Training communication skills in project-oriented microelectronics courses

Most of the Advanced Undergraduate courses in Electronics and Computer Engineering Curricula involve project-based courses. In these courses, the design capabilities of students are trained on-the-job by defining and measuring the behavior of specific circuits. Almost invariably, practical design activity is evaluated as part of the students' grade, and it is quantified on the basis of “Lab reports”. This practice helps students develop robust design capabilities that are utilized and appreciated by prospective employers. However, as opposed to their well-developed design ability, employers often find graduates unable to express their design results with the necessary ease and conciseness. This paper describes an attempt to recreate an “Industry-oriented” environment in which students work on Project and Lab reports in an advanced course on digital electronics. The paper then evaluates the impact of this approach on the performance of the students.