EEE2009 : Signals and Communications
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Martin Johnston
- Lecturer: Dr Jummah Abdulwali
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To provide students with the knowledge to apply fundamental signal processing techniques to electronic engineering problems and introduce the basic concepts of analogue and digital communications. This will be achieved through lectures, tutorials, lab sessions and independent study. The skills obtained in this module are prerequisite for many other modules taught later in the degree programme and valuable for engineering careers in areas such as communications, bioelectronics, signal processing and machine learning, and automation and control.
Outline Of Syllabus
This module introduces the important subject of signal processing and different mathematical transforms that can be used to solve a variety of different engineering problems. The focus will be on the well-known Fourier, Laplace, and Z transforms, which are commonly used mathematical tools in engineering.
Additionally, analogue and digital communications will be introduced, beginning with the older but historically important amplitude modulation and frequency modulation through to more modern digital modulation techniques. A lab session will provide the opportunity for students to investigate a real frequency modulator and demodulator circuits, applying different signals and observing waveforms and frequency spectra on the oscilloscope. Students will also learn how to write a technical report on the results and findings from the lab session.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | Writing of summatively assessed lab report |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | Revision for final exam and completion of final exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 8 | 2:00 | 16:00 | Formatively assessed tutorial sheets on all topics covered (approximately 2 hours per tutorial sheet). |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 37 | 1:00 | 37:00 | In-person lectures, |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | 1 x 2hr practical lab session on Frequency Modulation. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Reading activity to supplement knowledge of material taught in each week. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | One-hour online synchronous tutorial session after the completion of each set of lecture notes. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | One timetabled optional synchronous session for students to attend if they have any queries. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 75:00 | 75:00 | Reviewing lecture notes; general reading |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures provide the core material and give students the opportunity to engage with set questions and query material covered in the lecture.
Problem solving is introduced through tutorial sheets and recordings will help students’ understanding of each topic. Weekly one-hour drop-in sessions on Zoom are scheduled should students wish further support from the lecturer.
Laboratory sessions provide an opportunity to gain practical experience with a variety of instruments and validate the theory introduced in lectures.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 85 | 2-hour In-Person Closed-Book Exam |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 15 | Lab Report with a maximum of 1000 words. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | This is a single formative assessment set in the 8th week of the semester comprising questions covering topics that will help the students’ understanding and also prepare them for the exam. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The examination allows students to demonstrate their ability to solve engineering problems focused on signal processing and communication, assessing knowledge outcomes 1 – 5 (M1, M2, M3) and skill outcomes 1 – 3 (M1, M2, M3).
The laboratory report assesses skill outcome 4 (M12, M16)
The formatively assessed question sheet will be released towards the end of the semester. This helps the students’ understanding of the different topics and prepare them for the summatively assessed exam.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- EEE2009's Timetable