We have probably not had a chance to meet before so I would like to take a few minutes to introduce myself.  My name is Robert Jones and I was born and raised in Bryan, Ohio.  Bryan is a small rural community much like Adrian.  My first experience with vocational education was as a student at the Four-County Joint Vocational School in Archbold, Ohio.  At 38 years old, I feel I have had a very rich and varied background in electronics.  With my initial start in electronics in 1974, I have worked my way through the ranks.  From production technician, service technician, engineering technician, engineer and professional consultant, my experiences have taught me the values of hard work and self-directed learning.

      From my many experiences, I have learned that one of the greatest gifts in life is the ability to adapt and conquer any and all challenges.  With diversity comes both strength and freedom.  It is those ideals that I hope I can bring and share here at the Lenawee Vo-Tech Center.  It is also how I would best describe myself; as an experimenter and problem solder.  With that spirit in mind I hope that I can impart to my current and future student the joys that can come from discovery.  As you have a chance to visit the Vo-Tech Center, please feel free to stop in and visit with us (myself and my students).  Our door is always open, come and share some discovery with us!

     The Electronics curriculum is design to provide the students with entry level skills to enter the electronics field.  A progressive two-program is designed to support the attainment of entry levels skills in sales, service, or manufacturing.  Student activities include both the theoretical and practical considerations in the construction of various projects throughout the year.  Problem solving, self-direction, and earnest desire to be challenged are key elements in the program curriculum.  The electronics field is best thought as a discipline, requiring self direction and life long learning.  As a witness to the many changes that have occurred in many students own lifetime, such as microwave ovens, CD players, home computers so to can we expect further advances in the coming years.  The Electronics field is a rapidly changing vocation that will require students that can adapt and continually learn new skills.

     Learning electronics requires students that are up to the challenge of: self direction, team work and problem solving.  Electronics is heavily based in principles of applied physics and many the problems have a mathematical base.  Students entering the Electronics program should expect to see and perform mathematics in the course of their studies.  Algebra is not required, however many of the practical laboratory problems do involve some Algebraic operations.  Where possible supporting instruction is provided to guide students through the Algebraic operations that are required.  In general the mathematics used throughout the course is applied directly through practical problems associated with the design, construction, and testing of projects.  Student activities include soldering, component identification, research, prototyping, construction, assembly and testing of in class projects.  Projects are assembled from "scratch" allowing the students the opportunity learn about the individual components as well as the relationships that exist between them in the circuit.  As students assemble each project they will learn skills in: hand tool use, using electronic equipment, and computers (word processing, CAD).  Students should also be prepared to spend time learning new terminology and ways of solving problems.  Much of the work done in electronics requires the use of abstraction.  From reading schematics, translating between physical components and symbolical representations of those components, and mathematical problem solving, students will be faced with new challenges.  Being able to visualize and translate between the real and abstract are important new skills that students will use and expand on.  Much of what students learn will be largely different from concrete and perhaps mechanical view of their world around them.  This may seem quite difficult in principle from what most students are used to.  However students that enjoy drawing, science fiction, and construction, as well as the more traditional subjects of math and science all tap into visualization skills used in electronics.  Many of the class operations require team work, and the sharing of information and skill knowledge.  Students are encouraged to teach others about the skills that they have learned.  From this, students should expect to instruct other students and to work with others in order to accomplish classroom goals.

    Fundamentally students entering the program should be prepared to learn both independently and as a group;  willing to learn new terms, concepts and some applied Algebra;  Open to both physical and intellectual challenges that go beyond their present experiences.