Marlborough Boys’ College
NCEA L2 Electronics - Mātai Tāhiko
Course Description
Teacher in Charge: Dr M. Harvey.
Electronics 200
They hold your money. They monitor your heartbeat when you are running. They carry your image and your voice into other people's homes. They allow planes to land. It's amazing to think just how many things "they" actually do.
The "They" are electrons: miniscule particles that orbit atoms that move around defined paths known as circuits carrying potential electrical energy, which you also know as voltage.
One of the greatest things people learned to do in the last century was to use these electrons to do useful things. The electronics revolution, as this is known, accelerated the computer revolution that allows you to play games on your mobile phone and have transformed our lives on Earth. But how exactly do incredibly small particles, far too small for you to see, achieve things that are so big and dramatic?
If you've ever looked down on a city from a skyscraper window, you'll have marvelled at all the tiny little buildings beneath you and the streets linking them together in all sorts of intricate ways. Every building has a function and the streets, which allow people to travel from one part of a city to another or visit different buildings in turn, make all the buildings work together. The collection of buildings, the way they're arranged, and the many connections between them is what makes a vibrant city so much more than the sum of its individual parts.
The circuits inside pieces of electronic equipment are a bit like cities too: they're packed with components (similar to buildings) that do different jobs and the components are linked together by cables or printed metal connections (similar to streets). Unlike in a city, where virtually every building is unique and even two supposedly identical homes or office blocks may be subtly different, electronic circuits are built up from a small number of standard components. But, just like LEGO®, you can put these components together in an infinite number of different places so they do an infinite number of different jobs.
The key to an electronic device is not just the components it contains, but the way they are arranged in circuits. The simplest possible circuit is a continuous loop connecting two components, like two beads fastened on the same necklace. Analog electronic appliances tend to have far simpler circuits than digital ones. A basic transistor radio might have a few dozen different components and a circuit board probably no bigger than the cover of a paperback book. But in something like a computer, which uses digital technology, circuits are much more dense and complex and include hundreds, thousands, or even millions of separate pathways. Generally speaking, the more complex the circuit, the more intricate the operations it can perform.
This course is for students who wish to develop their practical skills, their ability to engage theory with practice, laboratory skills and their understanding of the electron and how the electron can be used to create solutions using circuits designed from electronic components.
Topics you will learn about include:
Basics of electricity
Electrical components
Circuit construction
By the end of the course you will know about the principles of
Mains and static electricity, electrical components and circuit construction and design .
Course Overview
Term 1
Circuit Concepts and Measurement
This module introduces fundamental electrical principles and measurement skills essential for electronics. Students will explore electrical quantities like voltage, current, and resistance, learn to analyze simple circuits, and gain practical experience with basic test equipment. The course covers circuit diagrams, safety practices, and troubleshooting techniques, providing a solid foundation for further study in electronics.
Basic Electronic Components
Students will discover the core building blocks of electronic circuits in this module. The course covers essential components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and transistors, explaining their characteristics and common applications. Students will also be introduced to integrated circuits, sensors, and other fundamental elements, gaining hands-on experience in identifying, testing, and using these components in simple circuits.
Term 2
Make a Simple Printed Circuit Board
This hands-on module guides students through the process of creating a basic printed circuit board (PCB). Students will learn PCB design principles, component layout, and various fabrication techniques. The course covers both traditional etching methods and modern CAD-based design, giving students practical experience in transforming a circuit schematic into a functional PCB for a simple electronic project.
Basic Electronic Systems
This module introduces students to the concept of electronic systems, focusing on how individual components work together to perform specific functions. Students will explore common subsystems such as power supplies, amplifiers, and digital logic circuits. The course emphasizes system-level thinking, teaching students to analyze and design basic electronic systems for practical applications.
Term 3
Construct a Prototype Circuit from a Schematic
This term-long unit brings everything learned over the year together. You will work through the entire process of bringing an electronic circuit to life from a schematic diagram. Students will develop skills in interpreting complex schematics, selecting appropriate components, and employing various prototyping methods such as breadboarding and per board construction. The course emphasizes practical troubleshooting techniques, circuit optimization, and testing procedures. By the end of the term, students will have gained hands-on experience in constructing, testing, and refining a functional electronic prototype, bridging the gap between theoretical design and practical implementation.
Term 4
The protype is completed in the first few weeks of term 4, completing the course.
Recommended Prior Learning
This is an open entry course. An interest in electronics and a steady hand would be useful.
Pathway
This course will enable you to progress to electrician courses and apprenticeships. It also can help with studying Physics.
Assessment Information
As this course is a unit standard based course and the units require previous instruction we cannot allow students to join later in the year, so you need to decide to study Electronics before the school year starts.Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
External
NZQA Info
Demonstrate introductory knowledge of circuit concepts and measurements for electronics
NZQA Info
Demonstrate knowledge of basic electronic components
NZQA Info
Demonstrate knowledge of basic electronic systems
NZQA Info
Construct a simple printed circuit
NZQA Info
Construct a simple electronic product from a supplied circuit schematic
Useful Links
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