42 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EDUCATION, VOL. E-29, NO. 1, FEBRUARY 1986

acceptably accurate results using only "mental arithmetic" and it record keeping and course grading. This approach allows quick, effi-thereby gives students useful insights into the meaning of decibels cient, and accurate preparation of grades. The ability to quickly cal-and into realistic engineering approximations. The method has been culate and plot indicators of individual student, as well as class perfor-taught, with suecess, to first year undergraduates for the past four mance, consider "what if" grading situations, and handle nonnumericyears. grades is described. The templates provided may serve as a starting

REJFERENCESpoint for more complex, instructor-customized grade spreadsheets.

[1] See, e.g., Reference Data for Radio Engineers. Indianapolis, IN:Sams, 1981, pp. 3-15. INTRODUCTION

This correspondence is intended to illustrate the utility of PC-based spreadsheets (e.g., Lotus 1-2-3 running on an IBM-PC) in

Comments on "Microstrip Circuits for the Classroom assisting the instructor in the often laborious task of computingLaboratory" course grades. It also serves as a quick introduction to the relativelysimple features of a 1-2-3 spreadsheet. This may be useful to the

DAVID R. VOLTMER majority of academicians desiring the capability of spreadsheetswithout investing significant time in trial-and-error learning efforts.The spreadsheet template presented here incorporates the mini-

Abstract-The cost of microstrip copper-tape circuits in a classroom mum features for typical grading situations, and thus can servelaboratory can be reduced by using ordinary low frequency materials. quite well as a grading tool for many applications, or as a starting

point for future, more advanced customizing.The capability to quickly and efficiently generate quantitative

The simple inexpensive, and speedy microstrip construction measures of student achievement is particularly useful in collegesmethods described in a recent paper1 greatly enhance microwave and universities where grades must be determined within a shortlaboratory courses. These copper-tape circuit fabrication methods period of time (usually 48 hours or so) following the final coursemake possible the timely completion of a wide variety and number examination. Lotus 1-2-3 was chosen as an example, principally dueof undergraduate microwave projects. We, too, have used the cop- to its popularity (and availability to this author) and its advancedper-tape method of construction for microstrip amplifiers, filters, graphical capabilities. Other popular commercially-availableand oscillators operating up to 3 GHz with very fine results. spreadsheets (e.g., Multiplan and VisiCalc) as well as one of the

Our experience indicates that it is unnecessary to use special many public-domain spreadsheets (e.g., PC-Calc) may also be used.microwave materials except in those circuits where low substrate While the formats and formulas used here are fairly typical of thoseloss is required, e.g., high-Q filter circuits. Ordinary, low-fre- available in most PC-based spreadsheets, the instruction manual forquency, single-sided printed-circuit board material (readily avail- the specific spreadsheet used should be consulted.able from electronic suppliers) works very well as the substrate ma- A recent example of nonbusiness use of a PC-based spreadsheetterial. An alternative source of copper tape is that used by hobbyists (i.e., solving problems in electrical engineering) is reported in [1].for solderable surfaces in lead glass work. This adhesive-backed It is interesting to note that while spreadsheet analysis is very pop-copper-tape is available in 4 in (0.635 cm) width from almost any ular in business applications, its academic use seems hitherto lim-glass or hobby shop at very inexpensive prices. Finally, we have ited. This is particularly interesting when one considers the consid-found that using standard BNC panel-mount fittings as connectors erable efforts being made by engineering and science colleges anddoes not significantly affect our circuits' characteristics. universities to integrate computers into the student experience.

With these techniques and materials, we find that an inexperi- Perhaps the integration and effective use of computers into non-enced student can quickly become a skilled, knowledgeable micro- technical aspects of the "faculty experience" should also be con-strip designer. sidered. This includes the preparation and analysis of grades and

the effective monitoring of student and overall class progress. The

Manuscript received April 1, 1985. popularity of personal computers, academic discounts for software,The author is with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Rose-Hul- and increased demands on faculty may change this.

man Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN 47803. While spreadsheets may prove to be an invaluable assistance toIEEE Log Number 8404704. the instructor, they should be used only as a tool, i.e., while hope-'C. L. Sayre, III, "Microstrip circuits for the classroom laboratory," fully saving time, they should not replace the instructor's judgment

IEEE Trans. Educ., vol. E-28, pp. 28-31, Feb. 1985. or experience in assigning grades. This does not limit their assist-ance to that of a purely quantitative "grade calculator," for, asshown below, individual student as well as composite class "per-formance analysis" may be accomplished using the spreadsheet.

A Note on the Effective Use of PC-Based Valuable features of spreadsheet grading include the following.Spreadsheets for Course Grading 1) The ability to configure the spreadsheet once and then add

grades (perhaps weekly) as they become available.ROBERT J. SCHALKOFF 2) The ability to use the power of spreadsheet analysis and

graphical capability to determine class trends and deviation of aparticular student or group of students from these trends.

Abstract-This correspondence describes the utility and basic me- 3) The ability to quickly, simply, and accurately invoke "whatchanics of using a personal computer (PC) and a spreadsheet for if" scenarios, which may be useful in determining grades for stu-

dents whose final grades may be quite sensitive to their perfomanceManuscriptreceivedFebruary 15, 1985.in a particular grading event, i.e., "borderline."

The author was with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Worces- 4) The ability to instantaneously determine a student's relativeter Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609. He is now with the De- course progress (and consequently answer the question "...if I st-aypartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University, in the class what is my probability of passing?").Clemson, SC 29634. 5) The ability to show a clear and unambiguous record of how

IEEE Log Number 8406260. final grades were determined, in the event they are questioned at a

0018-9359/86/0200-0042$01.00 ©C 1986 IEEE