Module Review: EE1111A/EE2111A Engineering Principles & Practices

We are the pioneer batch and the final batch taking this module! ECE loves creating modules which only lasts one or two semesters! The future batches will take EE1111A/EE2111A (4 MCs) , which I believe have similar syllabus as the module synopsis are exactly the same. The only changes I guess is the removal of CELC components. I combined both EPP 1 and EPP 2 reviews together as the style of lesson delivery is similar, except the differing module content. 

Lesson format and syllabus

This formerly 6 MCs module was modelled after EG1111/EG1112 and the contents are taken from there. Held twice a week, you will see many zombies strolling in the lab at 9am (which I suspect only woke up 15 mins ago from the various halls). Each "studio" sessions (fancy lingo for lab) lasted 3 hours and we had fun learning about stuff we will probably never use again! You are expected to prepare by reading the materials beforehand which unsurprisingly, nobody does. Each studio starts with an oral presentation of a given topic. After which, the instructor will ask the obligatory question: "has anyone read this week's materials" and the response was a consistent NO every time. And so he will go through the content and start with the lab experiments. It's like SPA from A Levels. 

EE1111/EE1111A/EPP 1

The first half of EPP 1 is irreverent to your major. You will learn and conduct experiments on forces, dynamics and kinematics etc. Their justification for learning irrelevant content is because they want NUS engineers to be an all-roundered engineer. Obviously I did not buy the reasons, but you don't have a choice right? For the second half, things get a little more EE. We are introduced to KCL/KVL and verifying it on the circuits we construct. We also get to model actual solar panels and RC circuits. There was also this group "design project" where you're supposed to write a proposal on how to power up a remote island far away from the mainland using renewable energy sources. Don't worry, nothing too fancy, in fact I think it's a little waste of time. :)

EE1112/EE2111A/EPP 2

For EPP 2, it shares the exact same format as EPP 1. You start with individual presentations before moving to doing your labs and writing reports for it. The content now is mostly EE stuff like Thevenin equivalent, AC circuit analysis, AC power, DC motor and filters. You will also have a group project where you design a poster on hybrid/electric cars and present in class.  You finish EPP 2 with building and programming a mini robot using Audrino that follows the source of loud claps.

Studio activities and lab reports

Lab reports from your experiments constitutes 20% of your grade and please pray you get good lab partners. I was lucky to have helpful and smart lab partners to tide me through horrible labs. One peculiar observation was seeing students bargaining (and often failing) with the TA for more marks. Just hope you get a TA who grades leniently. 

MCQ quizzes

In place of final exams are two open book quizzes - each 90 mins with 20 questions. Basically, it tests the theoretical bits of what you learned in labs. One question was 1% of your grade. I did below the cohort average for both quizzes and was prepared to S/U this mod. Some revision questions were given but they weren't sufficient for revision. You need source from the black market (seniors who have taken EPP) if you want more practice. 

Oral presentation/CELC component (NOT APPLICABLE FOR EE1111A / EE2111A)

The oral presentation (OP) is 5+15%. 15% will be the technical content graded by your lab instructors and 5% by the CELC tutor. For my OP, I was late thanks to SMRT and had a huge red "L" letter marked beside my name on the attendance sheet. After the presentation, the tutor will open the floor for questions. And if nobody asks, if he himself will ask. I was very late for my OP and nobody bothered with any questions thankfully. For the other 5%, the CELC tutor will assess your presentation skills like posture etc. The other part where CELC was involved is grading the technical paper on renewable energy. It was everything but technical. Just your typical GP argumentative essay, submitted on IVLE. Most students will get roughly the same score for oral presentation and paper writing. 

Additional remarks

Despite my below average quiz scores, I was pleasantly surprised with my final grades both for modules and was definitely contented. If you want to score for EPPs, the key is to ace the quizzes. But I guess bell curve isn't every steep as the quizzes were not easy despite the the open book MCQ format.

Graded components

20% MCQ Quiz 1

20% MCQ Quiz 2

30% Weekly Labs and Reports

20% Individual presentation

10% Design project

Expected grade: B

Final grade: better than B+ :)