By clicking on the course names below, you will jump to a course description. Use the "back" key to bring you back to this list.
Introduction to Technology is a course of study designed to enable 7th, and 8th grade students to understand the concepts that underlie technological systems. Students will learn about the influence of technological systems on their total lifestyle, including home, school, and the world of work.
Through a study of the resources which are generic to all technologies, and a focus on how they are all combined in technological systems, students are provided with conceptual tools that can be useful in solving technological problems in three aspects of technology: biologically-related technology, information/communication technology, and physical technology. Students further their understanding of technology as they view the ways that human beings combine the resources of technology to create technological systems.
This course was designed to be taught through the use of "hands-on" activities that encourage mental processing skills such as: creative thinking, decision making, critical thinking, and problem solving. Ideally, we should strive to spend at least 75 percent of our time on "design and construct" activities.
Tech 8 is a continuation of Introduction to Technology, which is started
in the 7th grade. Students will encounter more challenging activities,
and will further develop their problem-solving abilities.
A 1-unit course which emphasizes creative problem solving, designing,
and technical drawing. The course reflects the approach used in business
and industry to develop new products. Students develop solutions to various
design problems and proposed solutions are researched, sketched, refined,
and rendered as technical drawings. Basic elements of design, and the six
basic areas of technical drawing (orthographic projection, pictorial drawing,
sections, auxilliary drawings, revolutions, transitions, and developments)
are covered. This course satisfies the 1-unit art/music requirement for
all students.
A 1/2-unit course which explores the history, components, applications,
design functions and career opportunities within computer-aided design.
Graphic problems will be solved using the CAD system to acquire technical
drawing skills and an understanding of industrial standards. This course
allows students with basic traditional drafting skills to transfer those
skills to current industrial practices. Students learn the basic command
structure and abilities of AutoCad, the industry leader in Computer Aided
Design software.
A 1/2-unit course which expands on the concepts learned in Computer
Aided Design and Design & Drawing for Production
to include 3-dimensional CAD and computer-aided manufacturing. Graphic
problems will be solved using the CAD/CAM systems while CNC (Computer-Numerically
Controlled) systems will produce an actual 3-D prototype. Emphasis will
be placed on the use of computer technology and an understanding of the
role of CAD/CAM and its effects on the design and manufacturing process.
A 1/2 unit study of design and drafting related to building construction.
Topics include culture and history, tools and techniques, lettering and
dimensioning, and preparation of site, floor, elevation, section, and perspective
drawings. This course satisfies 1/2-unit of the art/music graduation
requirement for students pursuing any occupational sequence.
A 1/2 unit course providing study of the forms and sources of energy,
energy conversion, the laws of thermodynamics, solar heating and cooling,
energy-conscious design, and photovoltaics. This course offers several
opportunities for experimentation and problem-solving.
A 1/2 unit course providing instruction in the manufacturing aspects
of production. It is organized around five topics which correlate very
closely the the universal systems model: manufacturing inputs, resources,
processes, outputs, and controls. Students study the history of manufacturing,
material sources and conversion, tools and machines, manufacturing processes
and social and environmental impacts.
A 1/2 unit course providing instruction in the construction aspects
of production. Topics have been specifically tailored to construction of
a structure on a site. They include planning, sources of capital, and building
foundations, superstructures, floors, walls, ceilings, and roofs. The impact
of construction on the environment is discussed as well.
A 1/2 unit course providing instruction in the electronic, graphic,
and photographic systems which people use to communicate information and
ideas. The projects are driven by client needs, and the communication processes
used to meet them. Included are media such as television, radio, motion
pictures, printing, photography, and computer-based communication.
A 1/2 unit course introducing the growing field of aerospace activities. Topics include: historical evolution of aerospace, fundementals of flight, navigation, communication, meteorology, flight physiology, propulsion systems, space technology, and aerospace carreers and occupations.
A 1/2-unit course providing a broad, generic view of the way humans
convert materials. The course focuses on processing of a variety of materials
such as wood, metal, plastics and composites through techniques of forming,
separating, combining, and conditioning.