I have wanted to get a better understanding of Electrical Engineering for a while now. Like (what I imagine would be) others on this forum, my educational background is more humanities focused than sciences. As a result, I’ve approached paying and recording music as an avocation and am self taught. But, even though I’ve begun reading the Art of Electronics and can monkey around with a multimeter, electronics is not coming easily. I’ve considered signing up for a class, but when the hell am I going to get a chance to take a class? Too busy.

Last week, I was poking around for something in the iTunes store. To make a long story short, I ended up at iTunes U, where I found a link to MIT’s entry-level electrical engineering course. I watched the opening lecture and realized that this is what I’ve been looking for.

SO, thinking there may be others in the same boat as me who’d like to get a better idea of circuits and electronics but haven’t studied this stuff before, I’m offering that we take this as a course together. While any of us could look at all of these lectures on our own time, two or more of us could provide accountability to actually watching these and a group with which to share questions and ideas.

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Here’s the plan:

Starting in February, we set a schedule of two of these per week. I’ll start a new thread every week (i.e. “EE Week 1: Lectures 2 and 3”) where people can post their comments about that week’s lectures. We’ll take a week off somewhere in March for a break/catch up. Then, at the end, I’ll mail out a fake diploma to anyone who goes through all of the weeks with me. (Why? I don’t know – it’ll be fun to do.)

Post here or PM me if you’re interested. Of course, anyone can just do this on their own. But if you like the idea of being part of a ‘class’, I’ll keep track of who’s playing along. Before you ‘sign up’ for sure, you should take 45 minutes and watch the first lecture. The prof does a good job of giving a conceptual outline for the course and you’ll get a sense for the feel of it.

(Moderators – I’m just assuming that this is okay. If it’s a problem, please PM me and I’ll figure out a different arrangement.)

Just think – if you go ahead with this, you’ll know a shitload more than you do know about this stuff by the middle of April. And it’s totally FREE.

MIT wrote: The course introduces the fundamentals of the lumped circuit abstraction. Topics covered include: resistive elements and networks; independent and dependent sources; switches and MOS transistors; digital abstraction; amplifiers; energy storage elements; dynamics of first- and second-order networks; design in the time and frequency domains; and analog and digital circuits and applications.

Class ‘sign up’ deadline – Saturday, February 2nd.

First week of class – February 3rd to February 9th.

Who’s in?

= Justin

Oh, and Here's the full course description from MIT.

= Justin

Justin! That's a great idea!! count me in!
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you are, besides, I don't mind going over what I already know(which is not much).

great, great idea!

I'm in too.

Brilliant idea. Let me think of any reasons why I could not do this and I'll get back to ya.

I'mma ride this pony.

Me too. Downloading now.

I might not post much in any of the threads, but you can bet i'll read em all.

that was cool - i'm in.

we can all say we got an MIT education.