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Personal Teaching Philosophy 2022

As a lecturer, I am not only emphasizing the transfer of information and knowledge alone, in fact, I will give my priority to educating my students to be balanced and holistic as excellent human beings that can be change-makers in their professional workforces after graduation besides encourage them to be open minds and creative thinkers who will meet the challenges of their generation. I do believe that learning is most effective when students are intrinsically motivated and inspired. Therefore, I aim to create dynamic learning lessons that are engaging, and relevant to my students’ real lives, and encourage active discovery according to cooperative learning so they can grow to reach much higher levels of maturity, affective, cognitive, psychomotor, and social. Besides that, I work hard to motivate students by modeling an inspired, positive outlook on education every day for lifelong learning. I would like to diverge their perspective from “I want to learn” rather than “I have to learn”. Hence, I encourage them by sharing my own experiences during my undergraduate studies at UTM. For me, while it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others.

My goal as a lecturer is I always want to see my students succeed even more than I did. As someone who comes from a low-income family where my late father worked as a rubber tapper and my mother was a housewife, I can sum up that education teaches me the value of hard work, helps us gain a better job, lets us develop, and makes our parents proud of us. Poverty may be a disadvantage but is not really an obstacle to our success. I can say that coming from a poor family has contributed a big part to my success and was an advantage to me to become the person I am today. Today, most of my students bring their own iPad or tablet to take notes, especially those born with a silver spoon. Because of this, I motivate to my students, especially from underprivileged families that the amount of effort they put in will directly affect the knowledge and gains they will achieve no matter where they come from. On the other hand, as an educator, I am committed to assisting my students acquire a wide range of general skills on top of the knowledge of specific subjects they have learned in the class. It is very important for students to be balanced between technical skills, soft skills, and knowledge. For this reason, I provide a forum platform in eLearning where students can share their ideas and take risks. In addition to improving their ability to explain and provide reasons, this activity can also encourage them to listen to opinions and suggestions from others. On top of that, I will embrace the different students’ learning preferences. I will create dynamic active learning to attract the student’s interest in the class.

As a lecturer, I cannot deny the fact that every student is unique, and have different learning preferences and different level of understanding. As we all know, learning takes various forms. Some prefer watching educational videos, listening, or hands-on, while others prefer reading the lecture notes and also recommending textbooks or asking questions during the lecture session. Hence, as a lecturer, I will try to embrace their differences. I apply various methods in the classroom to engage with my students. Sometimes, I implement different teaching and learning delivery methods such as gamification using Quiziz, Kahoot, Padlet, and so on to attract their interest in the topic. Other than that, I also will create video-based learning through YouTube so that my students could watch the content according to their own pace. Then, there will be time that I will write the content on my Blog on examples and summarize the topic of certain subjects.

Besides that, I will schedule for consultation session after each class session. I am always available for discussion with students. Taking this approach, I can get to know my students better and this allows me to reflect on my teaching method so that I can improve it from time to time besides improving my knowledge by attending several teachings and learning training organized by UTM and outside organizations.

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: A continuing charity, the knowledge that others benefited from, and a righteous son who supplicates for him”.

— Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1376

In the Name of God for Mankind

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Goal of Student Learning 2022

As a lecturer, it is my goal to ensure that my students can be better-quality intellectuals, professionals, and scholars by integrating the qualities of faith, knowledge, and good character to serve as agents of comprehensive and balanced progress as well as sustainable development in Malaysia and the world. Therefore, I believe knowledge and education are the foundation for them to meet the challenges of their generation. Hence, in order to achieve this goal, there are several elements and values that I want to inculcate and impart to them including (1) Think positive to stay focused and (2) Build good study habits.

  • Think positively to stay focused

To maintain a positive mindset toward learning while striving for excellence, it is important to focus on tasks that need to be done and learn new information. Therefore, as a lecturer, I always encourage my students to manage time their properly to avoid any stress by setting and tracking their own goals. Even though I really want my students to excel in their examinations, I also prioritize their mental health. I motivate them not to fear mistakes so that they can learn and that’s how they grow. In fact, I will schedule 20 minutes for consultation sessions after each class session every day. I am always available for discussion with my students and always available to communicate with them effectively. Taking this approach, I can get to know my students better, and at the end of the day, I believe the chemistry between lecturer and students can benefit students’ performance.

  • Build good study habits

As a lecturer, I am committed to helping my students express themselves and accept themselves as they are as well as embrace the differences of others. The student in my class is first divided into groups of six to eight learners for group learning. For me, group learning is important because I believe it helps students express, challenge, and refine their thoughts. Students can also gain insight from their peers by listening to new perspectives and discussing to improve their knowledge. This can help expand their horizons and enrich their own knowledge. At the same time, I want to inspire my students to think outside the box, challenge their everyday assumptions, and leave them with more questions than answers. Within their group learning, my students are required to solve the complex tutorial questions that have been assigned in the lecture notes. Concurrently, I asked my students to produce a video presentation to show the calculation and solution BRIEFLY. Then, they have to upload it to YouTube. At this point, the other groups could learn a different variety of questions through YouTube in an effective way without spending a lot of time on all tutorial questions.

Overall, as a lecturer, my success is the success of my students. I will always have high expectations for my students. While teaching, I believe in their potential to succeed, and I will make sure I push them to their limits. Even when they fail, I will keep motivating them to try again and to work harder. This goal of students’ learning will help me to pull them out of their comfort zones. They can pursue success knowing that I am there to pick them up each time they fail.

In the Name of God for Mankind

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UTM Graduate Attributes – UKQE 3001

Hello, and good day everyone!

Have you heard about the “UTM Graduates Attributes”? As an alumnus and current lecturer at UTM, let me share the aspects included in UTM Graduate’s Attributes.

  • Communication Skills
  • Thinking Skills
  • Scholarship
  • Leadership and Teamworking Skills
  • Adaptability
  • Global Citizen
  • Enterprising Skills

During my degree and Ph.D. studies, UTM encourages me to participate in many activities in and out of classrooms, in co-curricular activities, and through various informal contacts. For instance the University Social Responsibility Program in Palembang, Indonesia, Global Outreach Program in Taiwan, Robotics Competition in Fukuoka, Japan, the academic exchange program, the student club society, and others.

The photos below show several moments of mine captured while participating in national and international programs as a UTM student.

As an alumnus, I would say those were really worth the experience and those similar opportunities perhaps will be grabbed by my students from UKQE3001.

Hence, I asked 10 groups of my students from UKQE/UKQT 3001 Extra-Curricular Experiential Learning (ExCEL) – Section 10 to share their video proposal of an extracurricular activity/program that can enhance UTM graduate attributes among students based on their experience and also a case study.

Extra-Curricular Experiential Learning (ExCEL)Download


The group project-based learning approaches in the learning and teaching process are utilized in order to graduate competent, creative, and versatile professionals who are guided by high moral and ethical values in the service of God and mankind.

At the end of the day, I hope our future generation to function effectively in a wide range of social and professional contexts.

Here are several video proposals that have been created by my students to enhance the graduate attributes among UTM students based on the case study projects.

What about your experience with the activities have you participated in to enhance your graduate attributes at UTM during your study?

Share and do comment on this Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/najah.alhuda/posts/pfbid0pZXeoeHyBYN68vuJKmbJuBMKABrtaWfzHYwRJfCiXBNUdgdW2fboFfSkaptUt4Scl

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Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT): DC and AC Analysis

The invention of the transistor was the beginning of a technological revolution that is still continuing. All of the complex electronic devices and systems today are an outgrowth of early developments in semiconductor transistors. Two basic types of transistors are the bipolar junction transistor (BJT), and the field-effect transistor (FET), which we will cover later.

The BJT is used in two broad areas—as a linear amplifier to boost or amplify an electrical signal and as an electronic switch.

Type of BJT Analysis

Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) Structure

The BJT is constructed with three doped semiconductor regions separated by two pn junctions, as shown in the epitaxial planar structure in Figure 1(a). The three regions are called emitter, base, and collector. Physical representations of the two types of BJTs are shown in Figure 1(b) and 1(c). One type consists of two n regions separated by a p region (npn), and the other type consists of two p regions separated by an n region (pnp). The term bipolar refers to the use of both holes and electrons as current carriers in the transistor structure.

Figure 1: BJT construction. The substrate is a physical supporting material for the transistor [1]

The pn junction joining the base region and the emitter region is called the base-emitter junction. The pn junction joining the base region and the collector region is called the base-collector junction, as indicated in Figure 2(b). A lead connects to each of the three regions, as shown. These leads are labeled E, B, and C for emitter, base, and collector, respectively. The base region is lightly doped and very thin compared to the heavily doped emitter and the moderately doped collector regions. Because of this difference in doping levels, the emitter and collector are not interchangeable. (The reason for this is discussed in the next section.) Figure 2 shows the schematic symbols for the npn and pnp bipolar junction transistors.

Figure 2: Standard BJT (bipolar junction
transistor) symbols [1]

BJT Basic Operation Region

Hereby, I share the lecture notes on BJT Basic Operation Region for you to understand before I further discuss the example and circuit analysis of BJT.

BJT DC Analysis Lecture Notes – SEEU2012Download

BJT Biasing Circuit: Common Emitter Configuration

Bear in mind, the current will flow in a conductor as long as voltage, the electrical pressure, is applied to the conductor. For the case of BJT CE configuration circuit as shown in figure below, the current will flow from positive terminal of VCC to the ground in two different paths according to the Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) namely IB; the current that flow through the base of the BJT and IC; the current that flow through the collector of the BJT

Notes: To solve the circuit analysis of BJT, the capacitors need to be relocated and replaced with an open circuit.

Example 1

Here, you can locate two (2) main loops which are the base to emitter (BE) loop and collector to emitter loop (CE) by using the Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (known as KVL).

From BE loop (1), we can deduce an equation as follows:

(A) VCC – IBRB – VBE = 0 —> Rearrange the equation to calculate IB

Meanwhile, from CE loop (2) using the KVL the equation will be like this:

VCC – ICRC – VCE = 0 —> Rearrange the equation to calculate VCE

(B) IC = BIB

Substituting (A) with (B) to get (C):

Now, lets try on this example!

Find IBQ, ICQ, VCEQ, VCQ, VEQ and VBQ

Solution:

EXERCISE 1

Find IBQ, ICQ, VCEQ, VCQ, VEQ and VBQ

Do send to me your answer through my email at nurnajahatulhuda@utm.my You can earn KFC voucher as a reward if you get all correct answer. All the best!

BJT AC analysis

Now, lets move on the other type of BJT analysis which is AC analysis. Hereby, I share the lecture notes on BJT AC analysis for you to revise.

BJT AC Analysis Lecture Notes – SEEU2012Download

After doing some revision on the attached material, you are required to solve the tutorials below in group. Concurrently, I ask my students to produce a video presentation to show the calculation and solution BRIEFLY.

Some of my students asked me…

” Why we need to work in group?”

“I think I can do it alone”

Study groups encourage members to think creatively and build strong communication skills which also help in refining understanding of the material. It has been proven that those who participate in study groups feel more confident and comfortable about reaching their academic goals.

Tutorial BJT DC and AC AnalysisDownload

From time to time, I will update the solutions solved by my students. Stay tuned!

Solutions Question 1, 2 and 11

Correction on the answer, the first one is not the saturation region. It is cut off region. This is because for silicon, the value is 0.7V. Since the VBE is not reach 0.7 V which is only 0.3 V, therefore it is considered reverse bias, NOT forward bias. Hence, the answer is cut off region. Make sure you know the operating region of BJT.

But, if the type of BJT is Germanium, it is saturation region.

Solutions Question 3, 4 and 5
Solutions Question 6, 7 and 8
Solutions Question 9 and 10

Now, what you have learnt from this topic?

Let’s click on the to test your knowledge through Quiz!

https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/62e9fccfc34a4d001d147e44/bipolar-junction-transistor-bjt

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Overview of Fundamental Knowledge in Electronics Engineering Course

In the field of electrical and electronics (E&E) technology that is evolving rapidly, the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia emphasizes universities ensure that the expected non-major E&E engineering graduates are fully equipped with the skills to fulfill market needs. However, as a lecturer, I found that my students especially those from Mechanical Engineering backgrounds faced some difficulties to understand the topics taught to them through the methods they are conventionally being delivered.

It was based on the fact that the mapped course contents were impractical and irrelevant to their field which has led to a learning barrier. This situation was further exacerbated by the severe impact of the Covid’19 pandemic which limited the students’ ability to adapt and pay attention to the lesson.

Strengthen Your Fundamentals of Electricity

The subject of the Electronic course offered by the School of Electrical Engineering, UTM for instance, is mainly intended to introduce non-major students to semiconductor devices and basic concepts in analog electronics. Therefore, in order for you to understand the course and perform well in the subject, it is highly recommended that you to enhance your fundamental knowledge.

Why? This is because before you can apply the basic law, theorems, and methods of analysis to solve complex problems related to circuitry, you need to master the definite relationship between the three primary electrical characteristics: current, voltage, and resistance.

Ohm’s Law

Ohm’s law relates current, resistance, and voltage in a simple equation. If we know any of the two main quantities (voltage, current, or resistance) we can use Ohms’s law to calculate the third based on Ohm’s law triangle shown below in Figure 1.

Figure 1
  • If you want to know amps: Cover it up with your finger. That leaves Volts/Resistance.
  • If you want to know ohms: Cover it up with your finger. That leaves Volts/Amps.
  • If you want to know volts: Cover it up with your finger. Since Amps and Ohms are on the same “line” you would have Amps x Ohms

Let’s take a look at the example in Figure 2 on how to apply Ohm’s Law.

Example 1

What is the voltage for the system below?

Figure 2
[forminator_quiz id=”376″]

When we discuss current, the direction of the current flow needs to be considered. This is a very crucial part of circuit analysis. For instance, the direction of current in Diode; which is the subtopic in SEEU2012/SKEU2012.

An ideal diode

  • 2 terminal device
  • Act as a switch
  • Conducts current only in 1 direction

Conventional current direction and polarity of the voltage across the diode (VD) are shown in Figure 3 as follows:

Figure 3

The direction of the current will indicate the type of diode bias whether it is forward bias or reverse bias. Bias is the use of a DC voltage to establish certain operating conditions for an electronic device. To forward bias a diode, the anode must be more positive than the cathode or LESS NEGATIVE. Meanwhile, to reverse bias in a diode, the anode must be less positive than the cathode or MORE NEGATIVE.

You may refer to Figure 4 to identify the bias type of the diode.

Figure 4
[forminator_quiz id=”426″]

Up to this point, we can conclude that you need to explore other fundamental theories that is important to be used in the circuit analysis. For example Mesh analysis (or the mesh current method). It is a method that is used to solve planar circuits for the currents (and indirectly the voltages) at any place in the electrical circuit. Then, try to explore more on Nodal analysis besides superposition theorems. I believe you may easily understand and catch up on the topic very well once you have concrete fundamentals of electricity.

Here is the recommended textbook for you to refer to in SEEU2012/SKEU2012 subject.

Make a Mind Maps

Mind Maps not only highlight important facts but also show the overall structure of a subject and the relative importance of individual parts of it. They are great when you need to think creatively, and can help you to make new connections between ideas. This is useful when you have problems to solve and helps you to prepare for the exam. Let’s take a look at the example of mind maps that maybe you can refer to.

Example of Fundamental of Electricals Mind Map

But thanks to technology, it’s not easier to work, study, or do almost any task wherever you are as long as you have an internet connection. You can use free software like Cmap Tool to create the mind map. empowers users to construct, navigate, share, and criticize knowledge models represented as concept maps. You may click here to download the software.

Effective Communication Between Lecturer and Students

Usually, the lecturer will create a platform for students to approach lecture to discuss and ask questions. In my case, I prefer to use Telegram. Students are allowed to ask me any questions to enhance their understanding. In some cases, they tend to contact me in the middle of the night. So my dear students, please don’t disturb my sleeping hours, okay? Haha

Based on my observation, most of the time, students don’t speak up in class not because they don’t understand the material, but it is because the students might feel afraid that their questions will make them appear unintelligent to their peers. Therefore, I do believe this platform will help you as my students to communicate with me effectively, discuss your understanding with me to verify the knowledge transferred that has been done during the lecture in the class.

Conclusion

All in all, it’s easy to blame lecturers for poor student performance. But really, the lecturer is just the messenger. We are the ones giving the grades. Those grades are a reflection of the motivation, passion, and determination of you as students.

I wish you all the best and I hope you will put a lot of effort to score this subject!

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Welcome to My Website!

I am Dr. Nur Najahatul Huda Binti Saris, a senior lecturer at the Division of Communication Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Johor Bahru, Johor. My research interest is related to waveguides, device fabrication, optoelectronics, optical communication, integrated optics, optical sensor, and water security.

Feel free to contact me at:


Dr. Nur Najahatul Huda Binti Saris
Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,
81310 UTM Johor Bahru,
Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia.
Primary Email: nurnajahatulhuda@utm.my
Secondary Email: nurnajahatulhuda@fke.utm.my
Room: P19a-05-06-00

You may find my resume here.