Adam Dawson: University Student

Thanks to Richard, who suggested that I write about what I'm actually learning at AUT...

Contrary to popular belief, I really am picking up some quite useful information during my time at AUT (that's Auckland University of Technology for those not in the know...and no, it's not a tech, it's a university!). Things like circuits, maths, circuits, boolean maths, CAD, circuits, C programming and circuits. I suppose I could give you a brief rundown on what I'm learning at the moment in each of my classes.

Electrical Mathematics: Good old triginometry and graphing; we've just started on some calculus (differentiation). Lecturer rating: Friendly and Helpful.

Electrotechnology Workshop: Possibly the most hands-on and enjoyable part of the course; I've just finished making a small amplifier circuit with a few surface-mount components (wee tiny things). Lecturer rating: Friendly and Generally Helpful, but sometimes Quite Incomprehensible.

CAD (Computer Aided Drawing): I'm currently learning how to do orthographic drawing; I've just started on isometric and cavalier oblique drawing views. Really not sure whether I enjoy this class or not. Lecturer rating: Strangely Humorous and Occasionally Helpful, with Variable Moods.

C Programming: Going through the basics at the moment - functions (custom and premade), math operators, standard programming conventions, etc. I know enough to make advanced, specific calculators that take input from the keyboard, calculate it, then display the results on the screen. Lecturer rating: Darkly Brooding and Occasionally Helpful, but Rather Strict.

Electric Circuits 1: Ohm's Law, Kirchoff's Laws (in regards to current and voltage), parallel and series circuits, resistance, resistivity, capacitance, charge, ad infinitum. Most of my theory work is done in this class - probably the most intense out of all of them. Lecturer rating: Extremely Sarcastic and Generally Unhelpful, but Occasionally Funny.

And that's about it at the moment, not including the lab reports I have to write up (or rather, should be getting on to sooner than I do), assignments to finish, homework to read...it's a busy life. Still, I suppose this much can be said for it - that it isn't really very hard for a homeschooler to fit in. Weird.