Course Syllabus

TAE 30 is a lower-division course for the newly launched major, Agricultural and Environmental Technology (AET), hosted by the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Some of the main topics include: internet of things (IoT) and embedded devices; history and evolution of IoT, communication, and computing technologies; sensors and actuators; microcontrollers; data communication technology; introduction to data analysis and data visualization; designing web applications; and hands‐on IoT-based projects.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the basics of IoT and embedded systems.
• Develop an informed understanding of the history and evolution of IoT, communication, and computing technologies.
• Develop the skills to program a microcontroller to make automated informed decisions based on input data from the sensors.
• Develop fundamental skills in analyzing quantitative data, interpreting numerical data, and thinking critically about the data (e.g., level of uncertainty in a dataset).
• Define various applications of IoT technology in agriculture and the environment.

Course point break-down

• In-class activities and participation (5%)
• Lab reports and Discussion (45%)
• Mid-term exam (15%)
• Final exam (15%)
• Project (20%) -- project description is posted on Canvas.

Grading Scale

There is one midterm and one final exam. The midterm exam will be on May 7 during the regular class time (9 -- 10:20 AM), and the final exam will be on Wednesday, June 10 at 6:00 PM.

Makeup exam for legitimate absences

Suppose you are going to miss an exam for legitimate reasons, such as a medical emergency and a medical condition related to pregnancy or COVID-19. In that case, you must (i) give the earliest possible advance notice to me, and (ii) provide information to explain the legitimate reasons for your absence. I will then determine whether to grant an excused absence and how to make arrangements for makeup work, considering all related factors such as the information you provided.

You are allowed to have ONLY ONE LATE SUBMISSION of any assignments within two days after the due date without losing any points. Except for this one-time grace period, you will lose 20% of points per day you submit the assignment late. In other words, you need to submit your assignment within four days after the due date to be considered for grading. Only under legitimate circumstances (such as a medical emergency and a medical condition related to pregnancy or COVID-19), late submissions will be graded without penalties.

You are expected to attend the lab sessions, which will be at Sciences Lab Building 2060 (computer lab). You will have access to the required software (BlocklyProp) installed already on the desktop computers in the labs. You are welcome to bring your laptop but you should install the required software, which is open source.

• You are expected to attend the lectures and discussions and participate in the discussions/activities to obtain the 5% in-class activities grade.
• All materials are posted on Canvas.
• If you have any questions during the lectures/discussion, please feel free to interrupt and ask your questions.
• We will work together to maintain a positive learning spirit during this course in this challenging time.

Classroom Agreement

As scholars, we all are committed to establishing a safe environment that is interactive and collaborative such that everyone reflects on their learning experience and feels supported in their journey. A welcoming and safe environment motivates students and encourages them to present their views/thoughts, reflect on their learning styles, seek assistance, and provide constructive feedback to their peers while respecting their opinions.

In our classroom:

• We will work together to maintain a positive learning spirit.
• We celebrate diverse perspectives and ideas.
• We promote an environment for learning.
• We treat each other with respect.
• We speak our truth and don't speak over each other.
• We actively listen to each other.
• We respect all questions that are asked.
• We build community with each other.
• We have fun while learning.
• We take care of ourselves.

As a UC Davis faculty, I am firmly committed to diversity, equity, and the culture of inclusion to promote academic excellence. In this course, we need to work together to establish a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is encouraged to present their views/thoughts, reflect on their learning style, seek assistance, and provide constructive feedback to their peers while respecting their opinions. I welcome your comments/suggestions to foster such a supportive and welcoming environment in this course.

UC Davis is committed to educational equity in the academic setting, and in serving a diverse student body. I encourage all students who are interested in learning more about the Student Disability Center (SDC) to contact them directly at https://sdc.ucdavis.edu, email at sdc@ucdavis.edu, or call 530-752-3184. If you are a student who requires academic accommodations, please submit your SDC Letter of Accommodation to me as soon as possible, ideally within the first two weeks of this course.