We have structured the activities to emphasize collaborative learning. As future teachers,
researchers, and technical managers, you will need to know how to help colleagues,
coworkers, employees, and students master complex material. You will start that process
here. Your participation as a teacher/trainer in this course is as important as your role as
student/trainee. You will be encouraged to work together on almost everything. Although
there will be some background reading to do, most of the learning will take place in the
form of activities. Compared to the typical course, this course will involve much more "class"
time and somewhat less time outside of class. Expect to spend at least 6 hours per week in
the lab or shop and 3 hours per week on reading and homework.
As professor and TA for this course, we serve four purposes: (1) As facilitators. We are here
to make sure you have all resources necessary to do the activities and learn the material. This
includes making sure the software works, the hardware is there, the materials are clear etc. (2) As
part of the coaching staff. Along with the other members of the Department and the Observatory
who are making themselves available, we are a knowledge resource. You can come to us for
advice, for direction to additional people or material, or for help when you are flat-out stuck.
(3) As referees. When there are conflicts between or within teams and groups over resources or
(heaven forefend!) personalities that cannot be resolved satisfactorily without our help, we are
there to deal with them. (4) As evaluators. This is after all a course. You will get a grade (see below).
We also take seriously the part of this role that involves evaluating the course materials and
organization, as well as the performance of the outside instructors and even ourselves. You
need to contribute to this effort by taking your own evaluating role seriously.
Texts
The Art of Electronics by Horowitz and Hill (2nd ed.)
Suggested Mechanical Design and general reference:
Building Scientific Apparatus by Moore et al. (3rd edition, now out of print)
Both of these are great references as well as textbooks. If you have any inkling at all that
you may be around instrumentation in the future, hang onto these books at the end of the
semester!
Suggested Labview References:
LabView for Everyone by Travis (2nd edition)
LabView Graphical Programming by Johnson & Jennings
Segments and Segment Groups
The curriculum for this class has been divided into four segments. Each segment covers an
important aspect of instrument design and construction: mechanical design and fabrication,
electronics and circuit design, optics and optical design, and computer interfacing and software design.
The segments will consist of a reading assignment, a set of problems, some hands-on skill learning
tasks and a laboratory exercise.
The class will be divided into segment groups. Each group will rotate through the
segments in succession. Groups will have 3 weeks to complete each segment. You will do
most of the activites as a group.
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