Electronics Engineering Technology

Program Overview

This program prepares students for high-demand, life sustaining, STEM careers in the engineering and manufacturing automation fields. Students will learn how to break down large, seemingly impossible challenges into doable steps using the engineering design process. Electronics Technology makes math come alive as a language for predicting the behavior of electrical circuits, and teaches students to understand electronic components and circuits both mathematically and intuitively. The Electronics Technology Program’s comprehensive curriculum covers topics such as engineering philosophy, principles, ethics, safety and quality control. Students learn a wide variety of skills, including computer-aided design, mechanical drawing, robotics, circuit fabrication, and precision measurement.

Skill Alignment Chart (Click to Expand)
Educational & Physical Attributes Expectations
Program Safety & Physical Considerations
  • Excellent hand/eye coordination
  • Attention to detail is extremely important
  • Ability to convert 2–dimensional drawings into 3–dimensional projects
  • Fine motor dexterity
  • Acceptable eyesight– must be able to see very small items up close
  • Ability to remain seated for longer periods of time
  • Ability to stick with a task for longer periods of time
Essential APTITUDES for this lab–Recommended Levels
  • 1st year students must be enrolled or have taken Algebra I
  • 2nd year students must be enrolled or have taken Geometry
  • Mechanical ability
  • Ability to work independently
  • Ability to work in small groups
  • Excellent oral & written communication skills
  • Good judgement & decision making
  • Self–Control
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Follows oral & written directions
  • Time management skills
  • Excellent fine motor skills
  • College prep courses
  • Finger & manual dexterity
  • Form perception
  • Motor coordination
  • Spatial & visual reasoning skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Problem solving
  • Troubleshooting
  • Active learning & listening
Reading
  • Explain the main ideas or draw accurate conclusions after reading text
  • Follow a complex multi–step procedure independently
  • Comprehend written text and apply it to understand tables, charts, and other visuals
  • Learn and apply content–specific symbols, abbreviations, and acronyms correctly
  • Apply content–specific vocabulary correctly
  • Identify and explain how different ideas connect throughout text
  • Read and understand diagnostic and schematic data to solve a problem
  • Effectively scan and sort data in manufacturer data sheets
  • By the end of grades 9–10 & 11–12 read & comprehend technical texts independently & proficiently
  • Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis & conclusions in a technical text
  • Textbook: Basic Electronics, Ninth Edition, Average grade reading level: 10.53
Writing
  • Write with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task, and audience
  • Write different types of essays such as: argumentative, informative & explanatory focused on program specific content
  • Use precise language, domain–specific vocabulary, and techniques such as metaphor, simile, and analogy to manage the complexity of the topic
  • Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms of the engineering discipline
  • Produce clear & coherent writing
  • Distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims; develop claim(s) fairly, supplying evidence for each
  • Develop and strengthen writing by brainstorming, revising, editing & rewriting
  • Write with awareness to audience using program–specific vocabulary
  • Write routinely over short/long time frames for a range of tasks, purposes & audiences
  • Clearly convey with precision step–by–step work completed
  • Write fast–paced, accurate work reports
  • Use technology to produce, publish or share writing
  • Learn and apply engineering notation as a formatting standard
  • Conform writing to specialized formatting standards
Math Skills

    Numbers and Operations:

  • Grade 6 – Fluency in operations with whole numbers and decimals
  • Grade 6 – Representing negative numbers
  • Grade 6 – Whole number exponents
  • Grade 7 – Fluency in rational number operations (whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and negative counterparts)
  • Grade 7 – Percent and ratio problems
  • Grade 8 – Integer Exponents
  • Grade 8 – Scientific Notation
  • Grade 8 – Estimate the value of irrational numbers.
  • Algebra 1 – Problem solving with real world units, including conversions
  • Algebra 2 – Imaginary and complex numbers
  • Measurement

  • NG – Units: Metric Precision: Nearest 0.1 mm
  • Grade 6 – Unit conversion within and between measuring systems
  • Grade 7 – Area, volume surface area of objects composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, and right prisms
  • Algebraic Concepts

  • Grade 6 – One–step equation solutions – one variable with all non–negative components
  • Grade 7 – Two–step equation solutions – one variable
  • Grade 8 – Slope
  • Grade 8 – Solve any linear equation in one variable – include no solutions/infinitely many solutions
  • Grade 8 – Solve systems of two linear equations in two variables
  • Grade 8 – Identifying functions from relations
  • Grade 8 – Graph linear functions
  • Grade 8 – Compare functions represented in different ways (equations, graphs, tables, verbal descriptions)
  • Grade 8 – Linear relationships – rate of change and initial value – analyzing meaning
  • Algebra 1 – Analyze graphs – include those with different scales
  • Algebra 1 – Solve equations for a given variable (rewriting formulas)
  • Algebra 1 – Calculate and use slope
  • Algebra 1 – Write an algebraic rule for a pattern
  • Algebra 1 – Solve systems of linear equations
  • Algebra 1 – Model a relationship between two quantities with a function
  • Algebra 1 – Multiple representations of functions
  • Algebra 1 – Explore families of functions (linear, quadratic, exponential)
  • Algebra 2 – Rational expressions
  • Algebra 2 – Parent graphs – families of functions and their properties
  • Algebra 2 – Trigonometric functions and modeling periodic behavior
  • Geometric Concepts

  • Grade 7 – Angle measure problems (supplementary, complementary, adjacent, angles of a triangle, parallel lines cut by transversal)
  • Grade 7 – Scale drawings of geometric figures
  • Grade 8 – Pythagorean Theorem
  • Grade 8 – Transformation properties and showing congruence/similarity
  • Geometry – Transformations in the plane – congruence and similarity
  • Geometry – Geometric proofs
  • Geometry – Trigonometric Ratios and problem solving (includes Pythagorean)
  • Geometry – Theorems about lines, angles, triangles, and parallelograms
  • Geometry – Scale models and drawings
  • Geometry – Coordinate geometry
  • Data and Probability:

  • Grade 6 – Mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range, and mean absolute deviation
  • Grade 8 – Investigate relationships between two sets of data
  • Algebra 1 – Describe data with measures of dispersion
  • Algebra 1 – Interpret data on various displays – use to make predictions
Theory Time
  • 2 ½– 3 hours/day
Homework
  • None
Lab Time
  • 2 ½– 3 hours/ day
Tests
  • Quarterly assessment
  • Lecture notes
  • Daily circuit solving quizzes
  • NOCTI (mandatory for all CTE programs)
  • Industry Certifications
    • OSHA 10
POS Academics and Electives Recommended
  • College Prep English & Math are a component of the DCTS program
Study & Other Skills
  • Good attendance
  • Ability to work independently
  • Note–taking
Technology Skills/Knowledge
  • Use and navigate school–issued laptop
  • Web navigation
  • Email management
  • Navigate learning management system and instructional technology tools
  • Video conferencing
Post–Secondary Options and Continuing Ed
  • Harrisburg Area Community College– 10 credits
  • Community College of Allegheny County– 6, 10, or 9 credits– depending on the program being studied
  • Westmoreland County Community College– 12 credits
  • Luzerne County Community College– 4 credits
  • Northampton County Area Community College– 10 credits
  • Pennsylvania College of Technology– 14 credits
  • Johnson College– 9 credits