Instrumentation Engineering Technician - Process Automation Courses

In this course, students will be introduced to academic writing styles with a thematic focus on current issues. This course will help students to express themselves clearly and correctly in written form. Students will critically analyse assigned readings and express their thoughts. The course will also focus on the development of an academic paper utilizing the APA style of documentation.

This course is divided into theory and practical exercise components. The theory component will allow students to calculate resistance, current and voltage in D.C. series, parallel, and series/parallel circuits. Students are also introduced to power supplies and meter configuration and implementation. The theory concepts will be reinforced in the practical exercise component by allowing students to predict circuit parameter values before entering the lab and verifying calculations through circuit construction and actual measurements.

This course is an introduction to digital logic systems that are found in all computers. Students will focus on number systems, binary arithmetic, logic gates, Boolean algebra and integrated circuits.

This comprehensive course offers an in-depth exploration of computer hardware, operating systems, and networking, designed for students seeking foundational and advanced skills in IT support. Participants will identify and examine computer components, learning to locate and explain the functions of parts within desktop systems. Through hands-on disassembly and reassembly, students will develop practical skills, alongside understanding the roles of motherboards, processors, and memory configurations. The curriculum covers power supplies, storage devices, I/O management, and the intricacies of the Windows operating system, including installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting techniques. Students will be introduced to networking fundamentals and delve into security strategies, printer management, and the basics of virtualization and cloud computing. Additionally, the course includes insights into mobile operating systems and scripting in Linux and macOS, equipping learners with the tools to navigate the modern tech landscape confidently.

This course introduces the students to electronic fabrication techniques and safety programs.

In this introductory course, students will gain proficiency in fundamental mathematical concepts and apply problem-solving skills required in technology programs. Course content includes fractions review, algebra fundamentals, unit conversions, algebraic operations & equations, proportion & variation, factoring, algebraic fractions, functions & graphs, systems of linear equations, geometry, trigonometry, and vectors.

This course introduces students to the use of Office 365 applications and Windows 10. Specifically, students will use introductory features of Windows 10, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to perform tasks commonly expected in the workplace. The lectures are delivered in a laboratory environment using textbook exercises and assignments. Home assignments will require the learner to acquire the MS Office suite of programs in order to complete and submit their assignments.

This course applies the principles of math and physics to solve problems related to electronics and industrial process measurements.

This course emphasizes the importance of oral and written communication in an industrial and business setting. In Communications for Technology, students will work on independent and group projects and apply problem-solving techniques to develop both their individual and team building skills. Students will apply computer-technology and a variety of resources for researching, writing and presenting technical data into a clear and concise format.

This course introduces the student to alternating current circuit analysis techniques. Generation of the sine wave and the relationship between frequency, peak values, RMS value and phase angle will be covered. It uses vector mathematics to calculate reactance, impedance, and voltage, current and phase angle. Students will be introduced to electronic test equipment; they will demonstrate their ability to use the oscilloscope and other measuring equipment to measure amplitude, frequency and phase angle of reactive circuits.

Students will examine the atomic structure of semiconductors, diode theory and applications; rectify circuits, special purpose diodes, bipolar transistors and their characteristics, biasing circuits, NPN and PNP and common-emitter configurations. This will establish the foundation for understanding the circuits found in computers today.

This course is designed to introduce students to the culture and legislative requirements of safety. Students will be introduced to basic concepts of industrial safety such as training and committee requirements. There will be a strong reliance on the Ontario Health and Safety Act so that students are able to reference the act.

This course is an introduction to Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) using AutoCAD software. The student will focus on all 2-D commands of AutoCAD including basic drawing and editing functions, plotting, and general drawing file maintenance. The drawing assignment material is directed to the reproduction of electrical schematics, process flow diagrams, electrical wiring and motor control ladder logic diagrams. The student also examines the processes in an engineering project for required drawings, specifications and documentation.

In this course, students will continue to review and sharpen their proficiency in mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills necessary in technology programs. Course content includes radian applications, complex numbers, sine & cosine graphs, trigonometric identities & equations, factoring & algebraic fractions, quadratic equations, exponents, operations & equations with radicals, systems of equations, and logarithms.

This course will provide students with an introduction to the history of colonization of Indigenous communities in Canada. Contemporary Indigenous community issues within Northwestern Ontario (NWO) and Canada will be examined. Students will explore the unique socio-political relationships between Canada and Indigenous peoples with an emphasis on colonial, legal and political issues. With a broader understanding of the context of colonization, students will analyze contemporary relationships and efforts towards renewed relationships and reconciliation.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the complex and evolving relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian state from contact to present day. It will explore the different worldviews at contact, the years of cooperation and negotiation through the fur trade and treaty making era, and the impact of government colonial policy on Indigenous nations. The course will also explore the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal rights, which provides an important context for understanding contemporary issues between Indigenous and Canadian societies including land claims, treaties, and self-government.

The student will learn common transistor amplifier configurations using both Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) and Field Effect Transistors (FETs) to lay the foundation for understanding advanced devices and circuits for industrial control. Circuit analysis methods are developed to support circuit trouble-shooting. Transistor and amplifier characteristics are verified in laboratory circuits using bench test equipment.

This course is designed to introduce the student to programming and logic skills required for technical problem solving and analysis. Skills will be developed and enhanced through the use of modularized processes, control and looping structures, as well as functions of the C++ language as they are applied to practical applications.

Digital II will cover computer building blocks including the TTL family of components (logic gates, flip-flops, one-shots, counters, shift registers, and multiplexers/demultiplexers). Analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters will be covered for digital/analog interfacing. The student will gain practical experience in digital circuitry troubleshooting.

This course presents the student with many of the common instrumentation and process variables found in modern industries. The student will examine the various applied science techniques used to measure variables such as pressure, level, density, flow, temperature and analytical measurements, and the methods of transmitter calibration.

This course will provide the student with the opportunity to experiment with and investigate the following topics: pressure, level, density, flow, and temperature measurement with associated process transmitters. Process measurement principles and practices will be exercised with pneumatic, electrical, electronic and computer based systems.

In this course, students will learn about electric motor construction and applications as well as how to configure and operate various electrical motors and variable frequency drives. Students will also study the operating characteristics and selection criteria of control valve bodies, actuators and positioners.

This course will introduce the student to the concepts of quality control and quality assurance in the workplace.

This course covers electronic measurement and control systems. The student will study the various process controllers and instrumentation control techniques used in modern industry. Topics of study are controller design and functions, feedback, cascade control, ratio control, adaptive gain control, feedforward control, and analysis of other control strategies that ensure quality of manufactured products. Instrument, process, and control valve characteristics are also covered.

This course; with its laboratory experiments, provides the student an industrial like environment to investigate instrumentation characteristics, variable measurement and manipulation of temperature, liquid level, flow rate and density. The lab experiments are also designed to investigate process dynamics like tank capacity and lag time, as well as provide a student the opportunity to commission a number of different industrial control strategies using single-loop digital controllers and/or a modern DCS.

Industrial Data Networks introduces the student to the software, hardware and structure of modern control system communication networks. The student will look at different types of signal mediums, modes of transmission and error detection. The student will also examine the architecture of industrial local area networks, such as RS232, RS422, RS485, TCP/IP, RTU protocol and the hardware and line requirements for each network type.

The student will progress from Industrial Electronics I to a more advanced study of industrial devices such as operational amplifiers, power supplies, thyristors and control circuits. The student will gain experience in analysis and troubleshooting of industrial circuits and systems.

This course will cover the basics of embedded system organization including the ARM Cortex-M3, M4, and M4F microcontroller architectures. Common integrated peripherals will be studied including general purpose Input/Output (I/O), timers, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) units, and Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADC) providing the foundation required for embedded system design and development. Students will learn design fundamentals starting with the Unified Modelling Language (UML), machine code, and assembly language coding. Practical application design will be presented showing students how to interface with LEDs, external contacts, high-voltage electro-mechanical relays, analog signals, and culminate with the design and operation of a bi-directional, variable speed DC motor controller.

This course introduces the student to industrial motor control strategies involving interlocking, timing, and counting applications. Investigation of the operation of motor control components and wiring diagrams is followed by relay ladder diagram analysis of control circuits. Automation of these motor control applications using PLC ladder logic projects is carried out through a variety of practical exercises.

This course will study the aspects of law and ethics as laid out by the OACETT professional practice exam course. Students will be prepared to write their certification exam upon completion.