Excellent way for a teen to get a primer on advanced electronics? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2013, 05:45:30 pm
content: I have taught myself a great deal about electronics design. But I think that i am reaching the practical limit that the internet can teach my right now. In order to gain more knowledge, I am thinking about visiting my brothers college (Washington state) and sitting in some electronics courses. At this point, I'm not interested in diploma. (I'm still a kid) Is this a good idea? Are there any better routes that I can take?

author: Deepak
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2013, 07:50:05 pm
content: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/index.htm#electrical-engineering-and-computer-science

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2013, 07:57:14 pm
content: speechless....

author: StubbornGreek
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2013, 09:30:32 pm
content: Quote from: smashedProton on January 08, 2013, 07:57:14 pmYa, its pretty awesome. Also, check out their YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/user/MIT

author: rbola35618
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2013, 04:42:26 am
content: Also try YouTube and search for NPTEL which is the Indian Institute to technology. There many videos.Robert

author: The Electrician
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2013, 06:53:32 pm
content: I see you live in Seattle; what high school do you attend? Doesn't the high school have any resources for someone like you who wants to learn more? There are community colleges in town which could provide learning opportunities.

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2013, 07:52:13 pm
content: Thank you for the recources guys.And to answer your questions:I go to Shorecrest High School in the shoreline area.At shorecrest, we have virtually no technical education.Recently the industrial tech rooms were torn down, so i was able to get the principle to write off the two oscilloscopes that the school owned. 2 40 mhz hitachi analog scopes w/o much use. Score!We have a joke of a physics curriculum, and our science classes are just enviornmental stuff... I dont know about other schools; but this is certainly bad...My dream college is harvey mudd, but i will probably end up going to WSU..Thanksedit. Do you live in the seattle area by any chance?

author: The Electrician
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2013, 02:27:46 am
content: Quote from: smashedProton on January 09, 2013, 07:52:13 pmYes.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2013, 03:37:55 am
content: I'm also a teenager. 18 actually.I know what you mean. The internet is wonderful but sometimes it makes me go crazy looking for stuff. The most frustrating part is that the information I want is probably all out there, but the problem is that I don't always know where to look. Sometimes you find some real nice golden nuggets hidden in some 30 year old application notes or from some mysterious website. But finding it is the problem. This doesn't just apply to teenagers of course.Lately what I've been doing is stocking up on electronics books. I don't exactly have the time to read them right now, but for me, books are the key.There's something about learning off a computer screen that just doesn't work for me. I like printed text much better. Books help me focus and retain better. Also, I think the quality of writing and the content of books tends to be better than some explanations you might find on the internet. There are of course many great resources on the internet, but a quality printed publication seems to work the best for me.I'm not sure if sitting in on college lectures would be good or not. I've watched some of those MIT/Yale lectures and though the teachers are typically brilliant, they seem to focus too much on math for my taste. I'm pretty good at calculus, but sometimes I just think it's unnecessary to constantly employ it while you are trying to teach something that might be difficult even without the calculus and advanced physics.This Christmas I treated myself to the Art of Electronics (1989), Design of Modern Transistor Circuits (1973), and Designing Audio Power Amplifiers (2010). I haven't had too much time to read but what I have read has been top notch. My girlfriend thinks I'm a complete lunatic for a.) buying books for Christmas and b.) buying engineering reference books. But anyway, I've found them to be in depth and very complete without too much BS, which is what I like about them. The college books I have read seem to be good information but you have to weed it out of all of the theory. Theory isn't bad, but sometimes it's just like "give me a break! just tell me what I need to know!".I'm not sure where you are on your electronics "journey" and how much you know. This is just my personal thing. Books books and more books. The internet is great but you can't beat some good ol' books.

author: vvanders
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2013, 03:53:23 am
content: There's quite a big tech sector here in Seattle, surprised to hear that shoreline isn't that great.There's been some good suggestions already, the Art of Electronics is awesome, walks all the way from ohms law to the architecture of the 68008 and every thing in between. Most of the knowledge I know comes from that, the internet and some quality time with LTSpice and real circuits.Also, I hear UW has a pretty solid EE program, a few coworkers I know graduated from it and speak highly of it.

author: The Electrician
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2013, 04:50:21 am
content: Quote from: vvanders on January 10, 2013, 03:53:23 amAnd they have a really nice building that Paul Allen bought for them.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2013, 11:01:53 pm
content: Quote from: vvanders on January 10, 2013, 03:53:23 amI agree a diverse "curriculum" is essential. Doing some real life experiments, even if they are simple, are sometimes really helpful. And Spice definitely has its place also.

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2013, 08:24:54 pm
content: I got my blood drawn just the other day by an intern from UW. She said that I have nice veinsAnyway, I need book that has all of the information that I need to know. I will give the art of electronics a shot. When I get money..I will probably be going to WSU, but the drive scares the hell out of me. All of the accidents over the pass and all..I have found a science fair:http://www.shorelinesciencefair.org/Is always a pain for engineers to enter science fairs though... I don't want to ask a lame ass question like everyone else, like "how long does lipstick stay on the skin?"seriously, that was one of the winning projects...Im may show my room automation board, or maybe de-cap chips. They are always fun.

author: Polossatik
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2013, 05:21:16 pm
content: buyhttp://www.amazon.com/Art-Electronics-Paul-Horowitz/dp/0521370957don't bother with (iilegal) epub or so, get the printed version ... reallyit's the best investment in electronics you'll ever do , besides getting a flukeedit: nevermind, you have it. doh