ENGR101 (2023) - Engineering Technology
Prescription
This course provides a general introduction to the fundamental technical concepts needed to understand the design and engineering of electronic, mechatronic, networked and software systems. Experience is gained in basic engineering practice, with assembly and testing of basic hardware, software and networked systems, and construction of a personal computer.
Course learning objectives
Students who pass this course will be able to:
- Understand the fundamental principles underlying Engineering, especially electronic, mechatronic, networked and software systems (BE graduate attributes 3(a)).
- Work within a team, including breaking up and allocating tasks, managing a team, and working with other people to achieve a defined task (BE graduate attributes 2(a), 2(b) and 3(d)).
- Communicate through explaining what they have done in coursework and reasons for it with their peers and others (BE graduate attribute 2(b)).
- Understand the role of engineers and their responsibility to society (BE graduate attribute 1(a)).
- Be creative and able to apply critical thinking through the design, implementation and testing of systems to solve real-world problems (BE graduate 3(b)).
Course content
This course is designed for in-person study, and students are strongly recommended to attend lectures, tutorials and labs on campus. In particular, some assessment items such as practical hands-on labs and tutorials will require in-person attendance. Tests will require in-person attendance for students residing in New Zealand. Exceptions can be made under special circumstances. This needs to be arranged with the Course Coordinator.
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The course is intended to give students experience in basic engineering practice, through gaining understanding of basic software and hardware systems and applying this knowledge to complete projects which include all aspects of these technologies.
Withdrawal from Course
Withdrawal dates and process:
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/study/course-additions-withdrawals
Lecturers

Dr Howard Lukefahr (Coordinator)
- howard.lukefahr@vuw.ac.nz
- 04 886 5630
- CO 341 Cotton Building (All Blocks), Gate 7, Kelburn Parade, Kelburn
Teaching Format
In-person attendance is expected for this project-based course, and exceptions will have to be justified by extenuating circumstances and will have to be approved by the Course Coordinator. The course Lecture Schedule contains details of each week's classes and activities.
Dates (trimester, teaching & break dates)
- Teaching: 27 February 2023 - 02 June 2023
- Break: 10 April 2023 - 23 April 2023
- Study period: 05 June 2023 - 08 June 2023
- Exam period: 09 June 2023 - 24 June 2023
Other Classes
ENGR 101 is a project-based course with much of the course time spent in the lab completing tutorials and lab exercises or working on projects. The course schedule is posted on the course web page. Some weeks include three lectures and one lab of two hours duration. These are called "lecture weeks. " Other weeks have one lecture and two labs of two hours duration each. These are called "lab weeks" or "project weeks." Full details are available at
https://ecs.wgtn.ac.nz/Courses/ENGR101_2023T1/LectureSchedule
Set Texts and Recommended Readings
Required
There are no required texts for this offering.
Mandatory Course Requirements
There are no mandatory course requirements for this course.
If you believe that exceptional circumstances may prevent you from meeting the mandatory course requirements, contact the Course Coordinator for advice as soon as possible.
Assessment
This course will be assessed through tutorial exercises, two short projects, an in-term test, and the Automated Vehicle Challenge project (AVC). The AVC project is assessed through several different items with a mix of group marks and individual marks. The final assessment for AVC will consist of the submission of an individual report combined with an in-person test. See details below. Note that in-person attendance is required for many parts of the course, particularly the tests, which will be scheduled in the evenings on the Kelburn campus. Any alternative arrangements must be approved by the Course Coordinator.
Assessment Item | Due Date or Test Date | CLO(s) | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
Terms test | Week 8 | CLO: 1,4,5 | 20% |
On-line quizzes | Across the term | CLO: 1,3,4,5 | 4% |
Tutorials | Across the term | CLO: 1,3,4,5 | 10% |
Short Project 1 | Week 5 | CLO: 1,2,3,5 | 13% |
Short Project 2: Code and Testing | Week 7 | CLO: 1,2,3,5 | 8% |
Short Project 2: Reflection | Week 8 | CLO: 1,2,3,5 | 5% |
AVC Project Plan (group mark) | Week 9 | CLO: 1,2,3,5 | 2.5% |
AVC Project: Progress Report (group mark) | Week 10 | CLO: 1,2,3,5 | 2.5% |
AVC Project: Robot Demonstration/Testing (group mark) | Week 12 | CLO: 1,2,3,5 | 10% |
AVC Project: Final Assessment - Reflection and Test (individual mark) | During Assessment Period | CLO: 1,2,3,5 | 25% |
Penalties
Unless an extension is granted, work submitted late will be subject to a penalty of 10% per day for 4 days.
No work will be accepted after this unless previously arranged with the Course Coordinator. Contact the Course Coordinator in advance to apply for an extension.
Extensions
Individual extensions without penalty will be granted in exceptional personal circumstances, and should be negotiated with the Course Coordinator before the deadline whenever possible. Documentation (e.g., a medical certificate) may be requested.
Submission & Return
All work is submitted through the ECS submission/marking system, accessible through the course web pages. Marks and comments will be returned through the ECS submission/marking system.
Group Work
The AVC project involves group work. Some of the assessment items for the AVC project (plan, progress report and demonstration) are group marks. The final assessment item is an individual mark.
Workload
In order to maintain satisfactory progress in ENGR 101, you should plan to spend 10 hours per week on this paper. While the weekly schedule will vary, and approximate breakdown for these hours would be
Lectures 1-3 hours per week
Laboratories/Tutorials 2-4 hours per week
Study and work on assignments and projects 3-7 hours per week
Teaching Plan
See: https://ecs.wgtn.ac.nz/Courses/ENGR101_2023T1/LectureSchedule
Communication of Additional Information
Communication about the course will be provided through the course website: https://ecs.wgtn.ac.nz/Courses/ENGR101_2023T1/
Links to General Course Information
- Academic Integrity and Plagiarism: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/support/student-interest-and-conflict-resolution/academic-integrity
- Academic Progress: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/study/progress/academic-progess (including restrictions and non-engagement)
- Dates and deadlines: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/study/dates
- Grades: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/study/progress/grades
- Special passes: Refer to the Assessment Handbook, at https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/documents/policy/staff-policy/assessment-handbook.pdf
- Statutes and policies, e.g. Student Conduct Statute: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/about/governance/strategy
- Student support: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/support
- Students with disabilities: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/st_services/disability/
- Student Charter: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/learning-teaching/learning-partnerships/student-charter
- Student Feedback on University courses may be found at: http://www.cad.vuw.ac.nz/feedback/feedback_display.php
- Terms and Conditions: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/study/apply-enrol/terms-conditions/student-contract
- Turnitin: http://www.cad.vuw.ac.nz/wiki/index.php/Turnitin
- University structure: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/about/governance/structure
- The Use of Te Reo Māori for Assessment Policy:
Victoria University values te reo Māori. Students who wish to submit any of their assessments in te reo Māori must refer to The Use of Te Reo Māori for Assessment Policy
He mea nui te reo Māori ki te Whare Wānanga o te Ūpoko o te Ika. Ki te pīrangi koe ki te tuhituhi i ō aro matawai i roto i te reo Māori, tēnā me mātua whakapā atu ki te kaupapa here, The Use of Te Reo Māori for Assessment Policy - VUWSA: http://www.vuwsa.org.nz
Offering CRN: 15243
Points: 15
Prerequisites: enrolment in BE(Hons)
Duration: 27 February 2023 - 25 June 2023
Starts: Trimester 1
Campus: Kelburn