Leadership in technology - reg

Dear Students,

Engineering discipline requires professionals who accept challenges and enjoy the journey of facing problems and providing solutions.

While some are born with the fighting spirit, many of us are not used to it due to our upbringing and our overprotective care  and schooling during the formative years of our education.

Suddenly, when we face the real world and the challenges it throws at us, most of us are unprepared or underprepared.

College phase and its long 4 year span is the most ideal one to overcome these fault lines that are preventing us from becoming thorough professionals.

A class of 50/60 is a heterogeneous group in the current set up with students coming from different backgrounds.

In any such group there will be  : innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, laggards.

Question : What type of behavior is expected from engineers ?


Every class needs its innovators to push the class forward with new ideas and enterprise.

Below is an excerpt from Marketing : Consumer Behavior: Diffusion of innovation 

I modified it to relate to students in a class as Engineering Education : Students : Diffusion of ideas 

As students are also consumers in a limited sense, I hope you will be learning something out of this well establishes theory in consumer psychology.

I also provide a video link for authenticity.

The Five Classes of Students (Consumers)

Click here to watch a video on diffusion of innovation theory

These five different types of students will all react differently to a  new idea. Each student group will adopt the new idea at different times and for different reasons. The five types of students (consumers) are:

Innovators - Venturesome; although they make up a very small part of the total class(market), innovators play a very important role. They are interested in anything new, and are quick to adopt new and innovative ideas / products. Innovators know about the idea months before it is introduced and pay a high effort/price to be among the first to have this new idea/product.

Early adopters - Young and restless; early adopters are opinion leaders. They pay attention to what the innovators have discovered and find a practical use for the innovation. They then communicate to their followers the usefulness of the new product. They play a very important role by influencing the attitude and changing the behavior of the later adopters. An early adopter who likes the idea / product and adopt it to address their needs. They tel all their colleagues how much easier and faster they could work by adopting the new idea/product.
Early majority - Value buyers; the early majority carefully observe the early adopters, but wait to adopt innovative ideas/products until they are sure they will get value from them. The early majority will only adopt a new idea/product if they are sure that it will provide usefulness to their lives - and not be a waste of their time and money. They wait long enough to learn how the idea/product benefits them before adopting.
Late majority - Skeptics; the late majority wait until an innovation has been accepted by a majority of consumers and the effort has dropped to adopt the new idea/product. The late majority typically adopt innovative products because they feel as if everyone else is doing it. They are the ones who wait till almost everyone else bought the idea.
Laggards - Traditionalists; laggards are the very last group to adopt a new idea/product. Laggards are content with what they have, and they adopt new ideas/products unenthusiastically and only because they feel as if they have to. When the organisation or government mandates that it is compulsory will they do it. Because they have been forced to do so, laggards will then adopt the new product.

Revision Links to BEEE

Complex Numbers : Basics with exercises

Basics of matrices for solving linear equations

Application of Complex Numbers in networks : Series parallel combinations

Resistor, Capacitor and Inductor (RLC) ; Kirchoff's current and voltage laws; Star-Delta & Delta to Star Transformation

Problems, Tools and Skills

We will begin using matlab to solve problems posed in various subjects  and in the process learn matlab.

Remember that matlab (like any other computer application) is a tool. 

Without any problem to solve , a tool would have no use.

Imagine, will you need a calculator when you are drinking coffee or having lunch ?

The purpose  of any tool must be to enhance the productivity of the individual who uses the tool.

However, a tool would be useless  unless the user knows how to use it effectively.

To use a tool effectively, an engineer/designer must learn what the tool is capable of doing, its advantages and limitations.  

The engineer must also be able to  put the tool to productive use which depends not only on the capability of the tool to do that job but also the skill with which the engineer can put the tool to use.

In order to cut a watermelon with a knife (tool) by you (user), not only must the knife be sharp and of right size to cut the melon but you must also have the skill to put it to use.

Any  deviations would result in a poor result. You may injure yourself or the watermelon may not be cut correctly due to a small or blunt edged knife.

We see this happen time and again in the professional field. We see the engineers unable to use tools effectively due to either bringing a wrong tool the the workplace ( like trying to solve a complex problem with calculator when actually matlab must be used) or not using it the right way (not knowing how to use matlab).

All this can vanish with proper understanding of the relationship between tools , skills and problems.

This comes only through exposure to various problems, tools and skill-sets.

Let us begin with matlab.

Best

HoD-ECE-SVIT

Update : 27-07-2017

Dear Students,

The subjects you cover during the current semester will help understand HOW an electronic system can take an input and provide an out.

Input is usually information which is taking the shape of an electrical signal (voltage or current). Output will also naturally be an electrical signal.

What we all must understand is that signal and information are the same. It is just that the information which is in a non-electrical domain (like a voice saying "Hello" or a photograph showing your merit certificate) has to be first converted into the electrical domain. Only then can it be processed before generating the output.


What is signal processing ?

Processing can be simply termed as ANY MATHEMATICAL OPERATION on the signal.

By mathematical operation we mean increasing/decreasing (multiplication with a scalar), addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, integration, differentiation, logarithmic or antilogarithmic transformation etectera are all part of signal processing.

So , in electronic communications we mainly deal with WHEN, WHY and HOW to perform these operations.

While modern computers and simulation software provide easy means of testing the signal processing systems without designing them practically, electronic devices such as transistors, FETs, integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcomputers, FPGAs etc provide the hardware base to realise the actual system as a usable PRODUCT.

Keep refining your grip on math skills, basic electronics and using computer based software for simulation.

The more time you spend on these, the more meaningful your text books, classwork and lab activities will be.

Feel free to ask ANY doubts anytime.

Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT

Update : 22-07-2017

Dear Students,

Today's word : Hobby
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 Find three hobbies you love :

• One to make you money.
• One to keep you in shape.
• And one to be creative.

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 Weekends are meant for reviewing the past, resorting to hobbies , refreshing the body and soul and return for another new week with brand new enthusiasm and vigour.

Engineering professionals must always focus on taking the society forward.

This is possible through creative application of knowledge and skills. Good health and financial well-being are important for pursuing the above goals.

Enjoy your weekend in a productive and creative way.

Review your basics in BEEE when you return to college on Monday.

Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT

Update : 20-07-2017

Dear Students,

Today's word : Confusion
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On the road to success, there is a curve called failure, a loop called confusion, speed bumps called friends and red lights called enemies.

Laugh through the confusion, smile through the tears and keep reminding yourself that...everything happens for a reason. 

Confused ? Confusion is a good. It is an excellent place to learn something new from.
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 As students learning various theories, concepts and skills, you are mostly subjected to confusion almost on a regular basis.

Remember to always stick to a well thought out plan of action for the entire semester and move forward whenever you are confused.  Everyone who embarks on an adventure (something you do for the first time) is confronted with situations which are new and hence the next step to take and its consequences are never known. This is the hallmark of confusion.

 Even the famous adventurer Christopher Columbus was confused during his voyages.

When Columbus started on his voyage, he did not know where he was going. When he reached the continent, he did not know where he was. And, when he returned , he did not know from where he returned.

And yet....he is considered the most famous of all adventurers for having discovered America !!

Should confusion deter you ? Should you falter in your steps ?

It is when you are confused that you must be firm and determined.

Stay focused, stay determined.

Keep learning, keep doing, all confusion will clear off like the clouds in the sky when the sun shines through them.

Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT

Update : 17-07-2017

Dear Students,

Today's focus : Problem Solving

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Engineering graduates must focus on problem solving during their studies because the main value added to their degree will be  their attitude towards solving real world problems.

The focus and dream of all engineers must be to identify and provide solutions to problems using their engineering skills.

Problems come in different ways and are many times unpredictable in their presentation.

The engineer must understand that a knowledge and confidence  in the skills required is a must. For this repeated application of skills to a point of perfection is required. We cannot begin practice after the problem presents itself , can we ?

End of the chapter problems or exercises given for each subject are nothing but organised presentation of most common real world situations. But of course not really real.

Most of the times students would want the solution available through a guide or solution manual. They would feel that the task is completed once they memorise the solution.

The real way must be to study and understand the problem.

Have you read it ? Many times ? Have you understood it ? What is the problem asking you to do ? What is given? What is to be assumed ? What needs to be obtained ? What assumptions, formulae or law may be useful to get the result ?

All these above questions must be applied to every problem before actually beginning to solve the problem.

Needless to say, this approach throughout your study years will train your brain towards a most acceptable, methodical, structured, proven and healthy approach towards problem solving.

You are actually not solving the current problem, but are preparing your brain to face real challenges in the professional world.

Do you agree ?

End of the chapter exercises must be read, re-read many times before  the solution strikes to your mind. Until then keep spending time only on understanding the problem.

I will post the end of the chapter exercises for Network Analysis. Read and understand them. Don't try to solve them.

Remember,  Problems are nothing but wake-up calls for creativity.

Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT

Update : 15-07-2017

Dear Students,

Today's word : Perseverance
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Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding 20th time. 
-Julie Andrews
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Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.  
-Newt Gingrich
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Due to a meeting , I had to leave you in the lab with matlab. I hope you all are now somewhat familiar with the environment.

In today's class I tried to explain the following points :

1. A network contains various electronic devices such as RLC and any of the many semiconductor devices.

2. Network analysis is the exercise where "for a given network" and an "input" we must be able to tell what the output will be. That is, if H is the system and x, y are input and output. We must find y given x and H.

3. For a system to be useful it must be Linear and Time invariant (LTI).

4. A system is linear when it obeys the principle of homogeneity and scaling.

5. Systems that have only R,L,C components plus dependent and independent voltage or current sources are always linear.

6. However we cannot build useful systems with only R,L and C. We must use semiconductor devices like BJT, FET, SCR, Diode etc.

7. Semiconductor devices are inherently NON-LINEAR.

8. When semiconductors are used in a network , we must use the model (such as h-parameter model).

9. Model is an abstract representation of a complex device and will be linear.

10. By converting a complex , non-linear system into a simpler linear system , we can apply network theorems (which are valid only for linear systems) to find the output for a given input.

More about it in the next lecture....

During the weekend, please revise your grasp on C-language and also collect  a summary on Matrix algebra.

We will begin our exercises next week.

HaPpY Weekend
HoD-ECE-SVIT

Update 14-07-2017

Dear Students,

Today's word : Collaboration
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" I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.

- Mother Teresa.
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Some more apt quotes :

 Everyone you will ever meet will know something that you don't.

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. - Henry Ford

An African proverb says that if you want to go FASTER you must go alone but if want to go FAR, you must go together.
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The truth in this saying is nowhere better applicable than in your life NOW as a STUDENT !!!

In any large tasks it is essential to understand the importance of collaboration.

In my  lab introduction yesterday, I threw open a challenge of learning MATLAB without any external help.

To meet such challenges, it is essential to understand some NEW and EFFECTIVE learning methodologies that MOVE AWAY from traditional classroom learning.

That is collaborative learning.

Once a team is aware of its goal (learn MATLAB),  the team must plan, organise, collaborate and execute its plans of learning in a methodical manner to achieve the final goal.

Such efforts at an early stage of learning will make STRONG and DETERMINED professionals who come out of institutions with grit, determination and enthusiasm to face new challenges and understand what needs to be done as a team to overcome these challenges successfully.

Michael Jordan said that TALENT may win games but it is team-work and intelligence that wins CHAMPIONSHIPS.

I am happy that your classes have been finally arranged in 3rd floor right next to your labs.

You must now pursue LEARNING the 3 essential skills of circuit simulation (Multisim) , model simulation (MATLAB) and programming (C-language) with EQUAL vigour and enthusiasm.

My suggestion to your class is this : Form into teams of 6 each. Pick at least two text books that teach MATLAB (from fundamentals). Select two systems in your lab. Make a schedule to work on one chapter every week. Divide the tasks such that each member in the group need not work more than 15 minutes every day on this task. Execute your plan. Meet every day, share your problems, put them across to me also (for help or guidance) and take ideas that your classmates may be throwing at you. Use what is useful and move forward.

We will review the progress twice every week.

Your energy, dedication and progress will be monitored closely and rewarded from time to time.

Plan your time-table for EXCELLENCE.

Remember : Collaboration DIVIDES the task and MULTIPLIES the success.

More today....

Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT

Update 13-07-2017

Dear Students,

Today's Word : SUCCESS
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Successful people BUILD each other up. 
They MOTIVATE, INSPIRE, and PUSH each other. 
Unsuccessful people just HATE, BLAME and COMPLAIN.
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We are now almost ready for speeding up our semester efforts.
Please complete your REGISTRATIONS before 18th to avoid any inconvenience.
Inform all your friends to come to college without any delay.

In my 2-hour session yesterday, I explained the connection among all the subjects you study during this semester.

I want you to write the summary of what you understood and submit to me today (14th). This interactive method will help me know how much of what I said is correctly grasped by you and how much needs to be retold. Most new concepts required a couple of revisions before gaining confidence.

Just remember that.

Also, please, please STOP the bad habit of just listening to the teacher. TAKE NOTES. At least write the NEW words that you encounter and search for meanings.

Passive participation is a huge waste of time. Also, stop (yourself) and discourage(benchmates) from continuous blabbering while class is going on. This conduct is unbecoming of a professional.

It is natural that as a student you will not understand this...but if you put on the hat of a professional, you will immediately realise how foolish it is to chat in a class. Think, analyse and change...TODAY.

The only way you can do this is to keep a book in front of you, follow the lecture and take notes. Once in a while you can cross check with your bench mate.

Today we will introduce the lab activities and classroom activities that improve your learning better.

Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT

Update 12-07-2017

Dear Students,

Happy to see you all in the department :)
Be regular and stay focused. 

1. Section A will have 4 theory classes tomorrow : M4, Env Studies, S&SP and Electrical Technology.
2. Section B will have Basic Simulation Lab and BEE Lab (two batches). Electrical Technology in the afternoon session.
3. Both sections will have combined session related to EDC lab and Network Analysis.

You may bring your note books accordingly.

Please keep your notes given during BEEE class.

Come with lunch and munch.

Here is a write up on why study Maths IV


Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT

Welcome to ECE Department !!!

Dear ALL,

Welcome to a new academic year.

Today's word :  PRACTICE :

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There is no glory in practice, but without practice. there is no glory....
-Anonymous.

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Today we will begin FIRST Semester classwork for the academic year 2017-18 as per the guidelines provided by JNTU-Hyderabad.

The department has been geared up to receive you with  completely renovated lab facilities that will be made available to you all the time.

A change that your batch witnessed was a quicker introduction to practical work in the form of EDP and T2P workshops which we will continue in a different format now.

It was nice to see that some of your classmates participated with interest to get an insight in to the world of electronics.

I sincerely hope that these students will leverage the experience to the overall growth of your class during this semester.

While we mainly focus on doing justice to the syllabus provided by JNTUH, we will also try to connect you to the industry and research fields whose needs in the years ahead must be understood by all of us.

To shine in the competitive environment, skill development is imperative. Unfortunately, skill development cannot be ensured without the active and enthusiastic participation of the student.

I personally feel that this is the weak area for every student.

While the department has everything one expects to make a great professional, the results cannot be achieved if the student merely focuses on studying to pass exams and wasting the precious time by not developing skills.

What can your batch do differently ?

1. Understand and respect Engineering as a professional course.
2. Give due importance to all subjects right from day 1 of the semester.
3. Focus on lab work and gain confidence to use the tools and techniques well.
4. Understand the importance of team work.
5. Develop an attitude of settling for nothing but the very BEST.
6. Create an environment of non-nonsense approach to all professional activities.
7. Do a SWOT analysis on yourself.
8. Understand that professional careers open for those who can Program, Design, Develop, Test, maintain complex electronic systems.
9. Become an EXPERT in using Multisim, MATLAB , C-Programming by lot of practice.
10. Maintain a dairy and note down your thoughts and opinions based on what you hear daily from your faculty, friends and others who interact with you.

Hope we will be remembered by all of you for doing our small bit in putting you on a career path that you dream of.

Note : Please watch this blog daily for important updates from the department.

Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT
hodece@live.com
hodece@svit.ac.in
+91-9866358271

T2P workshop 02 (Second Batch)

Dear Student,

The second T2P workshop will begin on 03rd July, 2017 and will be for 05 days.
If you are registered, you will receive a mail with rules to be followed.

Please report at 08:15am sharp.

Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT

List of Students for T2P Workshop 2017-01 batch

Timings : 08:30am to 04:30 pm.

SNo	HT No	Name
1	16P71A0408	P Avinash Reddy
2	16P71A0416	J. David Paul
3	16P71A0421	Akula Harika
4	16P71A0424	GV Indra Reddy
5	16P71A0425	Md Irbaaz Hussain
6	16P71A0426	Isha Mishra
7	16P71A0438	Nihal Varaganti
8	16P71A0452	Diwan Roshan
9	16P71A0453	Balaji Tukaram Saddewad
10	16P71A0457	Dandge Sai Maithree
11	16P71A0474	Bijaram Srikanth
12	16P71A0478	N. Swapanthi Varma

T2P Workshop - 2017 : Invitation

Dear Students,

I am planning a workshop for your class whose details are as follows :

1. The program will be of 5 days duration
2. The objective is to review the skills learnt in your earlier EDP workshop and then take you to the next level.
3. The workshop is titled T2P. You will know what it means during the workshop.
4. As usual, the workshop is rigorous in its rules and regulations.
5. Last date for registration (no fee please) will be 10:00PM on 13-06-2017.
6. Attendance for EDP Workshop is a must for qualifying for this workshop.

Interested students must send an email which must contain the following :
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To:  hodece@live.com
Subject :  T2P Workshop 2017
 Text :   I, Name , Roll Number,   am interested in attending the T2P workshop. I have attended the EDP workshop during the first semester of first year. Please register my name and send me the T2P rules and regulations and date of commencement.

I understand that the participation is free and I can withdraw anytime from the workshop without giving any reasons to you.


Phone
emailid: 
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I will send the softcopy T2P undertaking (which must be signed) before the workshop begins.

Please note that the above procedure will be followed very strictly to take various clearances and permissions from the management for a smooth conduct of the workshop.

Best
HoD-ECE-SVIT

Blog Post 01 : Inputs for Engineering Skills

Dear Students,

As promised last semester, I will be continuing to provide inputs which can be used by you with minimal contact at college and maximum comfort at home. (At least, this must be the main idea.)

In today's post, I will try to explain the important areas in which you must begin working with a proper time-table and self-motivation.

Let us first look at the key areas you must concentrate and improve during this semester :

Academics :

1. Mathematics ( Keep revising your Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Calculus).

2. Algorithm design and Coding : Algorithm design is the ability to define the solution to a problem is a manner that a COMPUTER can understand. Coding is conversion of this solution into a LANGUAGE (like C,C++, Java etc). This skills must be developed ONLY BY PRACTISE. There are NO SHORT CUTS or Guides for doing this. So, the early beginners will be able to quickly understand what is to be learnt, will make mistakes and learn through mistakes and in general become expert programmers in time to meet the demands of the industry.

"EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM" is very apt here.

3. Product Design skills : Some of you had made a 5V regulator in the workshop. This is a product. A product will begin from a NEED (Someone wants a regulator. You ask the specifications. They say +5V, 1A. You begin by applying your theory of Rectifiers and Filters and make a regulator to MEET the specifications. )

If the client is HAPPY with your product, you are a good designer, else, you need to know what needs to be improved and IMPROVE for the NEXT Design.

But NEVER STOP or SHY AWAY from  this path.

Usually, anyone can become a very good designer if he/she is TENACIOUS and not afraid to learn from failures.

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To help you simplify all this, I will provide online and whatsapp based quizzes which you can try during your leisure.

Why take tests ?
Good results in these tests automatically give you the assurance that you are in the right direction !

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If you do all this with regularity, you will develop a critical appreciation of what is important in engineering industry.

If you step in to second year with this appreciation and perception, the subjects will become very interesting and the topics look well connected with what you want to do in future.

Do keep in touch with this blog post, collect valuable inputs, try them out as a team, provide your critical feedback , and help me improve the QUALITY of inputs given to all of you.

Thank You and God Bless You.

HaPpY Sunday.
HoD-ECE-SVIT