Exploring Engineering and Technology Course Syllabus

Course Description: The goal of this course is to provide you with an introduction to the principles of Engineering & Technology and its place in the modern world. This course will also help you to use technological systems effectively in your life, thus providing a foundation for successfully integrating your own interests with potential careers with the resources of a technological society. Exploring Engineering & Technology introduces and has you work through the engineering design process while looking at technological impacts on society. Exploring Engineering & Technology reinforces the areas of math, science, social studies, and language arts through practical application and/or hands-on activities. Exposure to Engineering & Technology related careers, work ethics and leadership skills will also be important components in this course. At the end of this course, you will understand how engineering & technology impact you and the world around you and careers available to you in the field.

Instructional Philosophy: In both individual and group activities you will experience ways in which technical knowledge and processes contribute to effective designs, abilities and skills that contribute to effective design and solutions to real word, technological problems. You will participate in design activities to gain an understanding on how criteria, constraints, and process affect design. Brainstorming, visualizing, modeling, constructing, testing, and refining designs provide firsthand opportunities for you to understand the uses and impacts of engineering and technology. In addition to classroom activities you are encouraged to join the Technology Student Association (TSA). TSA is a student focused organization that participates in local, state and national competitive, non-competitive and community service activities. The cost is $35 per year and is optional.

Course Goals: 1. Explore the nature of engineering and technology. 2. Measure the impacts of engineering and technology on the world around us. 3. Describe the design process. 4. Apply the design process by working through a real world problem 5. Examine the designed world of engineering, electronics, manufacturing and energy systems. 6. Research and investigate careers associated with engineering and technology. 7. Exhibit leadership skills and work ethics.

Major Course Assignments and Projects: Engineering Notebook-Each student will be required to have and complete an engineering notebook. An engineering notebook is a bound book that contains the ideas of its author, along with all notes, data, observations, calculations, and other information relevant to the discovery or experiment being conducted. It provides an important record of an engineer or inventor's work. When properly maintained, it may be submitted as a legal document for patent purposes or legal records.

Career Plan-You will select two careers and research those careers, outlining education requirements, career outlooks, wage and earnings, and other information specific to that career using Career Cruising. Each student will create a career poster based on their chosen career.

Model Rocket (optional)-Using an assembly line, students will construct a model rocket from materials provided in the lab. Instructions and diagrams will be recorded in their engineering notebook.

Measurement-You will complete series of assignments on using the English measurements system. After completing these assignments you will complete a written test.

Dragster-You will a construct a virtual CO2 dragster using Whitebox Learning systems. After satisfactorily constructing your dragster the file will then be exported to a CNC Milling system to construct an actual model of your design for further testing.

Assessment: Students will be assessed using the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Rubric:

Projects: Criterion A Investigate 0 – 6 Points Criterion B Design 0 – 6 Points Criterion C Plan 0 – 6 Points Criterion D Create 0 – 6 Points Criterion E Evaluate 0 – 6 Points Criterion F Attitudes in technology 0 – 6 Points Total 36 Points

Final Grade: 1 Minimal achievement in terms of the descriptors. 0-5 Very limited achievement against all the objectives. The student has difficulty in 2 understanding required knowledge and skills, and is unable to apply them fully in 6-9 normal situations, even with support. Limited achievement against most of the objectives, or clear difficulties in some areas. The student demonstrates a limited understanding of the required 3 10-15 knowledge and skills and is only able to apply them fully in normal situations with support. A good general understanding of the required knowledge and skills, and the ability 4 to apply them in effectively in normal situations. There is occasional evidence of the 16-21 skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills, and the ability to apply them in a variety of situations. The student generally shows 5 22-26 evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation where appropriate and occasionally demonstrates originality and insight. A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills, and the ability to apply them in a wide variety of situations. There is consistent evidence 6 27-31 of analysis, synthesis and evaluation where appropriate. The student generally demonstrates originality and insight. A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills, and the ability to apply them almost faultlessly in a wide variety of situations. There is 7 consistent evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation where appropriate. The 32-36 student consistently demonstrates originality and insight and always produces work of high quality.

If you need to make up work and are unable to catch up during class time, it will be necessary to make an appointment to come after school and use the facility. ALL assignments will be reduced by 5 points for every day they are late and will not be accepted more than 10 days after they are due (at which time the assignment will be worth a MAXIMUM of 50 points). Notebooks will not be accepted late unless a valid excuse is presented for an absence on the date that it was due.

Attendance: It is expected that you adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Student Handbook. It is your responsibility to inform me of any excused absences. Otherwise, all absences are assumed to be UNEXCUSED. Unexcused absences and tardies may result in detention, parent notification and may be reflected in your classroom participation grade.