which integrated the course material, multimedia and simulation software, and included real-time testing and assessment. At the time, there was considerable opposition among the electronics education community regarding the use of simulation software for the delivery of electronics curriculum. Many educators felt that a “hands on” methodology was the only valid method of learning electronics, and that simulation was a less-effective substitute .
Simpson and Koenig embarked on a series of lectures, conference presentations and meetings with accrediting organizations throughout 1996, where they demonstrated that electronics simulation software could achieve identical results to laboratory experiments performed with real equipment . In January, 1997 the program received approval and accreditation from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and was launched in April, 1997. In its first year, the program enrolled over 500 students from 17 countries, with over 30 companies sponsoring employees .
In 1998, the program received the Program Excellence Award, from the Association of Canadian Community Colleges
Association of Canadian Community Colleges
The Association of Canadian Community Colleges is a national association formed in 1972 to represent the interests of its member institutions to government and industry. Membership is voluntary and open to publicly-funded community colleges in Canada or institutions that may also be referred to as...
, a consortium of 155 Colleges. It was the first time a distance education program had earned this award and was noted by ACCC President, Gerald Brown, as a “landmark achievement in the field of distance education”.
In 2003, the program received a $1 million grant from the Government of Ontario for the development of a “virtual campus
Virtual Campus
A virtual campus refers to the online offerings of a college or university where college work is completed either partially or wholly online, often with the assistance of the teacher, professor, or teaching assistant....
” to support students who were enrolled in 85 cities and towns throughout the province. The award was presented by TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
President, Isabel Bassett
Isabel Bassett
Isabel Bassett is a Canadian broadcaster and former politician. From 1999 until 2005 she was the chair and CEO of TVOntario/TFO, Ontario's provincial public television network. She has been a controversial figure at times, but is also a highly regarded pioneer in Canadian...
.
In 2007, the program underwent a significant revision when the laboratory software simulation was changed to CircuitLogix
CircuitLogix
CircuitLogix is a software electronic circuit simulator which uses PSpice to simulate thousands of electronic devices, models, and circuits. A version of CircuitLogix with fewer models, simulation, and export features is available free of charge to students after registration...
, which included both 2D and 3D simulation. The simulation capability of the new simulation software allowed for further integration of course theory and lab and greatly enhanced the program’s virtual learning environment
Electronics Technicians Association
The Electronics Technicians Association International is a not-for-profit professional association that was founded in 1978. It was started by electronics technicians who felt the need for a group that would be independent of any industry influences on its technicians...
and the International Society of Certified Engineering Technicians. Colleges who are part of this consortium include: Allegany College of Maryland
Allegany College of Maryland
Allegany College of Maryland is a two-year public community college located in Cumberland, Maryland. It was previously known as Allegany Community College .- History :...
, Allen County Community College, Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Community College, founded in 1961, is located in Arnold, Maryland. The college was named "Community College of the Year" by National Business Alliance in 2000. AACC has also received many other in recent years...
, Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
, Edison College, Hocking College
Hocking College
Hocking College, a technical college located in Nelsonville, Ohio, in the Appalachian region of the United States offers a wide selection of curriculum, with 56 associate degree programs, as well as several certification programs.- Mission :...
, Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Horry-Georgetown Technical College is a 2-year community college in Conway, South Carolina, U.S.A. The college's president is H. Neyle Wilson. It is a part of the South Carolina Technical College System....
, MiraCosta College
MiraCosta College
MiraCosta College is a community college located in the northern coastal region of San Diego County, California. MiraCosta College is located at 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, California 92056. It also has a campus in Cardiff-by-the-Sea and a Community Learning Center in Oceanside.- History :MiraCosta...
, Mount Wachusett Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College is a two-year community college in Gardner, Massachusetts. It offers associate degrees as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges...
, and Valencia Community College
Valencia Community College
Valencia College, formerly known as Valencia Community College, is a public state college in Orlando, Florida, United States. Valencia is the third-largest member institution of the Florida College System....
,.
Pedagogy
The ET distance education program covers an introductory curriculum in electronics equivalent to a two year college associate degree. Contents of the program includes CurrentElectric current
Electric current is a flow of electric charge through a medium.This charge is typically carried by moving electrons in a conductor such as wire...
, Voltage
Voltage
Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
, Resistance
Electrical resistance
The electrical resistance of an electrical element is the opposition to the passage of an electric current through that element; the inverse quantity is electrical conductance, the ease at which an electric current passes. Electrical resistance shares some conceptual parallels with the mechanical...
, Ohm's Law
Ohm's law
Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the potential difference across the two points...
, Parallel and Series Circuits, Magnetism
Magnetism
Magnetism is a property of materials that respond at an atomic or subatomic level to an applied magnetic field. Ferromagnetism is the strongest and most familiar type of magnetism. It is responsible for the behavior of permanent magnets, which produce their own persistent magnetic fields, as well...
, AC/DC Circuits, Capacitance
Capacitance
In electromagnetism and electronics, capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store energy in an electric field. Capacitance is also a measure of the amount of electric potential energy stored for a given electric potential. A common form of energy storage device is a parallel-plate capacitor...
, Inductance
Inductance
In electromagnetism and electronics, inductance is the ability of an inductor to store energy in a magnetic field. Inductors generate an opposing voltage proportional to the rate of change in current in a circuit...
, Transformers
Transformers
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling.Transformer may also refer to:* ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, an Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet computer manufacturer by Asus...
, Resonance
Resonance
In physics, resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate at a greater amplitude at some frequencies than at others. These are known as the system's resonant frequencies...
, Filters, control relays, relay logic
Relay logic
Relay logic is a method of controlling industrial electronic circuits by using relays and contacts.-Ladder logic:The schematic diagrams for relay logic circuits are often called line diagrams, because the inputs and outputs are essentially drawn in a series of lines...
, Transistors, Semiconductors, Amplifiers, Integrated Circuits and Digital electronics. . The interactive multimedia program presents twenty-three modules of interactive curriculum using text, video, 2D and 3D animations, photos, audio clips and interactive electronic circuit simulation using CircuitLogix. The simulation software provides more than 400 laboratory projects as part of the curriculum, allowing students to design circuitry, perform tests and work with electronic equipment as though in a real electronics workshop .
The program is delivered in an asynchronous, self-paced format and allows the student to determine the time required to complete the program. Due to the empirical
Empirical
The word empirical denotes information gained by means of observation or experimentation. Empirical data are data produced by an experiment or observation....
nature of electronics curriculum, and the high level of integration of lab simulation software, students are able to successfully complete the course material with a minimum amount of interaction with faculty and staff at the College. When support is required, it is provided through the “virtual campus” .