A basic course in network analysis. I. Content, results, instruction

An introductory course to electric network analysis is described. Both time domain analysis (differential equations, impulse response and convolution integral) and frequency domain analysis (harmonic eigenfunctions and system transfer function) are covered by this course. It is intended that students see these techniques within a global framework. This overview must enable the student to make a motivated choice for one of the methods in problems he has to solve. The passing rates of the course are quite poor. Students show a lack of insight. The presentation of the subject matter, the tutoring of students' exercises and the effort of students in connection with the examination system are discussed. A structural scheme of the subject matter, containing the methods of the course in their relations, is presented. It is concluded that the problems students have to solve as exercises require further analysi

A basic course in network analysis. II. Types of problems and sequencing

For pt.I see ibid., vol.38, no.1, p.1-6 (1995). In part I an introductory course to electric network analysis was described. Some educational measures showed passing rates and students' insight to be unsatisfactory. In this paper we analyze problems that students have to solve. Examples of the difficulties that students have are presented. Several kinds of problems can be distinguished. Difficulties in concepts and some measures to support concept formation are discussed. Finally, a possible change in the overall sequence of problems is propose