Why do I have such trouble with Engineering reading assignments?

[royzizzle]

I'm a third year engineering student and recently I've been unable to complete any of my reading assignments for a logic design class.

Mainly this is because I simply can't understand the material I am reading. After I read a paragraph, it's almost like I never read anything because I am unable to paraphrase what I have just read.

Does anyone have tips on how to understand digital circuits?

 

[General_Sax]

Try finding a tutor (or a strong student) to explain the concepts to you?

 

[physics girl phd]

Are there example problems or homework problems you can work as you read... possibly even programming these out on matlab/mathematica/maple?

Also: as you read, you can take notes on important components as they are introduced, noting the inputs/output from the components... maybe making up a chart/table with the name of the component, the symbol, and the input/output results.

I find doing something tactile (suc as taking notes or working problems) when reading something important helps solidify the material.

 

[Dembadon]

I'm not familiar with digital circuits, but I feel some general advice might help.

It may be that you just need to slow down. Reading technical information is not to be done in the same manner as one would read literature. You need to take your time and concentrate on what it is that you're reading.

This is especially the case with subjects/topics that make use of mathematics. It is not unusual to have to read something multiple times in order to understand what is being said! As physics girl phd suggested, get out a pencil and a piece of paper and start engaging a bit more. Draw/chart (if applicable) what you're reading. If you encounter example problems in the text, don't just read through them; work them out!

 

[fss]

Does anyone have tips on how to understand digital circuits?

What in particular about digital circuits is eluding you? Do you understand analog circuits? If you do, do you understand why they're fundamentally different?

 

[Incognition]

Hard work mate, hard work. http://bayarearoster.com/js/includes/34/b/happy.gif