Lab Policy

With the Spring 2001 offering a new mastery-based grading approach is being introduced. In this approach each student starts with a B- guaranteed, and only needs to turn in satisfactory work (80% mastery) on schedule to sustain this grade. Bonus points to recognize work above standard and raise the grade will be awarded on two formal lab write-ups and two quizzes. Work behind schedule will receive penalty points. Please consult the course web site for the schedule, news, and grading calculation.

  1. Labs to be are completed as a team, but each member should have their own lab notebook with sequentially numbered pages and do their own unique report. The EECS Dept. policy on academic dishonesty applies to lab reports in EE 105.

  2. The prelab should be done in the lab notebook before lab and signed as satisfactory (80%) or unsatisfactory by the TA at the beginning of lab. (A late prelab is one lab penalty point.)

  3. Each student must demonstrate correct ‘hands-on’ use of the experimental equipment and measurement procedures during each lab to the TA who will ‘sign-off’ in the lab notebook. (A late demonstration is one lab penalty point.)

  4. The laboratory report is due at the beginning of the laboratory the following week and will be signed as satisfactory (80%) or unsatisfactory by the TA at the start of the lab. (A late report is one lab penalty point.) The write up will be contained on sequential pages in your lab notebook with sufficient detail for another person to repeat the experiment. It will consist of the prelab, a description of the experimental configuration, recorded data, evaluation of data with respected behavior from device and/or circuit models, and conclusions.
    • Most labs will be Plan A (informal) and should be completed during the lab. For these labs students are encouraged to add creative variations on the lab and their own experimentation to emphasize broad learning instead of detailed documentation.
    • Two labs will be Plan B (formal) to learn and demonstrate good laboratory procedures as practiced in the profession. A formal specification and example will be posted on the web. The write-up for the Plan B labs should be completed outside of lab. The Plan B labs will be graded as satisfactory, and above standard and well above standard work will be recognized with up to 2 lab bonus points per report. (A late Plan B labs is one lab penalty point per week. In addition the bonus points will drop to half at one week and to zero at two weeks. Unsatisfactory write-ups must be raised to satisfactory. A satisfactory report cannot be revised for additional bonus points.)

  5. A near midterm and near end term lab quiz will be given and graded as satisfactory (80%), and above average and well above average work will be recognized with up to 2 lab bonus points. (A late quiz is one lab penalty point per week. In addition the bonus points will drop to half at one week and to zero at two weeks. A passed quiz cannot be repeated for additional bonus points.)

  6. Your card key gives you access to 353 Cory Hall 24 hours/day. However, using the test equipment outside of lab hours is prohibited. Working alone in a lab is prohibited for safety reasons. No eating or drinking is permitted in the labs. Please be aware that we share the laboratory with other classes.

Designed and maintained by William Holtz