Technology and Engineering

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY (PLTW) INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING DESIGN (IED) 

NCAA COLLEGE CREDIT, Grades 9- 12, 1 Credit 

Designed for 9th or 10th grade students, the major focus of IED is the design process and its application. Through hands-on projects, students apply engineering standards and document their work. Students use industry standard 3D modeling software to help them design solutions to solve proposed problems, document their work using an engineer’s notebook, and communicate solutions to peers and members of the professional community. Students considering Principles of Engineering should take IED as an introductory preengineering course. However, the course is also applicable to students interested in architecture, interior design, marketing/ packaging, or urban planning. This course satisfies the NYS Arts requirement for graduation.

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY (PLTW) PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING (POE)

NCAA COLLEGE CREDIT, Grades 10- 12, 1 Credit

This higher level academic course designed for 10th or 11th grade students, exposes students to major concepts they’ll encounter in a post-secondary engineering course of study. Topics include mechanisms, energy, statics, materials, and kinematics. They develop problem-solving skills and apply their knowledge of research and design to create solutions to various challenges, document their work and communicate solutions.

Recommendation: Score of 85 or higher in Algebra and Geometry.

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY (PLTW) CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE (CEA)

COLLEGE CREDIT, Grades 11- 12, 1 Credit

Students learn about various aspects of civil engineering and architecture and apply their knowledge to the design and development of residential and commercial properties and structures. In addition, students use 3D design software to design and document solutions for major course projects. Students communicate and present solutions to their peers and members of a professional community of engineers and architects. This course is offered every other year in a rotation with PLTW Digital Electronics. It will be offered in the ‘24-’25 school year.

Recommendation: Grade of 85% or above in Principles of Engineering or Instructor Permission, and a cumulative average of 85 or above in college-preparatory mathematics courses.

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY (PLTW) DIGITAL ELECTRONICS (DE)

NCAA COLLEGE CREDIT Grades 10- 12 • 1 Credit

From smart phones to appliances, digital circuits are all around us. This course provides a foundation for students who are interested in electrical engineering, electronics, or circuit design. Students study topics such as combinational and sequential logic and are exposed to circuit design tools used in industry, including logic gates, integrated circuits, and programmable logic devices. This course is offered every other year in a rotation with PLTW Civil Engineering and Architecture. It will be offered in the ‘25-’26 school year.

Recommendation: Grade of 85% or above in Introduction to Engineering Design, and a cumulative average of 85 or above in college-preparatory mathematics courses.

ELECTRONICS & ROBOTICS 

NCAA Grades 9-12 • 1 Credit 

This is a very hands-on, project-based course that introduces students to the basics of electronics and robotics.  Student learning takes place in small groups where students work together to develop their understanding and accomplish goals. Students will use computer simulations to understand concepts such as voltage, current, and resistance, and they will design and test series, parallel, and complex circuits. Students will also build robots that can perform certain tasks, program those robots to do certain things, and then use their robots in competitive games against classmates.