Electronics
Why study Electronics?
No previous experience of electronics is necessary.GCSE electronics is NOT required
This course has been running very successfully at Bilborough College for over 20 years and is taught by highly experienced staff. Results are consistently high with all students achieving beyond expectations. The course aims to be interesting and challenging whilst developing your skills and helping you to learn how to learn. Many students really enjoy their study of electronics.
Electronics is taught in a bright new laboratory with good practical facilities. There are data projection facilities and ample laptops. You will become quite expert at using CAD software to design and test your ideas. The Software you will be using is Crocodile-clips, Electronics Workbench, Livewire, Icon soft electronics and PIC tutor. You will of course use Excel and Word as well as using the Internet. There are detailed interactive notes for all the modules on the college VLE so we don’t spend a lot of time taking notes.
Hopefully you will enjoy learning about electronics. You will get hands-on experience of building many of the circuits we investigate. You will work in pairs or small groups solving design tasks and investigating the behaviour of circuits.
What will I study at AS level?
Module 1. Introduction to digital and analogue electronics. (Exam 35%) You will be introduced to logic gates and learn how to designing and build digital logic circuits. You will also see how multiplexers can be used as programmable circuit. Counting, remembering and sequence generators are also investigated in detail. Finally we will look at using operational amplifiers as audio amplifiers.
Module 2. Circuits and components. (Exam 35%) You will be introduced to components such as resistors, capacitors, diodes and transistors, You will learn how to design timing circuits, simple power supplies as well as sensing and switching circuits.
Module 3. Programmable control systems project. (Coursework 30%) in this module you will learn how to program PIC Chips to act as any type of electronic circuit. You will use both ladder logic and assembler language to design and test PIC circuits. Project work – your choice of projects. Many students enjoy the coursework as it gives you the opportunity to stretch your imagination and to challenge yourself.
What will I study at A level?
Module 4. Communications systems. (Exam 30%) In this module you will learn about analogue communications such as radio, How to encode digital signals, How analogue and digital signals are transmitted and received, Serial communications protocol and Internet protocol are also studied in detail.
Module 5. Systems applications. (Exam 40%) You will study various aspects of audio systems such as amplifiers, See how to covert analogue and digital sound signals, learn how to produce advanced sequence (pattern) generators, We will look at sensors and signal processing along with power switching systems such as stage lighting and power supply circuits.
Module 6. Design project. (Coursework 30%) Design, build and test a project of your choice. Then prototype and test it on breadboard only. No soldering or product design required. You will need to write a detailed report only on the circuit you have built. Many students really enjoy the coursework as it gives you the opportunity to stretch your imagination and to challenge yourself. Most find the A level design project gives a great sense of achievement.
Provided you have the minimum college entry requirement (currently 5 grade C’s or above at G.C.S.E.) you can enrol onto AS electronics, grade C in mathematics and science is preferred.
Module 1 is assessed by examination in January (35%.of AS) Module 2 is assessed by examination in May (35% of AS.) Module 3 is assessed by coursework including a report. (30% of AS.) Module 4 is assessed by examination (30% of A2.) Module 5 is assessed by examination (40% of A2.) Module 6 is assessed by practical project and a report (30% of A2.)
If you are considering a career in any of the engineering areas then most universities will want you to have studied A levels in Mathematics and Physics. Most engineering courses have a common first year covering all disciplines or have modules that involve electronics, electrical systems or electro-technology. Many students who have studied AS or A level electronics find that knowledge of electronics helps considerably with their degree course. It is particularly important in aeronautical, automotive, computer, electrical, electronic, general and mechanical engineering.