Class Laboratory Assignments

Lab Instructions

A laboratory exercise will be required each week during the semester. We will meet as a class each Thursday in the lab to discuss the laboratory exercise and begin work on the exercise. TAs will be available during the full three hour laboratory time period to help you work on your lab. To maximize your learning and reduce the amount of time needed to complete the lab, you should read through each laboratory web page before you arrive.

Each laboratory exercise is composed of two parts. The first part is the laboratory "pass-off" that involves demonstrating a correct circuit or simulation to the TA. The laboratory pass-off is worth 60% of your laboratory grade. The second part is a laboratory write up. The laboratory write-up is worth 40% of your laboratory grade. Details on both parts are described below.

Lab Pass-Off Policy:

You must pass off your laboratory exercise in person with a TA. The pass off requirements for each laboratory will vary and will be described in the laboratory write-up. A laboratory "pass-off" is an all or nothing grade: you either passed the requirements of the lab or you did not. The laboratory pass-off is worth 60% of your lab score. All laboratories must be passed off with a TA by Thursday at noon before the next lab session.Use the Lab Pass-off Sheet (doc) (pdf) to archive your laboratory pass offs - this sheet will be used to verify a pass-off if there is a problem with the blackboard scores. Your pass-off score will be deducted 20% per weekday that it is late. The following table will be used to determine your pass-off score:

Date of Pass-Off	Score
Thursday after noon deadline	80%
Friday, Saturday, Sunday	80%
Monday	60%
Tuesday	40%
Wednesday	20%
2nd Thursday before noon	20%
2nd Thursday after noon or later	0%

Lab Write-Up Requirements:

Each laboratory exercise involves a laboratory write-up that must be completed on Blackboard. The laboratory write-up is 40% of your lab score. The laboratory write-up is due at the time the next laboratory lab begins. Late lab write-ups will be deducted by 20% a day using the table shown above. After one week, the laboratory write-ups will no longer be available on the web page.
You may also be required to upload code used in your assignment. The requirements for each laboratory write-up will be described on the laboratory web-page. Keep track of the amount of time you spend on the lab - you will be asked to estimate the amount of time it took you to complete the lab. Also, you will be asked to summarize the most difficult challenge you faced during the lab. If the laboratory assignment was easy and you faced no challenges then say so (you cannot leave this section blank). Also, provide any suggestions that you feel would improve the lab (this is optional).

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