School of Electrical and Information Engineering
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Course Brief and Outline - 2026
ELEN2016A - Electronics I
1. Course Identity
This living CBO page preserves the 2025 ELEN2016A CBO structure while adding the Graduate Attribute and AI-policy sections required for 2026 submission.
2. TroniC
TroniC is a learning management platform under development by Dr M.R. Dangor and Dr C. Schumann. It supports ELEN2016A as the course portal while also forming part of ongoing research into engineering education and the evolution of higher education in a world being rapidly reshaped by artificial intelligence.
TroniC is being developed to organise course content, weekly learning guidance, announcements, laboratory information, project information, and course documents in a secure and accessible course environment.
3. Academic Staff
| Staff member | Role | Office | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr C. Schumann | Course coordinator | CM376 | 011 717-6910 | carina.schumann@wits.ac.za |
| Dr M.R. Dangor | Lecturer | CM372 | 011 717-7249 | mohammed.dangor@wits.ac.za |
4. Course Background and Purpose
Electronics I is a cross-disciplinary discipline that affects virtually all walks of life. The course is the first course in electronics offered by the School of Electrical and Information Engineering.
The course introduces the underlying vocabulary of electronics and provides a foundation in basic analogue electronic devices, their behaviour, applications, and limitations. The course is anchored in the analysis and design of basic electronic circuits, supported by laboratory experimentation, LTspice simulation, and course project work.
5. Course Objectives
- Build the underlying electronics vocabulary.
- Develop knowledge of the characteristics and models of basic analogue electronic devices.
- Develop capabilities in analysing electronic circuits.
- Provide experience in the design and testing of basic electronic circuits.
- Reinforce effective technical communication skills.
- Introduce electronic circuit simulation software.
6. Course Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of basic electronic devices and circuit implementations.
- Conduct circuit analysis using appropriate device models and electronic circuit principles.
- Design basic electronic circuits.
- Use standard electronics simulation software in the analysis and design of electronic circuits.
- Present the circuit design process in an engineering technical report.
- Read and understand a datasheet.
7. Course Content
The 2026 offering of Electronics I covers diodes, bipolar junction transistors, and non-linear operational amplifier circuits. Field-effect transistors are not included in this CBO scope. Logic circuits are not included because they are covered in the Microprocessors course.
7.1 Diodes
The diode section begins with an overview of semiconductors and the PN junction. The behaviour of silicon diodes in forward and reverse bias, including reverse breakdown, is considered. Device types and applications include large-signal diodes, power diodes, Zener diodes, light-emitting diodes, photodiodes, photocells, regulated DC power supplies, and basic wave-shaping circuits.
7.2 Bipolar Junction Transistors
NPN and PNP BJT operation is explained. The course then studies DC biasing circuits, the analysis of basic BJT circuits, and the use of the BJT as a switch.
7.3 Operational Amplifier Circuits
The ideal operational amplifier is revised. Basic non-linear operational amplifier circuits, including comparators and Schmitt triggers, are studied. Linear inverting and non-inverting configurations may be used as supporting background where needed for the non-linear circuits and project work.
8. Prior Knowledge Assumed
The prior knowledge assumed is all principles, concepts, skills, and methods acquired in ELEN2017A Electric Circuits.
9. Teaching and Learning Process
Electronics I is run as a TroniC-supported blended course. Students are expected to use the course portal for the weekly watch list, course notices, project information, laboratory information, and the course brief and outline.
| Scheduled time | Primary activity | How it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 08:00-10:00 | Online lecture study | Students watch the curated weekly video list on TroniC and study the associated circuits and notes. |
| Thursday, 10:00-12:00 | Problem-solving session, when scheduled | The lecturer works through selected problems and student questions in person. Some Thursdays may instead require additional online video study. |
| Monday, 14:00-17:00 | Laboratory session | Students build, test, analyse, simulate, or prepare circuits under laboratory supervision. |
| Friday, 14:00-17:00 | Laboratory session | Students continue practical work, receive guidance, and prepare for practical assessment activities. |
Student-generated tutorial questions. Students may use AI during private learning to generate a circuit question and full solution. A student may request to present that question and solution during a Thursday session. At most two student tutorial-question presentations will be accepted per week, booked through TroniC once the booking workflow is available. These questions may be considered for the class test or final exam. Extra-credit details will be communicated during lectures. This permission does not allow AI assistance during the class test, lab test, final exam, project practical assessment, or any in-person assessment condition.
9.1 Lectures and Tutorials
The online component guides students to specific videos selected each week by the lecturer. The in-person component is used for worked examples, problem solving, clarification, and student-generated questions. Students are expected to prepare before attending problem-solving sessions.
9.2 Laboratory Exercises
There are four standard laboratory exercises. Additional circuits covered in class may be made available for students to build and analyse in the laboratory to strengthen their practical understanding. Unless a specific assessment instruction says otherwise, these additional circuit-building activities are not compulsory and do not require submission.
9.3 Simulation Exercise
LTspice is the approved circuit simulation software for this course. LTspice is required for the final engineering report, and no other simulation software is permitted for course project simulation evidence. Simulation practice activities support learning and project preparation; unless otherwise stated, they are not separate submissions.
9.4 Project
The course project takes place during Block 4 and includes the design, simulation, implementation, testing, and technical communication of electronics. Students may self-organise into groups. The group allocation process will be performed on the course homepage. Failure to participate in the group allocation process may result in students being randomly assigned.
Each group is responsible for dividing the project work in a manner that ensures that each student has individual responsibility for one subsystem of the project. A final testing day will be scheduled to evaluate the implementation of the project. Detailed instructions for the project, final engineering report, report template, and marking rubric will be posted on TroniC.
10. Assessment
Electronics I has formative and summative assessment components. Formative activities provide feedback and support student progress. Summative assessments are high-stakes assessments used to measure a student's knowledge and practical competence in the course.
The formative course structure includes four standard laboratory exercises and LTspice simulation activities. The summative assessment structure follows the 2025 ELEN2016A CBO and is shown below.
| Summative assessment contributor | Weight | Assessment conditions | AI status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab Test | 5% | Practical laboratory assessment at the end of Block 3. Students book a slot, attend in person, and complete the assessment under exam conditions. | Red - prohibited |
| Class Test | 15% | Written in-person assessment under test conditions. | Red - prohibited |
| Course Project | 25% | Design, simulation, implementation, testing, and final engineering report. Practical assessment work is in person where required. | Yellow - report only |
| Final Exam | 55% | Written in-person examination under exam conditions. | Red - prohibited |
10.1 F-SUB and Sub-Minimum Requirements
The course project and the final exam each require a minimum mark of 35% to pass the course. This sub-minimum applies even if the average final mark for the course is 50% or higher.
Rule G.13, the School document entitled Application of Rule G.13 and Calculator Requirements, the School Red Book, the School Blue Book, and the University Academic Misconduct Policy apply. All submissions must follow the relevant deadlines, formats, integrity requirements, and assessment instructions published by the course staff.
10.2 Project Report Format Requirement
Students will be given a strict report template, report structure, and required content list for the final engineering report. Any student who diverges from the required report format and content requirements will receive 0 for the project report component. AI-generated reports that fail the required technical reasoning, evidence, data, structure, or content requirements will be marked accordingly.
11. Development of Graduate Attributes
The CBO-Guide on GAs-June2026 spreadsheet is treated as the canonical source for ELEN2016A. The spreadsheet mapping for ELEN2016A is shown on this CBO. No Graduate Attributes are assessed in this course; every Graduate Attribute listed below is developed.
| GA | Graduate Attribute | Level | Where it is developed in ELEN2016A |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA 2 | Application of scientific and engineering knowledge | Developed | Circuit analysis, device models, tutorials, tests, project work, and exam preparation. |
| GA 3 | Engineering design | Developed | Basic circuit design, laboratory work, LTspice simulation, and project implementation. |
| GA 4a | Investigations and complex problems | Developed | Laboratory and simulation investigation of circuit behaviour. |
| GA 4b | Experiments, predictions, and observations | Developed | Measurements, LTspice predictions, and reconciliation of practical results with expected behaviour. |
| GA 6a | Professional and technical communication - written | Developed | Final engineering report and technical explanation of the circuit design process. |
| GA 6c | Professional and technical communication - oral | Developed | Student questions, problem explanations, and optional class presentation of student-generated tutorial questions. |
| GA 8a | Individual work | Developed | Individual preparation, lab readiness, report writing, and test and exam preparation. |
| GA 8b | Group work | Developed | Project teamwork, practical collaboration, and group coordination during design and implementation. |
| GA 10a | Engineering professionalism | Developed | Professional conduct, academic integrity, preparation, responsibility, deadline awareness, and adherence to course and School rules. |
| GA 11a | Project management and finance - project management | Developed | Planning and managing the course project, subsystem responsibility, report preparation, and implementation timeline. |
| GA 11b | Project management and finance - economic analysis | Developed | Project resource and implementation considerations where included in the project brief. |
12. Artificial Intelligence Policy
The School of Electrical and Information Engineering maintains a pro-technology stance while preserving the development of critical thought, analytical skill, and independent problem-solving. ELEN2016A follows the School traffic-light model for Generative AI and large language models.
Course rule. For assessed ELEN2016A work, AI use is prohibited unless this CBO or the assessment instruction explicitly permits it. The only assessed submission where AI may be used is the final engineering report for the course project, and that use is restricted and must be declared.
| Activity | AI status | Permitted use | Prohibited use | Declaration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private study and concept learning | Green | Concept checking, Socratic questioning, practice prompts, and grammar or clarity support for personal notes. | Submitting AI output as assessed work. | Not required unless reused in the final engineering report. |
| Weekly watch-list reflection and lecture preparation | Green | Asking questions about watched content and checking understanding. | Replacing required study with copied AI summaries. | Not required unless reused in the final engineering report. |
| Student-generated tutorial questions | Green | Students may use AI to generate questions and develop full solutions before presenting them to class. | Presenting an AI-generated solution without understanding or being able to explain it. | Declare informally when booking or presenting if AI was used. |
| Final engineering report for the project | Yellow | Limited support for grammar, clarity, structure checking, and improving the student's own writing. | Generating the entire report, fabricating results, inventing analysis, designing the circuit, replacing technical reasoning, or summarising sources the student has not read. | Required in the submitted report. |
| Labs, simulations used as evidence, and project practical work | Red | None for assessed practical evidence, simulation evidence submitted for assessment, or project practical work. | AI-generated evidence, measurements, circuit work, analysis, or practical assessment answers. | Not applicable. |
| Class test, lab test, final exam, and in-person assessment conditions | Red | None. AI is not permitted in the class test, lab test, final exam, or any in-person assessment condition. | Any generative AI assistance. | Not applicable. |
12.1 Required AI Declaration for the Final Engineering Report
Where AI was used in the final engineering report, the student must include a clear declaration that identifies the tool, the purpose of use, and the report section or task affected. The declaration must also confirm that the technical reasoning, calculations, measurements, data, circuit design decisions, and conclusions submitted are the student's own work.
Required declaration template. I used [tool name] for [purpose of use] in [report section or task]. I did not use AI to generate measured data, fabricate results, design the circuit, perform the required analysis, or replace my own technical reasoning. The technical reasoning, calculations, measurements, data, circuit design decisions, and conclusions submitted in this report are my own work.
If no AI was used. I did not use Generative AI or large language model tools in preparing this report.
12.2 Academic Misconduct
Failure to follow the AI guidance for this course, including failure to declare permitted AI use, constitutes academic misconduct. Any suspected inappropriate use of large language models or Generative AI will be treated as a significant infringement and referred to the School Academic Misconduct Committee in accordance with the University Academic Misconduct Policy.
13. Information to Support the Course
13.1 Recommended Textbook
The recommended textbook for Electronics I is Microelectronics - Circuit Analysis and Design, 4th edition, by Donald Neamen, published by McGraw-Hill in 2010.
13.2 Additional Reading
- Boylestad R. and Nashelsky L., Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory, Pearson.
- Horowitz P. and Hill W., The Art of Electronics, Cambridge University Press.
- Sedra A. and Smith K., Microelectronic Circuits, Oxford University Press.
- Rizzoni G., Principles and Applications of Electrical Engineering, McGraw-Hill.
- Bogart T., Electronic Devices and Circuits, Maxwell MacMillan.
13.3 Course Homepage
The online aspect of Electronics I is found on TroniC, the official course portal. The final TroniC URL is pending deployment. Students are expected to consult TroniC regularly for announcements, weekly video watch lists, project information, laboratory information, and course guidance.
13.4 Rules and Policy Documents
The following documents apply to this course and will be linked or uploaded through the TroniC backend once the platform is deployed:
- Application of Rule G.13 and Calculator Requirements.
- School Red Book.
- School Blue Book.
- University Academic Misconduct Policy.
- School guidance on the use of Generative AI / Large Language Models.
- Project brief, strict report template, and marking rubric.