Here is one link for distance learning PCB design <http://www.ami.ac.uk/courses/>
Although there is tutoring, it's not going to be hand holding, the expectation being self motivation and researching/reading.
Can't vouch for the PCB courses (run a bureau/design business and got a CID+ anyhow) but I have done some of the others
(microelectronics, DSP, and RF elsewhere) towards completing my MSc. Quality is high, so long as your prepared to put in the
time and go do your own learning/research.
Best Regards
David Greig
______________________________
GigaDyne Ltd
Buchan House
Carnegie Campus
Dunfermline KY11 8PL
United Kingdom
t: +44 (0)1383 624 975
www.gigadyne.co.uk
______________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: DesignerCouncil [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of George Patrick
Sent: 06 January 2006 17:24
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [DC] Design Software to use as a teaching tool???
I have said it before, and I'll say it again now:
There is just too little demand in most parts of the country for most traditional schools to waste resources on PCB Design
classes. Some will teach one class as an adjunct to their electronics classes, but those are becoming less common, just as
teaching drafting principals is becoming less common. It is not economically feasible to offer classes when the school may
receive a student or two a year.
But...
There are accredited universities that operate totally online. With a good curriculum, a good textbook, and instructors
available anywhere in the US, this is a viable option. Unfortunately, I don't think PCB design is seen as much of a career
choice by the academic or engineering communities. As an indication of this, do you see any IEEE interest groups on PCB layout?
It also might be hard to get interest from on-line schools since layout is being phased-out of many companies and outsourced
overseas, it might be an uphill battle to convince a school that it could make money from PCB design classes. There is also
the problem that there are relatively few degreed PCB designers, and I don't know how many are willing to teach. Most colleges
are going to require at least a bachelors degree to teach a class, many want masters degrees to develop classes.
If some classes were developed on board design, assembly, and fabrication, including textbooks, student and teacher guides,
curriculum guidelines, and available instructors, an online school might be willing to give it a try. Personally, I think more
effort should be directed at basic education then at certification by the DC, since certification still doesn't convince
engineering managers that layout is a legitimate engineering function, where education and degrees might. Politics being what
they are inside the IPC, that is unlikely to happen any time soon.
One source of information might be the Distance Education and Training Council, which is the national accrediting body for
online schools (http://www.detc.org/). If we could get their attention it might "trickle down" to some of their member schools.
Admittedly there is a drawback from to this scenario from many designer's point of view: On-line schools draw students from the
whole world, and this curriculum could potentially be training third-world designers to do our jobs at a wage that is impossible
to live on in the old and new world. That is a risk, but it is still the only way to ensure that training for the next
generation is provided. Traditional methods are NOT working.
Your mileage may vary, just one curmudgeon's opinion <:^)
--
George Patrick
Tektronix, Inc.
Central Engineering, Engineering Design Services P.O. Box 500, M/S 39-512 Beaverton, OR 97077-0001
Phone: 503-627-5272 Fax: 503-627-5587
http://www.tektronix.com http://www.pcb-designer.com
It's my opinion, not Tektronix'
-----Original Message-----
From: DesignerCouncil [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jack C. Olson
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 07:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [DC] Design Software to use as a teaching tool???
In my mind, the ultimate solution would be an online tutorial.
WHY?
Because you only have to do it once, and it can be used millions of times.
WHY NOT?
Because its hard to make money off of it, You almost have to have a grant or a benefactor who will sponsor it "for the greater
good". But once its out there, anyone (even bosses and purchasing people and sales guys) can get the basics
Think about it... What good is the "university" style except for "credits"? Why would anyone choose to pay a fee to be at a
certain location at specific times, when the internet is open 24/7 and you can enjoy it in the luxury of your own surroundings,
self-paced?
Anyone wanna hire me to write a basic tutorial?
I will work for minimum wage.
I'm not kidding.
Jack
p.s. Please don't interpret this as a slam against the fine people who are working so hard to develop an accredited course. I'm
too lazy for that kind of commitment, and I applaud your work!
George Patrick <[log in to unmask]> Sent by: DesignerCouncil <[log in to unmask]>
01/05/2006 03:39 PM
Please respond to
"(Designers Council Forum)" <[log in to unmask]>; Please respond to [log in to unmask]
To
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Subject
Re: [DC] Design Software to use as a teaching tool???
Caterpillar: Confidential Green Retain Until: 02/04/2006 Retention
Category: G90 - General Matters/Administration
For something completely different :)
An idea would be to teach off a board -- a PC Board, not a white board.
Any tool does things in a different way then any other tool, but the one common denominator is the finished product, the circuit
board itself.
Maybe this is kind of radical, but I think the students first need to learn basic electronics, so they know how a circuit
functions and why certain parts need to be near (or far) from other parts. It doesn't need to be on an engineering level, just
enough to understand crosstalk, impedance, RLC and such. The care and feeding of engineers and their schematics would be a
logical part of this phase. Hands on might be constructing the circuits on a schematic and running it thru simulation.
They next need to learn how a board is assembled, so they understand the limitations of the process and the reasons behind
assembly restrictions and constraints. An introduction to the hassles the average assembly worker goes through each day, things
that help and things that drive them crazy. Soldering processes, pitfalls, problems, and solutions.
Processes used to test the boards, and how the designer can aid this.
Hands on might be soldering parts on example boards using manual pick/place, or could be tours or videos of assembly shops. The
IPC makes a number of these, don't they?
Then they need to understand the actual boards, how parts are connected, the mechanics behind a PCB, how signals are connected
(vias, etc), how the boards are manufactured, the limitations of the boards (crosstalk and such). Physical problems that can
crop up such as bow/twist, and what to do to prevent it. Again, IPC training materials could be used here.
Now, basic design theory. Trace widths, spacing, impedance. Planes. All the guts of a design that need to be done on ANY design
tool.
Placement, routing, busses, length matching, IPC standards. Hands on could be introducing one of the simple, cheep design tools
that could be taken home so the student can "play" with them on their own.
Finally, the students should have hands on, intensive training on a higher level tool, preferably one that is used in their
area. Ideally, this phase could be repeated for additional tools, so the student could get a broad exposure to more than one.
Just a thought.
--
George Patrick
Tektronix, Inc.
Central Engineering, Engineering Design Services P.O. Box 500, M/S 39-512 Beaverton, OR 97077-0001
Phone: 503-627-5272 Fax: 503-627-5587
http://www.tektronix.com http://www.pcb-designer.com
It's my opinion, not Tektronix'
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