Challenges and opportunities for introducing basic circuits and systems in electrical engineering education

Basic circuits and systems topics still are essential ingredients of electrical engineering education at most universities around the world. However these topics are under threat at many places in much the same way as the basic mathematics like linear algebra, differential equations, and analysis is threatened. This is caused by an urge for instant gratification from the side of the younger student generations. Of course, with the advent of computers, mobile phones, and internet, students handle information in ways that are essentially different from the past. Within this configuration new alternatives are needed. In mathematics a shortcut approach called "streetfighting mathematics" has been advocated. New methods of introducing circuits and systems have also been experimented with concepts like inventories, web based learning, activated learning, Conceive Design Implement and Operate CDIO learning, shortcuts in frequency domain concepts, and alternative ways of introducing concepts like first discrete time followed by continuous time.