NHS Program of Studies: Engineering Technology - Niskayuna Central School District

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Engineering Technology Courses

Technology is constantly changing and improving the lives of people in our world and engineers are at the center of this progress. Engineering Technology educators are committed to ensuring that our students keep pace with the technological innovations of today and are prepared for the careers of tomorrow.

Engineering Technology courses offer a variety of active experiences including research, design, and development of concepts and prototypes. Through this hands-on, project-based approach, students learn new skills and apply what they have learned in other disciplines. We help students make connections between disciplines and answer the question “how does what I am learning affect my life?”

Each of the Engineering Technology classes will help students develop critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, communication and problem-solving skills. The program provides a solid foundation for students who plan to pursue a scientific, technical or engineering career.

Our Project Lead The Way (PLTW) courses are part of a nationally recognized program that provides the opportunity to earn college credit*. Additionally, students can earn college credit through the interdisciplinary Professional and Technical Writing course, offered with the English Department. Design & Drawing for Production (DDP) is the foundation course for students interested in our broad spectrum of course offerings.

*Students taking PLTW courses that are interested in earning college credit will be more successful in meeting the PLTW final assessment criteria if they are achieving success in their grade level Regents or higher level math and science classes.

Engineering Technology Program: Recommended Progression

A flowchart that shows the progression of engineering technology courses

74045 DESIGN & DRAWING FOR PRODUCTION (DDP)*

1 year,. 1 HS credit /3 College credits – RIT, Grades 9-12

This course builds on the creation of engineering drawings learned in middle school technology. The goal is to illustrate how designers and engineers make drawings that can be used worldwide to make all of the things that are used in daily life. This course offers students the chance to practice the engineering design process to develop and make actual products, to learn the manufacturing design process, and to develop skills in concept sketching, multi-view drawings, drafting equipment, 3D computer modeling, 3D assemblies, and animations. Students will also be able to use tools and industrial equipment to make designs. Finally, design challenges will be given that can be solved using creativity as well as the skills learned in class. In addition, this Project Lead the Way (PLTW) course provides the opportunity for students to earn three college credits from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) following completion of the PLTW final assessment criteria.
*This class will satisfy the NYS requirement for one credit of art or music requirement.

74106 CIVIL ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE

1 year, 1 HS credit / 3 College Credits – RIT, Grades 10-12

This course may be taken for three college credits through RIT. This course is the study of the design and construction of residential and commercial building projects. The course includes an introduction to many of the varied factors involved in building design and construction including building components and systems, structural design, storm water management, site design, utilities and services, cost estimation, energy efficiency, and careers in the design and construction industry. This course offers students the chance to perform many interesting activities, including model making, visualization, computer modeling (Autodesk Revit), simulations, virtual walk-throughs. The major focus of this course is to expose students to the design and construction of residential and commercial building projects, design teams and teamwork, communication methods, engineering standards, and technical documentation. Prerequisite: Design & Drawing for Production

74566 DIGITAL ELECTRONICS

1 year, 1 HS credit / 3 College credits – RIT, Grades 10-12

This course may be taken for three college credits through RIT. From smartphones to appliances, digital circuits are all around us. This course provides a foundation for students who are interested in electrical engineering, electronics, or circuit design. Students study topics such as combinational and sequential logic and are exposed to circuit design tools used in industry, including logic gates, integrated circuits, and programmable logic devices. Prerequisite: Design & Drawing for Production

74185 ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

1 year, 1 credit, Grades 10-12

This course builds on the manufacturing process and developing skills learned in Design & Drawing for Production (DDP) with the goal of having students mimic professional work environments that have implemented team oriented design, production, safety and quality. The course focuses on high-tech machines and processes that are used in industry today, including milling, drilling, and turning. A State of the art lab equipped with CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machine tools is used to provide real life experience as well as assess the learned skills. Additional class activities include research and development, designing manufacturing processes, engineering and planning, as well as selection of tools, software and machines to solve problems. Skills learned in this class will help students to successfully compete in the global marketplace. Prerequisite: Design & Drawing for Production (DDP)

74556 PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING

1 year, 1 HS credit / 3 College credits – RIT, Grades 10-12

This course may be taken for three college credits through RIT. Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. Students develop skills in problem-solving, research, and design while learning strategies for design process documentation, collaboration, and presentation. Prerequisite: Design & Drawing for Production (DDP)

74670 COMPUTER INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING (CIM)

1 year, 1 HS credit / 3 College credits – RIT, Grades 10-12

This course builds on the design and 3D computer modeling learned in Design and Drawing for Production (DDP) with the goal of showing students how engineers and manufacturers design automated systems for efficient mass production purposes. Students will learn to use the state-of-the-art computer numeric controlled (CNC) equipment in the prototyping lab and develop skills through activities and projects such as making models of 3D designs and using control systems, sensors, and robotics. In addition, this Project Lead the Way (PLTW) course provides the opportunity for students to earn three college credits from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) by meeting the PLTW final assessment criteria. Prerequisite: Design & Drawing for Production (DDP)

74130 ROBOTICS

1 year, 1 credit, Grades 10-12

Robotics is a course for students who are interested in the development, building and programming of robotic systems to solve problems. Robotics is a rapidly growing career field where computer science and engineering is used to help solve a variety of societal and industrial issues. Students will work using a team based hands-on approach to design, build and program robots to simulate relevant applications in a number of areas (examples could include areas such as medicine, manufacturing, rehabilitation, the environment, etc.). Projects are often multidisciplinary and can provide experiences that expose students to branches such as computer programming, mechanical and electrical engineering. The course will show students how engineering technologies provide a gateway to rapidly growing college and career opportunities that make substantial contributions to society and in solving problems on a global scale. Prerequisite: Design & Drawing for Production (DDP)

37310 NANOSCALE SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

1 semester, 1/2 credit, Grades 10-12

This course is designed to introduce students to the rapidly advancing field of nanotechnology and its applications. Basic chemistry and physics topics will be covered as they relate to nanotechnology. Students will be exposed to an introduction of the study of materials including metals, ceramics, polymers and electronic materials. Students will investigate the relationship between bonding, structure and properties of these materials. At the end of the semester, students should be able to appreciate the underlying principles of size-dependent properties and the processing and fabrication of these materials at the molecular level. This is a College in the High School accredited course which provides an opportunity for students to earn three college credits from Schenectady Community College (SCCC) upon successful completion of the course criteria.

Prerequisite: Students must have completed Living Environment (R or H) and passed the Regents exam.

74706 SENIOR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

1 year, 1 Credit, Grade 12

This course is an introduction to real-world research and development (R&D) work with the goal of making a prototype that solves a problem selected by student teams. Students will work with a community mentor on this project. They will apply the principles and skills developed in this class, including project management, and in previous engineering technology, math and science courses. Problems can be chosen from a variety of engineering applications ranging from alternative energy to aerospace. Students will maintain an engineering notebook, a crucial element of the patent process. In addition, students will be responsible for delivering progress reports and making a final presentation of their team’s project in a science fair format.

Prerequisites: Principles of Engineering AND Computer Integrated Manufacturing or Advanced Manufacturing