Teaching electronic devices using projects in lieu of exams

This paper reports changes in the structure and student assessment techniques of a junior level course in electrical engineering, Electronic Devices, the fundamentals of diodes and transistors. Two exams have been replaced by design projects of varying complexity. One made extensive use of PUNCH, (Purdue University Network Computing Hub), which makes highly advanced simulation tools for semiconductor processing and devices available for educational use. Students are more attentive, ask more questions in and out of class, and believe they have achieved a better and longer lasting understanding of semiconductor devices.