The Project Lead the Way (PLTW) course, Introduction to Engineering Design is an interdisciplinary study with an emphasis placed on learning the design development process. Students utilize their creativity to collaborate with other students through distance learning projects. In this course students develop the essential skills that engineers rely on everyday such as patent research, working with team members, hand-sketching, and proper engineering documentation with team members. Students apply the Design Loop to innovate and invent products in a continuous improvement model. State of the art technology including Autodesk’s Inventor, ANSYS, 3D Printing and ShopBot industrial automation, is used to allow students an opportunity to create prototypes and mock-ups of their individual and team solutions.
PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) T-202
PLTW Principles of Engineering is the course that follows T202 Introduction to Engineering Design in the Project Lead the Way sequence. This course uses project-based, hands-on experiences to teach students the key elements and skills of engineering and technology-based careers. Concepts in this course include communication and documentation, design processes, engineering systems, statics and strength of materials, materials and material testing in engineering, engineering for reliability, and kinematics. This course explores technology systems and manufacturing processes and addresses the social and political consequences of technological change. The applications of physics, trigonometry, and applied sciences are integrated in the course to solve engineering problems. With successful completion of coursework, student may obtain college credit.
PLTW Principles of Engineering (POE) T-302
This is a year-long honors course in laboratory electronics. This course covers digital electronics, starting with logic levels, truth tables, gates, flip-flops, registers, and counters. An emphasis is placed on the implementation of interfaces between analog and digital electronics, particularly when controlling and recording the results of typical engineering experiments. Students will make extensive use of the LabVIEW, Multi-Sim and other engineering software as a means of communication between a computer and external hardware. An independent project of the student’s design will serve as a semester culminating activity. Digital Electronics is a foundation course for those considering careers in computer science, electric engineering, software engineering, hardware engineering, as well as other fields of engineering.
This is a dual credit course, simultaneously earning credit for ELT 203 at the college level.
This is a dual credit course, simultaneously earning credit for ELT 203 at the college level.
PLTW Digital Electronics (DE) T-408
Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA) is the study of the design and construction of residential and commercial building projects. This honors course includes an introduction to many of the varied factors involved in building design and construction including building components and systems, structural design, storm water management, site design, utilities and services, cost estimation, energy efficiency, and careers in the design and construction industry. The major focus of the CEA course is to expose students to the design and construction of residential and commercial building projects, design teams and teamwork, communication methods, engineering standards, and technical documentation. Students will analyze, design, and build electronic and physical models of residential and commercial facilities. While implementing these designs students will continually hone their interpersonal skills, creative abilities, and understanding of the design process. Students will use state of the art software, as used in the industry, to aid in the design process.
PLTW Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA) T-418
In this honors course students explore the diverse fields of biological engineering through the lens of environmental sustainability. Hands-on projects engage students in engineering design problems related to biomechanics, cardiovascular engineering, genetic engineering, tissue engineering, biomedical devices, bioinformatics, bioethics, water quality, food security, and alternative fuels. Students, usually at the 11th and 12th grade level, apply biological and engineering concepts to design materials and processes that directly measure, repair, improve and extend living systems. With successful completion of coursework, student may obtain college credit.
PLTW Biological Engineering and Environmental Sustainability (BE) T-428
How are things made? What processes go into creating products? Is the process for making a water bottle the same as it is for a musical instrument? How do assembly lines work? How has automation changed the face of manufacturing? While students discover the answers to these questions in this honors course, they’re learning about the history of manufacturing, robotics and automation, manufacturing processes, computer modeling, manufacturing equipment, and flexible manufacturing systems. (Students must travel to Palatine High School to take this course)
PLTW Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) T-438