Free Online Textbook for Electrical engineering!

The other day I was researching some articles for my senior topic when I stumbled upon a diamond in the ruff: a website that offers unlimited access to a series of textbooks on electricity and electronics (AC current, DC, semiconductors, etc.). Aptly named named All About Circuits, this website offers a plethora of other services as well, such as: video lectures, blogs, worksheets, and forums (on a variety of electrical engineering topics for students, hobbyists, and professionals). If you plan to become an electrical engineer, are a professional engineer, or even just a fan of electronics and would like to expand your knowledge, I recommend that you check out this website now!

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  Why?

I plan to interview my mentor: Allen Barreno, because he is a certified project electrical engineer who has specialized in my topic: power engineering. Accompanied by his decades of experience in the field of power engineering and drafting, he has also been running his father's business: BERG Power Engineers, since 1988, making him an excellent candidate for my interview. 

2.  You have to ask 5 questions.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?  

• I remember you told me that when you were a little boy, your dad used to take you to work with him here at BPE and you used to just hang around his office. So how has that experience influenced you to follow in his footsteps?
• In your view, what is the most challenging aspect of being an electrical engineer? Why?
• I noticed that on your resume it states that you've had Green Building professional training. Can you tell me more about it and how this training has helped you in your line of work?
• You've also had advanced schematics training, correct? What did you learn from that?
• Do you keep up to date with new trends, advances and technology in the field of electrical engineering? If so, how has this new knowledge helped you develop as an engineer? As a company?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

1.  List your topic here: 

Power Engineering

2.  Write a question that helps to focus your research this month.

What is power engineering and how does it relate to Caltrans?

Blog 2: Summer Mentorship Component

Literal:  

1. (Know) Using google doc (drive) link a log of specific hours and a description of your duties (click here for an example) to your blog post. 

My Mentorship Log 

2. What is the contact name & number of where you volunteered?  

BERG Power Engineers  (Mentor name: Allen Barreno)

Contact Number: (626) 917-6665  

3. (Need to know) What questions were raised because of the 10 hours of experience?  List them.

• What does an electrical engineer do here on a day-to-day basis?
• What is CADD and how is it integrated here at BPE?
• How many different types of electrical engineers are there?
• What is the difference between a designer and a drafter?
• What is the difference between a senior engineer and a design engineer?
• If a bachelor's degree means that the engineer has completed all the classes required for all engineers to take, then what is taught in the master's program?
• What is the 4-year pledge?
• How long did it take you to earn your bachelor's degree?
• Describe your general task list for most of the projects you encounter?
• What is a utility?
• What is the most valuable skill you gained from college as an engineering student?

Interpretive

4. What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

The most important thing I gained from this experience is practice with drafting using AutoCAD and Microstation as well as invaluable insight and advice from the drafting team and staff at BPE. The knowledge I gained from this experience will help prepare myself for what to expect in college and on the field as an electrical engineer. It will also open doors for me in other engineering firms with the skills I've learned in drafting.

Applied

5. What is your senior project topic going to be?  How did what you did help you choose a topic?  Please explain.

My senior topic is going to be Power engineering. My experience at BPE helped me affirm my choice because it helped me realize how much I enjoy problem solving and drafting. This experienced also helped me choose my topic because it opened my eyes to the versatility this field offers, spanning into many varying categories from which to choose from. This allows me to be general enough with the title to attract attention, yet pick a  specific subtopic different from presentations in the past.