Winter Quarter 2012

INSTRUCTOR	SECTION	TIME / PLACE	PHONE	EMAIL	OFFICE
Mr. Daniel Moller	001	TR 8-9:50 / BH 129		dwm027@latech.edu
Dr. Melanie Watson	002	MW 2-3:50 / BH 129	318/257-2380	mgwatson@latech.edu	BH 239
Dr. John Easley	003	TR 4-5:50 / BH 129	318/257-3165	jeasley@latech.edu	BH 230

COURSE TOPICS:  Electromechanical systems, selected mathematics and science topics, design, basic fabrication techniques, troubleshooting, communication skills, global and societal issues, and computer applications.

TEXTBOOKS:  No textbook is required.

ROBOTICS KIT: A robot kit as specified on the course website (or described at orientation) is required for this course.

TOOL KIT:  A variety of tools will be required to complete course projects. You will supply some of the tools, and some of the tools will be provided in the Freshman Projects Laboratory.

LAPTOP: You must have your own laptop for this course.

SOFTWARE: Excel, Mathcad and Solidworks should be installed on the laptop as well as the software required to interface with your robot. You will also need software for computer-based presentations (like PowerPoint) as well as a word processing program (like Word). Mathcad and SolidWorks will be installed as a class; your instructor will provide details. Louisiana Tech uses the proceeds to pay for the annual SolidWorks license, for the Help Desk assistants, and for ENGR 12X supplies. You will receive Mathcad and SolidWorks at prices much lower than the student editions available online.

HELPDESK: A "HelpDesk" is available where you can receive assistance from other students on homework and projects. The HelpDesk is normally open in Bogard Hall 130 during the academic year between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. from Sunday through Thurday. See the schedule for more details.

GRADING:

GRADING SCALE:

        A       90 - 100%       (highest degree of excellence)
        B       80 - 89%        (superior)
        C       70 - 79%        (average)
        D       60 - 69%        (poor, class must be repeated)
        F       < 60%           (failure)

HOMEWORK:

• Homework is due at the beginning of the period on the specified due date. Turn your homework in at the front of the room BEFORE class starts.
• Unless there is a good reason (e.g., serious illness), late assignments WILL NOT be accepted since the solution to the homework may be discussed in class.
• Homework turned in for this class should be prepared using engineering format OR non-engineering format, depending on the type of problem assigned. Each assignment will specify the required format for each problem.
• Homework assignments may be composed of WebWork and a written portions. Check the course WebWork site to see if a WebWork assignment has been assigned (your instructor will provide details if WebWork is to be utilized). Problems that require engineering format will have a complimentary problem on WebWork where the parameters of the problem are randomly selected. Students should complete the solution to these problems using engineering format and submit these problems along with the rest of the assignment. Students must use the parameters given in WebWork for the written solution submitted in class (every student in the class will have a different answer on their written solutions).
• Visit the following URL to long on to WebWork: http://webwork.latech.edu/
• You will receive an email with a username and password for WebWork access. Allow approximately three days into the quarter for the email to arrive. The cutoff date for submitting answers in WebWork will usually be several days after the problems for a given homework set are due in class. If the WebWork assignment is not posted by the time you are ready to begin the first homework assignment, you may use the parameters given in the problem statement available on the Living with the Lab website.
• During the quarter, one or more problems from five or more homework assignments will be thoroughly checked for format and accuracy (we anticipate five problems from five separate assignments will be graded). These problems will be graded on a 0 to 20 point scale wher 20 out of 20 is the maximum score. If you fail to work the problem that is selected for grading, then you will lose all 20 points for this assignment. The idea is that careful grading of a handful of problems throughout the quarter will provide you with the feedback needed to improve your problem solving skills.
• When a homework requires a programming assignment, you should always turn in the program listing as part of your homework.
• Your average homework grade will be weighted based on the number of WebWork and written assignments graded.

QUIZZES:

• Quizzes may emphasize computer applications such as programming, Mathcad, SolidWorks or Excel.
• Quizzes may also contain problems such as those from recent homework assignments.
• Quizzes may be either written or performed on your laptop computer; you must have a working computer with the correct software to complete some or all of the quizzes.
• No makeup for these in-class assignments can be arranged. If you miss class on the day of an in-class activity, you miss the opportunity to turn in that assignment (no exceptions).  Excused absences will not count against your homework/in-class grade average.
• A grade of zero will be assigned for any missed quiz unless the student has a written excuse.

ATTENDANCE AT STUDENT MEETINGS:

• Each student is to attend at least five meetings sponsored by student societies within the College of Engineering and Science.
• Gumbofest (fall quarter) or Spring Release (spring quarter) will count as one of the meetings.
• You must get the signature of one of the officers indicating that you attended the meeting.
• You must provide an accurate description of the meeting you attended to receive credit.
• Get the form at this link.

EXAMS:

• Two exams will be given during the quarter. These exams may be scheduled outside of the normal class time.
• Both exams will require closed-book written work.
• You should bring a working calculator that does not have wireless capabilities to the exam.
• You are not allowed to use a cell phone during an exam (not even to see the clock). Cell phones should not be handled at all while you have your exam.

SERVICE ACTIVITY:

• Students are required to complete five service activity hours per quarter.
• The purpose of the service activity is to foster leadership and service in first-year students while providing a broader appreciation for societal concerns.
• Check the bulletin board on the first floor of Bogard Hall for service opportunities. Students may also propose their own activities. Service activities must be approved by the instructor. Click here for examples of acceptable projects.
• This liability waiver and release form must be completed and submitted to your instructor prior to beginning your service activity. There are acceptable service options that do not require manual labor, exposure to tools or equipment, or off-campus travel.
• Download this template for reporting on the service. This template includes a "Verificaiton of Service Project Completion" that should be completed by your project sponsor. Your report should be submitted on or before class 18.

HONOR CODE:  

Louisiana Tech has established an Honor Code to ensure the "highest standard of conduct in academic affairs."  By enrolling at Louisiana Tech, you have agreed to the Honor Code that states, "Being a student of a higher standard, I pledge to embody the principles of academic integrity."  Students who cheat during an exam, plagiarize another person's work, obtain or distribute copies of exams without the instructor's permission, falsify documents, or steal property or electronic information will be considered in violation of the Honor Code.  It is also considered a violation of the Code to assist a person in any of the above actions.  For the first infraction, a student who violates the Code will be given a grade of "zero" on the assignment in question.  A second infraction will result in an "F" for the class.  All violations will be reported to the Honor Council as required by the University.  For a complete copy of the Honor Code go to the following web page: http://www.latech.edu/documents/honor-code.pdf

The following statement must be attached and SIGNED for all assignments: 

On my honor, I promise that I have not received inappropriate assistance on this assignment.       SIGNATURE        

Inappropriate assistance for homework: Copying off another person's or group's paper, copying information from the solution of homework from previous quarters, and any sort of computer file sharing.
Inappropriate assistance on quizzes and exams: All work must be your own (no looking at other peoples paper, no talking, no cheat sheets, and no use of electronic information).
Inappropriate assistance on projects: All aspects of a project should be completed by the group submitting the project for a grade (don't copy design features, purchase the same parts as other groups unless specifically allowed by the instructor, . . .)

DISABLED STUDENTS:  

If you are disabled student and are registered with the Office of Disabled Student Services, please contact me during the first week of classes to let me know about your accommodation for testing, lab work, etc.

ATTENDANCE:

• Regular and punctual class attendance is expected. 
• An unexcused absence for an assignment, quiz, exam or project presentation will result in a zero grade.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM:

All Louisiana Tech students are strongly encouraged to enroll and update their contact information in the Emergency Notification System. It takes just a few seconds to ensure you’re able to receive important text and voice alerts in the event of a campus emergency. For more information on the Emergency Notification System, please visit: http://www.latech.edu/administration/ens.shtml.

CALCULATORS:

You are not required to have a graphing calculator for this course. Your laptop computer along with the Mathcad scientific computing software far exceeds the capabilities of a graphing calculator. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam, which is the first step to become a registered professional engineer, only allows the following calculators:

Hewlett Packard - HP 33S
Casio - FX 115MS or FX 115MSPlus (may have SR designation)
Texas Instruments - TI 30X IIS
Texas Instruments - TI 36X SOLAR

Students typically take the FE exam in their senior year, so the list above may change by the time you take the exam. In the ENGR 12x series of courses, we will allow you to use any calculator you like as long as the wireless communication capabilities are not active during the exams.