Academic Catalog

APEL 120A: ORIENTATION TO THE ELECTRICAL TRADE, CPR & FIRST AID

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2023
Units: 5
Hours: 36 lecture, 84 laboratory per quarter (120 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the San Francisco Inside Wireman Electrical Program.
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in APEL 120.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • To become certified in CPR & First Aid
  • A student will start to learn the fundamentals of the Electrical Trade

Description

Orientation to the commercial/industrial electrical industry with an introduction to electrical theory, tools, materials, wiring methods, and job skills. Review of mathematics as applied in the electrical construction trades. Industry applications, hands-on labs. CPR, first aid, job orientation topics: sexual harassment and drug abuse.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Apply an understanding of basic electricity and Ohm's Law through series circuits
  2. Demonstrate basic on-the-job skills regarding tools, materials, and safety
  3. Express a basic understanding of nature of the requirements, duties, and the role of electricians, and the organizational structure of construction trades
  4. Apply appropriate mathematical problem-solving related to electrical trades

Course Content

  1. Basic electricity
    1. Ohm's Law
    2. Kirchoff's Law
    3. Combination circuits
  2. Basic on-the-job skills
    1. Material identification
    2. Tool usage
    3. On-the-job safety requirements
  3. Understanding your role as an apprentice
    1. Taking orders from a journeyman
    2. Understanding the role of a foreman
    3. Understanding the role of a general foreman
  4. Real world mathematical problem solving
    1. Manipulating Ohm's Law algebraically
    2. Understanding Kirchoff's Law
    3. Proper tool management

Lab Content

Students will work individually and in teams on proper wiring and grounding of electrical systems. Safe working practices for on-the-job training include:

  1. Equipment safety
  2. Fire protection
  3. Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
  4. Safe handling practices

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Lab with electrical tools, to include: audio-visual equipment (slide, video, and overhead projectors); hand benders; various hand tools; various power tools; lights, switches, 3 way and 4 way plugs; exothermic welding.
2. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with software and hardware capable of running video conferencing applications (e.g., Zoom).

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Results of quizzes and tests
Classroom and laboratory participation
Maintaining a daily student log of work activities
Results of hands-on laboratory tests

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Lab assignments
Group discussion
Demonstration

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

NJATC. NJATC Orientation Workbook. 2009.

NJATC. NJATC Job Information-1 Workbook. 2011.

NJATC. DC Theory Textbook. 2010.

NJATC. NJATC DC Theory Workbook. 2009.

American Technical Publishers and NJATC. Conduit Bending and Fabrication. 2009.

Hart, George V.. Ugly's Electrical References. 2020.

J.J. Keller and Associates, Inc.. J.J. Keller's Official OSHA Construction Handbook, 5th ed.. 2006.

Callanan, M.I., and B. Wusinich. Electrical Systems. 2020.

The textbooks listed are the standard texts used for this course. Although some may be older than 5 years, they are the most current books used when teaching this course. We will adopt the next edition of each as it is published.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading assignment from the Electrical Systems based on the 2017 NEC
  2. Writing assignment from the Electrical Systems based on the 2017 NEC
    1. Write articles on safety considerations per the National Fire Protection Association, NEC 2005. NFPA 70: National Electrical Code

Discipline(s)

Electricity