Grade 15 - Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Engineering and Design (Credit: 0.50)Engineering and Design is part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and career path. By building real-world problem-solving and critical thinking skills, students learn how to innovate and design new products and improve existing products. Students are introduced to the engineering design process to build new products and to the reverse engineering process, which enables engineers to adjust any existing product.
Students will also address how fluid power is used by engineers to make difficult maneuvers easier, increasing efficiency and minimizing effects on the environment. Students then identify how engineering and design have a direct impact on the sustainability of our environment and the greening of our economy. Finally, students incorporate the engineering design process, environmental life cycle, and green engineering principles to create a decision matrix to learn how to solve environmental issues.
Engineering and Innovation (Credit: 0.50)The Engineering and Innovation course will provide students with an understanding of the field of engineering and introduction to the concepts of invention and innovation, as well as some of the skills and tools necessary to invent and innovate. This information will provide students with the ability to invent and innovate in their field of choice.
Students will learn details about the scope and nature of the field of engineering. They will also learn about the history of invention and innovation and how those activities play a role in the advancement of human society. Students will be introduced to patents, regulations, and ethical and professional standards that apply in the fields of engineering and invention.
Students will also learn about analytical modeling and problem solving, interpreting the results of models and experiments, and understanding how bias impacts outcomes. In addition, students will learn about innovations and inventions in the fields of biomedicine and the environment and how those fields have impacted the health and well being of society. Lastly, students will learn about career choices and organizations and resources available for individuals who wish to incorporate invention and innovation into their careers and lives.
Engineering and Product Development (Credit: 0.50)Engineers address society’s needs and problems by designing and producing products and services. The field is diverse and includes professionals who design skyscrapers, design machinery, oversee public works, and develop software and systems.
The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the concepts of product engineering and development. Students will analyze the life cycle of a product to prepare a product for distribution and for target markets. The course begins with building an understanding of the product life cycle, from the initial idea to drafting requirements to using 3-D modeling tools and other design tools. The final unit focuses on assembling the pieces within a project plan to achieve a product and evaluating the plans for a successful product launch. In addition, the course will provide information about the different careers available to students interested in engineering, product development, and project management.
Introduction to STEM (Credit: 0.50)This semester-length high school elective introduces students to the four areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through an interdisciplinary approach that will increase awareness, build knowledge, develop problem solving skills, and potentially awaken an interest in pursuing a career in STEM. Students will be introduced to the history, fundamental principles, applications, processes, and concepts of STEM. Students will explore some of the great discoveries and innovations in STEM and review and analyze some of the world’s problems that still exist today.
Students are introduced to several computer applications used to analyze and present technical or scientific information. They will also gain a higher understanding of the uses for images and measurement in everyday life. Finally, students will be challenged to use a selection of problem- solving strategies to solve a wide variety of unique problems representative of the kinds of strategies frequently used in these disciplines. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to gain a better awareness of their specific strengths through practical applications and awareness of the various careers in STEM.
Principles of Technology and Engineering (Credit: 0.50)The Principles of Technology and Engineering course will introduce students to the field of engineering and the types of technology that can result from the engineering design process. Student will also gain an understanding of the career options available in this field, and the skills, education, and experience needed to obtain these careers.
Students will learn how to be successful problem solvers. They will become familiar with the steps in the invention process and will investigate the ways in which engineers take an idea from an initial concept to a working technology. They will learn about real-world examples of engineering innovations, including global civil engineering projects, cutting-edge medical technology, and environmentally friendly designs.
Students will also learn about the relationship between engineering, science, and technology. They will learn how scientific knowledge is applied to create technology that benefits society. Additionally, students will learn how design modifications can be made based on an analysis of the underlying principles from physics, chemistry, biology, and the earth sciences.
Science & Mathematics in the Real World (Credit: 0.50)Science and mathematics are part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) multi-dimensional strategy that can effectively sustain our twenty-first century knowledge-based economy. STEM careers provide a wide variety of opportunities to understand and address global issues. The most pressing issues of this generation include overpopulation, environmental degradation, pollution, and global warming. These are all subjects of intense and dedicated research by STEM professionals in very diverse fields.
In this course, students will focus on how to apply science and mathematics concepts to the development of plans, processes, and projects that address real world problems, including sustainability and “green†technologies. This course also highlights how science and mathematics and the applications of STEM will be impacted as a result of the development of a greener economy.
The course exposes students to a wide variety of STEM applications and to real world problems from the natural sciences, technology fields, and the world of sports, and emphasizes the diversity of STEM career paths. The importance of math, critical thinking, and mastering scientific and technological skill sets is highlighted throughout. Challenging and enjoyable activities provide multiple opportunities to develop critical thinking skills and the application of the scientific method, and to work on real world problems using STEM approaches.
Scientific Research (Credit: 0.50)The course Scientific Research describes these activities from the point of view of a professional scientist. While this inside look should appeal to students of all ages, the lessons provide support, accessible ideas, and specific language that do not dumb down the content but rather guide students at their own pace through most of the steps, insights, and experiences they would eventually face if they continue through higher education toward a graduate degree.
On the other hand, knowing the practical, everyday basics of scientific thinking and laboratory activity could also serve as a necessary first step to a career as a technician or a lab assistant. While these jobs are hands-on and technical, the intellectual and historical background covered in the course provides an awareness that is essential to working in such an atmosphere.
STEM & Problem Solving (Credit: 0.50)Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are active components in the real world. This course will outline how to apply the concepts and principles of scientific inquiry, encouraging the use of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to produce viable solutions to problems.
Students will learn the scientific method, how to use analytical tools and techniques, how to construct tests and evaluate data, and how to review and understand statistical information. This course is designed to help students understand what we mean by problem solving and to help understand and develop skills and techniques to create solutions to problems.
Advanced problem-solving skills are necessary in all science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines and career paths. This problem-solving course stresses analytic skills to properly format problem statements, use of the scientific method to investigate problems, the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches to construct tests, and an introduction to reviewing and interpreting statistical information.
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