Course Series Overview

The purpose of the three-course series is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the microfabrication processes to embody ‘Decoders’. 

Decoders 1.0: Microfabricated Decoders (D1.0) provides the ability to explore various microfabricated device layouts and their impacts on the world through the guest lectures. The course follows with literature review and composing a summary paper based on representative papers published by the guest lecturers. The students are encouraged to ask questions to the lecturers in the light of written summary papers. As a final project, a perspective article consisting of all knowledge gained through all guest lectures will be written and published on the course website.

In Decoders 1.1: Introduction to Microfabrication (D1.1), topics learned in D1.0 combined with the hands-on activities performed in the cleanroom, lead to producing creative videos of the various microfabrication procedures by the students. At the end of this course, students identify a real world problem to tackle with their dream device components.

In Decoders 1.2: Project Realization in Cleanroom (D1.2), students design their dream device, create a recipe to fabricate it, and demo its utility at the end. Students will also learn how to write a research article and submit a final project video presenting their device functionality to a large audience (i.e., Media Lab family). The culminating research article by the entire class will be published on the course website. Each course in the D Series builds on the knowledge and skills learned in the previous one (See the Map of Decoding). In this course series, students obtain proficiency in microfabrication techniques and understand their impact in driving forward to new technological developments.

Course Series Objectives

1. To allow to dive in the literature of mechanically adaptive microfabricated systems,
   
2. To encourage imagination and innovation,
   
3. To introduce microfabrication techniques and device design parameters,
   
4. To set the stage for identifying a real-world problem and tackle it,
   
5. To foster the use of microfabrication techniques,
   
6. To teach the analysis and evaluation of microfabricated devices.
   

Readings, Materials, and Resources:

• Class website, handouts, and online videos
  

Course Policies and Expectations and MIT Policies:

• Enrolling in D1.0 course is not required to enroll in D1.1. D1.1 is, however, mandatory to enroll in D1.2.
  
• This course series does not involve any exams. All activities are based on individual and team projects.
  
• http://web.mit.edu/registrar/subjects/termregs.html