T428 PLTW Biological Engineering and Environmental Sustainability
Mr. Karasch
William Fremd High School
mkarasch@d211.org
@mrkarasch
Mr. Karasch
William Fremd High School
mkarasch@d211.org
@mrkarasch
Course Description
The major focus of this course is to expose students to the diverse fields of Biological engineering including biomedical engineering, molecular genetics, bioprocess engineering, and agricultural and environmental engineering. Lessons engage students in engineering design problems related to Biomechanics, genetic engineering, agricultural biotechnology, tissue engineering, biomedical devices, bioethics, bioinformatics, and conservation. Students in this course apply biological and engineering concepts to design materials and processes that directly measure, repair, improve and extend living systems. While Biological Engineering is a vast topic, we will look at these topics through the lens of Environmental Sustainability.
Course Organization
This class is presented with both lecture and lab portions. Much of the class will be devoted to hands-on lab, and engineering design based work.
Course Topics
1. General Biotechnical History and Careers
2. Global responsibility
3. Bioethics
4. Global Water Distribution
5. Water Testing/Filtration
6. Bioremediation
7. World Food Security
8. Bioinformatics
9. DNA Extraction/Amplification/Modification
10. GMO(Genetically Modified Organisms)
11. Genetic transformation
12. Restriction Analysis
13. Renewable Energy
14. Fermentation
15. Biodiesel
16. Biomedical
17. Cardiac
18. Orthotics/Prosthetics
Text and Required Supplies
1. No Textbook required for class
2. Supplies: Students will be provided an iPad.
3. Students will need to build several designs throughout the course from a water filtration unit, to an orthotic or prosthetic. These designs can be built from refuse, and some building materials will be provided by the school. Often, the student will desire to purchase additional materials for their design for ease of use or better fit and finish.
Grading and Assessments
This course is split into areas of mastery. Each quarter will have approximately 9 areas of mastery. When a student receives 80% of the points in an area, they will be said to have achieved mastery for that area. The quarter grade will be a reflection of the number of areas that have been mastered.
0-1 Areas achieved mastery = F
2-3 Areas achieved mastery = D
4-5 Areas achieved mastery = C
6-7 Areas achieved mastery = B
8-9 Areas achieved mastery = A
Within Schoology, you will see assignment grades that will be used to determine mastery for each area. The midterm comments will be used to indicate progress students are making within the course. Please focus on the areas mastered, to determine how the student is progressing. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Points towards mastery can be achieved in several ways:
1. Engineer's Notebook (digital)
2. Lab Work
3. Quizzes
4. Design Challenges
5. Portfolio
6. Final Exam
The Applied Technology Office phone number is (847)755-2701. This is, however, a department-wide voicemail, and is inherently inefficient. A much better way to contact me is via email at mkarasch@d211.org, or as a student, you can message me through Schoology. You can also follow me on twitter! @mrkarasch
Suggestions for Success
1. Ask questions. There is no better way to tailor your learning experience to exactly what you need. I welcome almost any question, at almost any time, so please ask away!
2. Keep constant notes in your notebook, and keep your notebook in class unless you need it at home to study.
3. Website. Our LMS (Schoology) has all of the notes in PowerPoint format, so that you may go over anything that you didn't fully understand in class.
4. Honesty. Be honest at all times.
5. Be honest with yourself, and drive yourself to complete the tasks to the best of your ability. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. The pace of this class is swift, and if not careful, you may fall behind quickly.
6. Have fun! The use of technology is really fun, and delving into the lab and project work will cement your understanding in the concepts of engineering and design.
The major focus of this course is to expose students to the diverse fields of Biological engineering including biomedical engineering, molecular genetics, bioprocess engineering, and agricultural and environmental engineering. Lessons engage students in engineering design problems related to Biomechanics, genetic engineering, agricultural biotechnology, tissue engineering, biomedical devices, bioethics, bioinformatics, and conservation. Students in this course apply biological and engineering concepts to design materials and processes that directly measure, repair, improve and extend living systems. While Biological Engineering is a vast topic, we will look at these topics through the lens of Environmental Sustainability.
Course Organization
This class is presented with both lecture and lab portions. Much of the class will be devoted to hands-on lab, and engineering design based work.
Course Topics
1. General Biotechnical History and Careers
2. Global responsibility
3. Bioethics
4. Global Water Distribution
5. Water Testing/Filtration
6. Bioremediation
7. World Food Security
8. Bioinformatics
9. DNA Extraction/Amplification/Modification
10. GMO(Genetically Modified Organisms)
11. Genetic transformation
12. Restriction Analysis
13. Renewable Energy
14. Fermentation
15. Biodiesel
16. Biomedical
17. Cardiac
18. Orthotics/Prosthetics
Text and Required Supplies
1. No Textbook required for class
2. Supplies: Students will be provided an iPad.
3. Students will need to build several designs throughout the course from a water filtration unit, to an orthotic or prosthetic. These designs can be built from refuse, and some building materials will be provided by the school. Often, the student will desire to purchase additional materials for their design for ease of use or better fit and finish.
Grading and Assessments
This course is split into areas of mastery. Each quarter will have approximately 9 areas of mastery. When a student receives 80% of the points in an area, they will be said to have achieved mastery for that area. The quarter grade will be a reflection of the number of areas that have been mastered.
0-1 Areas achieved mastery = F
2-3 Areas achieved mastery = D
4-5 Areas achieved mastery = C
6-7 Areas achieved mastery = B
8-9 Areas achieved mastery = A
Within Schoology, you will see assignment grades that will be used to determine mastery for each area. The midterm comments will be used to indicate progress students are making within the course. Please focus on the areas mastered, to determine how the student is progressing. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Points towards mastery can be achieved in several ways:
1. Engineer's Notebook (digital)
2. Lab Work
3. Quizzes
4. Design Challenges
5. Portfolio
6. Final Exam
- Engineer's Notebook: Students will be required to keep a Engineer's notebook in the iPad. In this format, they will document their work thoroughly, including design process and reflection, and record data from experiments.
- Lab Work: There will be several labs done in class. The students will be evaluated on their lab procedure, documentation, and reflection.
- Quizzes: Quizzes will occasionally be given in class.
- Design Challenges: At several instances throughout the year, students will be given a design challenge, complete with a specific set of constraints. Students will be evaluated on how well their design was documented, complied with constraints, and a final reflection on the design and implementation of the design.
- Portfolio: Students will create and keep updated a web-based portfolio showcasing their designs and implementations.
- Final Exam: Students will take a cumulative final exam at the end of each semester, accounting for 20% of their final semester grade.
The Applied Technology Office phone number is (847)755-2701. This is, however, a department-wide voicemail, and is inherently inefficient. A much better way to contact me is via email at mkarasch@d211.org, or as a student, you can message me through Schoology. You can also follow me on twitter! @mrkarasch
Suggestions for Success
1. Ask questions. There is no better way to tailor your learning experience to exactly what you need. I welcome almost any question, at almost any time, so please ask away!
2. Keep constant notes in your notebook, and keep your notebook in class unless you need it at home to study.
3. Website. Our LMS (Schoology) has all of the notes in PowerPoint format, so that you may go over anything that you didn't fully understand in class.
4. Honesty. Be honest at all times.
5. Be honest with yourself, and drive yourself to complete the tasks to the best of your ability. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. The pace of this class is swift, and if not careful, you may fall behind quickly.
6. Have fun! The use of technology is really fun, and delving into the lab and project work will cement your understanding in the concepts of engineering and design.