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JM> I am not an electronics teacher nor technician, but I have seen
JM> electronics classes from elementary to college. From what I have
JM> seen, how you handle, "What to do about Math?" will be your most
JM> critical question. There is plenty of electronics instructional
JM> material, but Math will make or break your program. Using math
JM> to teach electronics will drive away novice students. Using
JM> electronics to teach math will limit how much electronics you can
JM> teach upper level students.
Having recieved my A.S. in electronics and been a technician and a tutor on the subject I can say from experience that the math really isn't a stumbling block as long as the ciriculum realizes what must be done. One of my problems with the school system in Marion County, FL is that they don't utilize the technology available to them and the students. As I was getting my degree, a friend in the program with little better than a pre-algebra math education didn't need to know the trig. of the problem to sol
ve it. He just needed to use a calculator. I knew the trig. and it helped a little with the concepts, but it really wasn't necessary. This is a case where the teacher realized that when the students got into the "real world" they would be using calculators and computer programs to solve the problems. Also, if you are just teaching the basics so the student will know how to repair a computer, they don't need to know how a transitor works <I had to learn how it works>. They just need to know the final o
utcome. As for teaching the electronics, I have since built several amplifiers and such on my own. For these I did not even have to design my own circuit. I just used a "bible" of circuits and modified an existing design.
Sorry to but in like that, but as I said, I speak from experience as both a student and a tutor. Thanks for letting me ramble on.....
