The class will participate in more advanced hands-on, constructivist activities through a variety of engineering activities and challenges. These major activities, after preliminary training, will involve a problem solving design process as well as incorporating many of the Standards for Technological Literacy listed below. Knowledge content areas will include:
• Energy Engineering: Students will work with various alternative energy technologies, especially solar photovoltaic and water heating applications. Students will learn how to assemble and install commercially available PV and solar hot water equipment. They will also learn about the underlying scientific principles of their operation and design. Students will design and build their own energy devices. Performance data will be obtained and analyzed using various sensors, data loggers and computers.
• Machining and Custom Prototype Fabrication: You will be trained in the safe use of various machine tools that will allow you to actually fabricate your own mechanical components. This is an important part of engineering.
Mechanical Systems: students will learn about and utilize various gearing, drive-train and other mechanical components to create mechanical solutions of their own design to various engineering challenges. Examples: a tug-o-war machine, ramp jumper, door frame climber, terrain pit vehicle, etc.
• CAD-CAM: Students will use CAD software to model various parts including parts of their own design. They will also work with CAM plug-ins to assist CNC machine tools in the fabrication of these parts. CNC stands for computer numerical control.
• CNC Programming: good CNC programming is essential to producing prototypes and products on CNC equipment. These programming skills will involve understanding “G-code” language including G codes, M codes and various programming techniques such as macro-subroutines. Students will be introduced to CNC machining.
• Problem Solving: our engineering challenge activities will involve creative thinking and a good deal of problem solving. The Engineering Design Process which includes identifying a problem, researching it, designing a solution, building a prototype, testing and refining the prototype will be emphasized.
The class will also participate in readings and discussions related to the following areas that follow the Standards for Technological Literacy:
• Nature of Technology
o The Characteristics and Scope of Technology (What is Technology?)
o The Core Concepts of Technology: Systems, Resources, Processes
o Relationships Among Technologies and the Connections Between Technologies and Other Fields
• Technology and Society
o The cultural, social, economic and political effects of technology
o The effects of technology on the environment
o The role of society in the development and use of technology
o The influence of technology on history
• Design
o The attributes of design
o Engineering Design process
o The role of Troubleshooting, Research & Development, Invention, Innovation and Experimentation in Problem Solving
• Abilities for a Technological World
o Apply Design Processes
o Use & Maintain Technological Products & Systems
o Assess the impact of Products & Systems
• The Designed World
Information & Communication Technologies
Manufacturing Technologies
Construction Technologies
Transportation Technologies
Agriculture & Related Bio-Technologies
Medical Technologies
Back to Mr. Davis' Pre-Engineering Classes (click here)
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