Syllabus of EEE132 Electronic Device (VERY IMPORTANT)

One student wrote the following comments pertaining the syllabus of Electronic Device EEE132. This is what he/she said:

As i was looking for resources to complete my tutorial, i came across a set of lecture notes and slides from previous years and made a few comparisons. It turns out that what is being taught now is much too detailed and intense as compared to what was taught to the seniors. So i had an exchange of words with them and they too agreed in saying that the current syllabus is way beyond what was required as fundamentals for later subjects like Analog I & II. This discovery has put me in quite a confusing disposition. Reading the textbook itself does not help my understanding because of the depth it covers.

With this, i really hope that u would cover only what is necessary, ie the qualitative illustrations from the videos u uploaded is as sufficient as it gets (according to the seniors) without the tedious quantitative parts. Also, derivations of complicated formula's that only bring more confusion rather clarity, and lastly, plz consider using the previous syllabus as your guide so that we don't stray too far from what is needed to be understood...

This is just my two cents Dr Tun, nonetheless, changes HAVE to be made before everyone goes on a failing frenzy..plz..plz..plz =)

MY RESPONSE:

Ezat and all,

I agree with you on the details of the syllabus are different as I am going to cover 7 chapters from Streetman (5 chapters as the most fundamentals Crystal Properties and Growth of Semiconductors, Atoms and Electrons, Energy Bands and Charge Carriers in Semiconductors, Excess Carriers in Semiconductors, and Junctions) with Field-Effect Transistors and Bipolar Junction Transistors as the applications of the Solid State Electronic Device. That is why at the beginning of the semester, I have stressed on the 7 chapters. I am not sure what is going on previously but I do believe this is the correct syllabus when we talk about Solid State Electronic Devices (if you disagree please give me proof from other references, other university syllabus or textbook). 

As I have taught Analog I, Analog II, Analog Integrated Circuits previously, whether we cover my syllabus or Dr Norlaili's previous syllabus (it is more like ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS by BELOVE and SCHILLING as this is the subject that I took when I was an undergraduate at Washington University circa 1994) it does not matter. You can do well in all the Analog subjects without even having the prior knowledge about Electronic Device. 

I also did speak to Dr Rizal as he mentioned about the same feedback that he received pertaining to my lecture. He asked me to do the course outcome (OBE format) despite I did mention the chapters and the sections that I am going to cover in the class. I will prepare this by next week's lecture.

As one way to protect my lecture delivery and ensuring that you do your due diligence (spend time and be accountable in your studies), from this week I will request from each student to give me the "learning hour" apart from lecture and tutorial time (at least 4 hours in a week) in class.   

In conclusion, you can speak to your seniors but I do not think they understand the relations between Electronic Device and Analog. However, it does not stop you from getting (positive/negative and constructive) feedback from your seniors. I will go ahead maintaining the syllabus and style and please do come and see me if you have further inquiries.

-Dr Tun Zainal-

4:20 pm 21st March, 2012