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Engineering/Robotics Program |
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 In a day in age when many schools are being forced to close down specialty programs, Maranatha Christian Academy is embarking on a new engineering and robotics initiative for elementary and secondary students.
The vision of the Engineering and Robotics Program is to create a vertical progression of engineering course work (interdisciplinary science, math, technology, and technical communication) within the school that prepares students for the collegiate and corporate environment through open-ended projects, exploration, inventive thinking, experimentation, and innovation. Students will be immersed in an engineering design process that amplifies vested student learning and accelerates the students ability to absorb complex ideas.
What engineering/robotics concepts do students learn at each grade level?
5th Grade
At this grade level, a classroom set of Lego robotics kits is used to solve simple engineering problems. The students are responsible for building a robot that is capable of meeting a set of pre-determined criteria and performing a specified task. Students in 5th grade have opportunities to write simple, introductory level code to program their robots. The unit culminates with a project of building a slightly more complex robot and solving the engineering challenges associated with it. The main goal for these students is to become familiar with their robots and some of the basic programming techniques required to make them perform some simple tasks.
6th Grade
6th grade students solve more complex problems than the previous year while
performing more advanced programming. This class is in session later in the
school year than the 5th grade unit so that the same Lego sets may be used by
both classes. The culmination of the 6th grade unit is building a complex robot
capable of doing complex tasks for which the 7th and 8th grade
engineering/robotics class will serve as advisors. This will demonstrate to
these students the importance of communication skills needed in engineering. The
organization of the program is designed to foster anticipation and momentum in
the 5th and 6th graders so that they continue in these programs at the secondary
level.
7th and 8th Grades
 The 7th and 8th grade students are offered a semester-long class in engineering/robotics. This class works with one of the 5th grade classes and one of the 6th grade classes during the first semester, and then the second semester class works with the other classes at each grade level. These students focus on becoming adept programmers with the Lego NXT controller as well as solving design problems. One of their projects is to write the code for the robots designed by the 5th and 6th graders.
9th Grade: Engineering I
Students in Engineering I learn about stress forces, tolerancing, and reading technical drawings. Students are also be introduced to SolidWorks, a 3-D modeling program that is a standard piece of software used by many engineering and manufacturing firms. After attaining some expertise at SolidWorks, students then use their skills to design a battlebot to enter into competition in the Northwest Robotics League. Emphasis will be placed on developing teamwork, project management, taking a product from concept to completion, and communication skills.
10th Grade: Engineering II
This class is involved in advanced robotics, utilizing the Handyboard microcontroller and Interactive C as the programming language. Students learn how to function in goal-oriented teams that involve several different areas of engineering, including process/production, mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.
11th Grade: Engineering III - Aeronautical Engineering
Juniors take a one year elective Rocketry class that competes in the Team America Rocketry Challenge. This course introduces students to the concepts of design, production, testing and refining in the engineering process in general and aeronautical engineering.
12th Grade: Engineering IV
During their senior year, students have opportunities to experience the real work of engineers by taking part in a semester-long internship or job shadowing at local engineering firms. An alternate elective is Independent studies for students desiring to pursue special, advanced projects in engineering.
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