never mind the optics

I started a new topic with both S3 Standard Grade classes this week.

I introduced the idea of representing an electronic system by a block diagram and used the interactive mobile phones on the Sony Ericsson site to provide examples.  My link takes you to the simulator for the SE W995 (shown below) but you can change the phone model using the links on the left of the screen.

I stuck to keyed models, rather than smart phones, since it is easier to explain the use of a switches under a keypad than touch sensitive screens.

The Sony Ericsson phone simulators work well on a SMARTBoard, provided you have taken time to orient the board beforehand – I use the 12-point wide setting.

Pupils worked in groups of three to select a phone operation; making a call, sending a text message, listening to the radio or watching a video and identified the input, process and output devices.  These were arranged on three Show Me boards and the function was demonstrated to the class using the SE phone simulator on the SMARTBoard.

We discussed the energy changes taking place in each example and it was good to see pupils making links to the Telecommunications topic we studied at the beginning of the course.