Weekly updates

Weekly Update Emails #

Week #3: Sunday, 9/20/26 #

This is the week that Project 1 work clicks into place, with the introduction of a (free!) circuit board design software called KiCad. We’ll use KiCad to translate your temporary breadboard circuits into permanent circuit boards. We ask that you have it installed on your computer by class time on Wednesday, 9/23. If you’re having trouble installing it, please reach out to an LA or instructor.

We’ll also further explore capacitors in class on MOnday.

Things due in Week 3:

  • Due Mon., 9/21, 11:59pm, as a photo upload to HW 1 on Canvas: Prototype breadboard for Project 1 - A photo of your 3.3V and 5V voltage regulators, with a multimeter showing voltages
  • Due Fri., 9/25, 11:59pm, as a photo and video upload to HW2 on Canvas: Motor Hub design - A removable hub for your DC motor that has a hole and groove, and doesn’t slip off the shaft when maximum torque is applied. Plan wisely - be aware that ~110 students are making this project, so plan ahead if you need to use specific machines

Learning goals for Week 3:

  • Deepen your understanding of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to your Project 1 Breadboard Power Supply circuit (featuring voltage regulators)
  • Build a capacitor charge/discharge circuit and choose resistance and capacitance values to increase its time constant
  • Take a breadboard prototype and turn it into a PCB design using KiCad software

Course website pages to study in Week 3:

  • Project 1 description
  • Motor hub description
  • Capacitors
  • Voltage regulation
  • PCB design
  • KiCad demo videos

Optional reading for Week 3:

From the Scherz & Monk textbook (available here from Tisch Library online):

  • Section 3.6 “Capacitors”
  • Section 7.2 “Constructing Circuits” (featuring info on printed circuit board design and construction)

Week #2: Sunday, 9/13/26 #

Course housekeeping:

  • Remember to bring your pink box to every class and lab session.
  • Check the Calendar page of the course website to see what we’re doing in class each day and what to study and do every week.
  • Labs begin this week in Nolop on Wednesday, Sep. 16. Labs are 1 hour. Bring your pink box.

Things due in Week 2:

  • Just the in-class activity “Exit Ticket” uploads to Canvas

Learning goals for Week 2:

  • Describe the difference between a voltage divider circuit and a voltage regulator circuit.
  • Deepen your understanding of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to voltage divider and voltage regulator circuits.
  • Measure voltage, current, resistance, and continuity with a multimeter.

What to read and study in Week 2:

  • Website notes on concepts: Resistors, Series vs. parallel, Voltage regulation, Capacitors (includes mini-lecture video)
  • Website notes on skills: Multimeters, Demo video of building a voltage regulator
  • Website description of Project 1 and motor hub HW
  • Resistors section (3.5) of Scherz & Monk textbook (which is optional, and available here from Tisch Library online)
  • Office hours

Office hours:

  • Office hours should really be called “times when we sit and wait for you to come build circuits with us”
  • Kristen’s office hours this week are Fri. 2-4pm in Nolop
  • Brandon’s office hours are whenever he’s in Nolop, M-F, 9a-5p
  • There are TA office hours as well - check the website link above

Week 1: Tuesday, 9/8/26 #

We are excited to start ME 30 with you! Welcome to the course. We’ll send an organizational email to the ME 30 class every Sunday evening. But this first week, we’re doing it on Tuesday.

Course website:

The course website is http://andnowforelectronics.com/. It serves as the required text for the course. It includes:

  1. The syllabus, which lists office hour info
  2. The calendar of topics, suggested readings, and project work due for each class meeting
  3. Notes and brief videos on key topics
  4. Kit component list and data sheets for all components

Electronics kit:

You’ll receive your electronics kit in the first class on 9/9. Bring it back for EVERY class and lab. You’ll return it at the end of the semester.

Things due in Week 1:

Your first Canvas deliverable: Upload a video introducing yourself and demonstrating your LED-pushbutton circuit from Class #1.

Learning goals for Week 1:

  • Build a working circuit prototype on a breadboard
  • Explain how current flows from a wall outlet through a simple circuit
  • Start to make sense of voltage, current, resistance, and power, as they relate to a simple LED circuit

Labs:

No required labs this first week. They will begin on Wednesday, 9/16. However, there will be drop-in help sessions in NOLOP during Week 1. See below.

Where to get hands-on help if Class #1 is a bit overwhelming:

ME 30 Learning Assistants will be standing by in NOLOP during the following times in the first week of class. Drop in to get help building the Class #1 circuit or figuring out what all the components are in your kit.

  • Wed., 9/9, 3:00-8:30pm
  • Thu., 9/10, 3:00-8:30pm
  • Fri., 9/11, 10am-12pm, 2:30-4:30pm

Resources for your learning for Week 1:

In ME 30 we’re aiming to provide a menu of resources to support your electronics learning. We hope you’ll explore and use what works best for you. Some of you may start with the videos we’ve embedded in the website pages; some of you may start by reading a textbook section; some of you may focus on the written website notes; and others may start with broad questions in office hours. Let us know if you’d like help developing a strategy for navigating the different options.

For Week 1, these are the resources we’re suggesting:

NOTE: Many of the website notes pages include mini-lecture videos.