Pre-Engineering High School Course Offerings
The High School Program is a four year sequence of courses which, when combined with traditional mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering prior to entering college. However, those not intending to pursue further formal education will benefit greatly from the knowledge and logical thought processes that result from taking some or all of the courses provided in the curriculum. Foundation Courses: Principles of Engineering, Introduction to Engineering Design, Digital Electronics; Specializtion Courses: Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Biotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Aerospace Engineering, Capstone Course: EDD.
Course Descriptions
Principles of Engineering - A course that helps students understand the field of engineering/ engineering technology. Exploring various technology systems and manufacturing processes help students learn how engineers and technicians use math, science and technology in an engineering problem solving process to benefit people. The course also includes concerns about social and political consequences of technological change.
Digital Electronics - A course in applied logic that encompasses the application of electronic circuits and devices. Computer simulation software is used to design and test digital circuity prior to the actual construction of circuits and devices.
Introduction to Engineering Design - A course that teaches problem-solving skills using a design development process. Models of products solutions are created, analyzed and communicated using solid models of computer design software.
Civil Engineering and Architecture - This course provides and overview of the fields of Civil Engineering Architecture, while emphazing the interrelationship and dependences of both fields on each other. Students use state of the art software to solve real world problems and communicate solutions to hands-on projects. A Sample of topics include the following:
Engineering Design & Development - Engineering Design & Development is a capstone course. It is a research course that requires students to formulate the solution to an open-ended engineering question. With a community mentor and skills gained in their previous courses, students create written reports on their applications, defend the reports, and submit them to a panel of outside reviewers at the end of the school year.
John Dewey theorized that learnig should not only prepare one for life, but should also be an integral part of life itself. Stimulating real problems and real problem-solving is one function of project learning. Projects assists students in succeeding in life because they allow learners to apply multiple intelligences in completing a project that has meaning and that they can be proud of
Project work and systematic instruction can be seen as providing complementary learning opportunities. Students will know how to use a skill but also when to use it. They will learn to recognize, for themselves, the contexts in which a skill might be useful and what purposes it most appropriately will serve. In step by step, systematic instruction students will acquire the skills they need and then apply those skills in meaningful contecxts by solving problems posed in prospects.
Through projects students demonstrate mastered skills and knowledge, rather than parroting phrases or concepts on short answer, multiple choice, true/false sets of evaluations. For this reason authentic assessment is a viable option. This assessment can take the form of structured observations, checklists, rubrics, and portfolios to match the activities the students use to demonstrate content mastery
Students can apply to Northwestern's Pre-Engineering Program by downloading the application, complete and turn in to Mr. Evans in room B-211. Pre-Engineering Application
Friday 22th May, 2008 : Comments