Grade 11 Honors

Prerequisite: Required - Digital Electronics

Computer Integrated Manufacturing is a specialization course in the Project Lead the Way program. Students study manufacturing history, manufacturing planning, manufacturing processes, systems integration, and implementation of automation within the manufacturing industry. Students are required to use knowledge acquired in Introduction to Engineering Design, Digital Electronics, and Principles of Engineering to solve problems relating to product design, computer numerical control, robotics, and programming. Solving these problems requires students to implement their designs as they hone interpersonal skills, creative abilities, and understanding of the design process. Students apply knowledge gained throughout the course in a final open-ended problem to bring a product idea to fruition.

DIGITAL ELECTRONICS

Grade 10 Honors

Prerequisite: Required - Introduction to Engineering Design

DE is a course in applied logic that encompasses the application of electronic circuits and devices. Students will be introduced to digital circuits found in video games, watches, calculators, digital cameras, and thousands of other devices. Students will study the application of digital logic and how digital devices are used to control automated equipment. The use of digital circuitry is present in virtually all aspects of our lives and its use is increasing rapidly. Computer simulation software is used to design and test digital circuitry prior to the actual construction of circuits and devices. This course is similar to a first semester college course and is an important course of study for a student exploring a career in engineering or engineering technology.

PLTW Program Course Descriptions

INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING DESIGN

Grade 9 Honors

Prerequisite: Required – Application acceptance to PLTW Program by committee

Introduction to Engineering Design is the introductory course for the national Project Lead The Way program. This course concentrates on developing student problem-solving skills, with emphasis placed on the development of three-dimensional solid models. Students will apply basic technical drawing skills and techniques to demonstrate their understanding of how engineers design products that solve problems and improve the quality of life. Students will work from sketching simple geometric shapes to applying a solid modeling computer software package. They will examine the problem-solving design process and how it is used in industry to design a functional product. 3D modeling software will be used to create, analyze, and evaluate product design.

PLTW Capstone is an engineering design and development research course in which students work in teams to design, construct, test, and analyze the solution to an open-ended engineering problem from an original idea, taken from a database of problems, or a national challenge while applying the principles and skills developed in the four preceding courses. Students will maintain an engineering notebook as part of a portfolio of their work. Each team will be responsible for delivering progress reports and making final presentations of their project solution to an outside review panel and community members. The completed portfolio will be invaluable as students apply to college.

Grade 11 Honors

Prerequisite: Required - Digital Electronics

Principles of Engineering is a high school-level survey course in engineering. Students explore some of the major concepts they will encounter in a college engineering course of study. Students investigate engineering topics which include: mechanisms, energy sources and applications, machine control, fluid power, statics, material properties, material testing, statistics, kinematics, and traffic flow analysis. Principles of Engineering provides the opportunity to develop skills and understanding of course concepts through activity, project, and problem-based learning. This course challenges students to hone interpersonal skills, creative abilities, and problem-solving skills while investigating engineering concepts. Students will develop strategies to enable and direct their own learning throughout the duration of the course.