| PROJECT LEAD THE WAY |
Computer Science Essentials / Introduction to Computer Science (PLTW) : 2955 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit This course is designed to be the first computer science course for students who have never programmed before. It is a fun, foundational course that helps prepare students for success in the PLTW Computer Science program. In PLTW Computer Science Essentials, students will experience the major topics, big ideas, and computational thinking practices used by computing professionals to solve problems and create value for others. They will use a visual programming language and advance to text-based programming. Throughout the course, students will have opportunities to apply computational thinking practices and collaborate just as computing professionals do to create products that address topics and problems important to them. This is a hands-on course. Students will work in teams to create solutions and problem-solve. This course is only offered at Durgee Junior High Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles (PLTW) : 6433 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: Algebra I Examination with an 80% average is suggested Open doors in any career with computer science. Students create apps for mobile devices, automate tasks in a variety of languages, find patterns in data, and interpret simulations. Students collaborate to create and present solutions that can improve people’s lives. How will computing and connectivity transform your world: Unit 1: Algorithms, Graphics, and Graphical User Interfaces (48%) Unit 2: The Internet (18%) Unit 3: Raining Reigning Data (17%) Unit 4: Intelligent Behavior (17%) This course is highly recommended for students interested in careers in computer science, engineering, or business. This course will require strong reading and logic/reasoning skills. All students enrolled in this course must take the Advanced Placement exam given in May. A fee will be charged for the AP exam. Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science A (PLTW) : 6434 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: Passed Computer Science Principles or C++ This course is the second course in the PLTW Computer Science Pathway. We currently offer the first course. CSA focuses on integrating technologies across multiple platforms and networks, including the Internet. Students collaborate to produce programs that integrate mobile devices and leverage those devices for distributed collection and data processing. Students analyze, adapt, and improve each other’s programs while working primarily in Java™ and other industry-standard tools. This course prepares students for the College Board’s Advanced Placement CS-A test and aligns with CSTA Level 3C Standards. All students enrolled in this course must take the Advanced Placement exam given in May. A fee will be charged for the AP exam. PLTW Cybersecurity: 6435 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: Previously taken at least one computer science class or C++ Cybersecurity introduces the tools and concepts of cybersecurity and encourages students to create solutions that allow people to share computing resources while protecting privacy. Nationally, computational resources are vulnerable and frequently attacked; in Cybersecurity, students solve problems by understanding and closing these vulnerabilities. This course raises students’ knowledge of and commitment to ethical computing behavior. It also aims to develop students’ skills as consumers, friends, citizens, and employees who can effectively contribute to communities with a dependable cyber-infrastructure that moves and processes information safely.
PLTW - Principles of the Biomedical Sciences : 3925 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: Concurrent Enrollment in College Preparatory Science and Mathematics Courses This is the 1st of a 4 course sequence in Biomedical Sciences. This course will provide students the opportunity to work on the study of human medicine, research processes and an introduction to bioinformatics. Students will investigate the human body systems and various health conditions including: heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and infectious diseases. This course is taught only at Durgee Jr. High School. PLTW - Human Body Systems : 3601 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: Concurrent Enrollment in College Preparatory Science and Math Courses This is the 2nd of a 4 course sequence in Biomedical Sciences. Students examine the interactions of body systems as they explore identity, communication, power, movement, protection, and homeostasis. Students design experiments, investigate the structures and functions of the human body, and use data software to monitor body functions like muscle movement, reflex and voluntary action, and respiration. Exploring science in action, students build organs and tissues on a skeletal manikin, work through interesting real world cases and often play the role of biomedical professionals to solve medical mysteries. PLTW - Medical Interventions : 3602 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: PLTW Human Body Systems and Concurrent Enrollment in College Preparatory Science and Mathematics Courses This is the 3rd of a 4 course sequence in Biomedical Sciences. Students investigate a variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease as they follow the life of a fictitious family. The course is a “How-To” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body. Students explore how to prevent and fight infection; screen and utilize the code in human DNA to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer; and prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through these scenarios, students are exposed to a range of interventions related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. PLTW - Biomedical Innovation : 3603 : 40 Weeks : 1 Credit Prerequisite: PLTW Medical Interventions and Concurrent Enrollment in College Preparatory Science and Mathematics Courses This is the 4th of a 4 course sequence in Biomedical Sciences. Students design innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century. They work through progressively challenging open-ended problems, addressing topics such as clinical medicine, physiology, biomedical engineering, and public health. They have the opportunity to work on an independent project with a mentor or advisor from a university, hospital, research institution, or the biomedical industry. At the culmination of the course students are expected to present their work to an audience of STEM professionals. This course is designed for 12th grade students.
PLTW-Introduction to Engineering Design: 7652 : 40 weeks : 1 Credit Introduction to Engineering Design is an introductory course, which develops student problem solving skills, with emphasis placed upon the concept of developing a 3-D model or solid rendering of an object. Students focus on the application of visualization processes and tools provided by modern, state of-the-art, computer hardware and software. Offered at Durgee Junior High only. Introduction to Engineering and Production: is an introductory course, which develops student problem solving skills, with emphasis placed upon the concept of developing a 3-D model or solid rendering of an object. Students focus on the application of visualization processes and tools provided by modern, state of-the-art, computer hardware and software. (DDP/PLTW may be used as an art requirement). PTLW-Digital Electronics : 7662 : 40 weeks : 1 Credit Digital Electronics is a course of study in applied digital logic. The course is patterned after the first semester course in Digital Electronics taught in two and four year colleges. Students will study the application of electronic logic circuits and devices and apply Boolean logic to the solution of problems. Such circuits are found in watches, calculators, video games, computers and thousands of other devices. The use of smart circuits is present in virtually all aspects of our lives and its use is increasing rapidly, making digital electronics an important course of study for a student exploring a career in engineering/engineering technology. Using Electronics Workbench (EWB), the industry standard, students will test and analyze simple and complex digital circuitry. Students will design circuits using EWB, export their designs to a printed circuit auto routing program that generates printed circuit boards, and construct the design using chips and other components. PTLW-Aerospace Engineering : 7670 : 40 weeks : 1 Credit Aerospace engineering is a course of study in aerodynamics. The course expands student’s horizons with projects developed by astronauts, space-life sciences, systems engineering, and NASA-aerodynamics. Students will have the opportunity to use flight simulators, as well as a wind tunnel to test engineering designs. PLTW - Principles of Engineering : 7672 : 40 weeks : 1 Credit This is a broad-based survey course designed to help students understand the field of engineering and engineering technology and its career possibilities. Students will develop engineering problem solving skills that are involved in post-secondary education programs and engineering careers. They will explore various engineering systems and manufacturing processes. The main purpose of this course is to experience through theory and hands-on problem-solving activities what engineering is and “Is a career in engineering or engineering technology for me:” PLTW - Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) : 7682 : 40 weeks : 1 Credit This course is an introduction to Robotics and CNC Machining. Builds upon the computer solid modeling design skills developed in PLTW - Design Drawing for Production (DDP). Students will be presented with design problems that require the use of AutoCAD Inventor to develop solutions to problems. They will use rapid prototyping equipment to produce three-dimensional models of the solutions, as well as learn how to program a CNC machine and Robots to create their design. PLTW - Engineering Design and Development (EDD) : 7654 : 40 weeks : 1 Credit In this course, students will work in teams of two to four to design and construct the solution to an engineering problem, applying the principles developed in the four preceding courses. The problem may be selected from a database of engineering problems, be a recognized national challenge or be an original engineering problem identified by the team and approved by the teacher. The problems will involve a wide range of engineering applications (e.g. a school robo-mascot, automated solar water heater, remote control hover craft). Students will maintain a journal as part of a portfolio of their work. Each team will be responsible for delivering progress reports and making final presentations of their project to an outside review panel. |
