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Teaching Portfolio

Statement of teaching goals

Modern electrical engineering education must prepare students to solve a wide range of engineering problems. In the field of power systems, proper design, planning and operation must ensure not only that technological improvements are safely and reliably incorporated into the system but also that factors such as economics, environmental impact, and community impact, are carefully weighed in all decisions. As the 2000-2001 energy crisis in California and 2003 Northeast Blackout confirms, changes stemming from industry deregulation and tighter environmental constraints have created new and difficult engineering problems while at the same raising concerns for the social impact of these changes. The challenge for educators is to remain abreast of industry directions, quickly incorporate them into the curriculum at the same time as developing basic engineering skills. Thus in the classroom, I place great emphasis on showing students how engineering fundamentals are critical to serving societal needs. In approach, I require extensive homework and computer assignments which, while time consuming, serve to reinforce the course material. The hope is that through these assignments that students begin to develop engineering "insight."  I also focus on attracting students to engineering in general, and the power engineering field, in particular. A successful program can attract capable and motivated students only by staying current on changes in technology and posing challenging problems for students. Thus in my courses, I have tried to develop materials that introduce students to particularly interesting power system problems, even if occasionally such topics veer from traditional core material.

Notable teaching awards

Moses E. and Mayme Brooks Distinguished Professor Award, College of Engineering, UTK, 2016,  for distinguished teaching and engineering practice
Outstanding EE Teaching Faculty, School of EECS, WSU, 2002-2003 (voted by students of EECS)
Outstanding EE Teaching Faculty, School of EECS, WSU, 1996-1997 (voted by students of EECS)

Supervised post-doctoral, visiting scholars and students

Supervised graduate students

Current students 

Graduated - Ph.D

Graduated - M.S. 

Plenary Talks, Invited Lectures, Short Courses and Tutorials

Other Teaching Artifacts

See publications list for complete materials. Of particular relevance to teaching are the following IEEE tutorial materials and other publications:

Courses taught since Ph.D. 

University of Tennessee and Washington State University
Graduate Courses 
Topic Course No.  Semesters Taught  Enrollments  Student Evaluations
Application of Constrained Optimization
ECE 619 (UTK) or
ECE 581 (WSU)
Spring 2013, Spring 2010, Spring 2007, Spring 2004,
Spring 2002, Spring 1999, Spring 1996, Fall 1993
19, 8, 9, 8,
11, 6, 8, 6
4.75/5.0
Power Systems Analysis I and II ECE 521 or 422/522 (UTK) or
EE 521 (WSU)
Spring 2016, Spring 2012, Spring 2011, Spring 2009, Fall 2001,
Fall 1998, Fall 1996, Fall 1994, Spring 1993 
8, 21, 9, 16, 8,
11, 5, 3, 18
4.74/5.0
Artificial Intelligence  CptS 541 (WSU) Spring 1995  -- 

Undergraduate Courses
Topic Course No.  Semesters Taught  Enrollments  Student Evaluations
Introduction to Electrical Power Systems  ECE 325 (UTK) or
EE 361 (WSU)
Spring 2017, Fall 2013, Fall 2002, Sping 2001, Spring 1997,
Fall 1997, Fall 1995, Spring 1994, Fall 1993 
20, 34, 56, 18, 20,
28, 35, 43, 34
4.00/5.0 
Electrical Power Systems Laboratory  EE 362 (WSU) Spring 2003, Fall 2002, Fall 2001, Spring 1999,
Fall 1997, Fall 1996, Fall 1995
15, 35, 25, 15,
20, 12, 18 
4.47/5.0 
Power Systems Analysis  EE 491 (WSU) Fall 2007, Spring 2004, Spring 2003, Spring 1998,
Spring 1996, Fall 1992 
19, 25, 25, 8,
13, 51 
4.23/5.0 


Teaching at visiting institutions - National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), National Sun Yat-Sen University (NSYSU), Royal Institute of Technology (RIT), Kumamoto University (KU), Boston University (BU)

Graduate Courses 
Course Title  University  Semesters Taught  Enrollments 
Soft Computational Methods in Power Systems KU Spring 2000, Fall 1999 5, 7
AI Applications in Power Systems  RIT  Spring 1992  10 
Special Topics in Fuzzy Sets  NSYU  Spring 1991 
Applications of Fuzzy Sets  NSYU, NCKU  Spring 1991, Spring 1990, Fall 1990 25, 20, 5 
Optimal Economic Operation of Power Systems  NCKU  Fall 1990 
Thesis Composition  NCKU  Fall 1990, Fall 1989, Fall 1988  10, 10 
Expert System Applications in Power Systems  NSYU, NCKU  Spring 1990, Spring 1989, Fall 1989, Fall 1988  10, 5, 10, 10 
Distribution Automation  NCKU  Fall 1989 
Power System Security  NSYU, NCKU  Spring 1989, Fall 1989  10, 5 
 
Undergraduate Courses
Course Title  University 
Semesters Taught  Enrollments 
Technical English KU Spring 2000, Fall 2000, Fall 1999  70, 60, 65
Energy Systems KU Fall 1999 15
Industrial Distribution Systems NCKU  Spring 1991, Spring 1990, Fall 1989  30, 15, 15 
Systems and Circuits  BU  Spring 1988  15 

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Kevin Tomsovic
August 2017