PLTW

Intro is a 3D software drafting and design class. Students learn basic engineering design concepts as well as how to use 3D CAD software. Students are grouped into teams and they must design and 3D model a putt putt golf course for the Mall of America. They must work together to design and create the course based on constraints given as well as have an overall theme that is easily shown in their design.

Principles sets up four different disciplines of engineering. Students learn the basics of Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, and Chemical Engineering. Students in groups must build a machine that 100% accurately detects three different types of marbles and sorts them into different containers. This must be accomplished with a fully automatic machine. They are given five steel, clear plastic, and wooden marbles to sort.

Aerospace students learn about planes and the forces of flight in the first half of the class where they are able to design and create gliders and rockets. In the second half of the class, the students learn about space related topics such as Orbital Mechanics. Students in groups must build a satellite and Mars rover. The satellite will scan a section of mars created by the teacher and they must use the data from the satellite to program the rover to traverse the course without crashing into "mountains" to a water source. The rover will take a "sample" from the water source and then return to the place the rover landed for retrieval.

From design and data analysis to outbreaks, clinical empathy, health promotion, and more, students explore the vast range of careers in biomedical sciences. They develop not just technical skills, but also in-demand, transportable skills that they need to thrive in life and career.

Through projects such as determining the identity of a skeleton using both forensic anthropology and DNA analysis, students examine the interactions of human body systems and apply what they know to solve real-world medical cases.

(Grades 9-12) — Using Python® as a primary tool, students explore and become inspired by career paths that utilize computing, discover tools that foster creativity and collaboration, and use what they’ve learned to tackle challenges like app development and simulation. 

The battle bots portion of the class will challenge students to design, build, and program robots from scratch, which they will pit against each other in a combat arena.

(Grades 9-12) — Whether seeking a career in the growing field of cybersecurity or learning to defend their own personal data or a company’s data, students in Cybersecurity establish an ethical code of conduct while learning to defend data in today’s complex cyberworld. The class if funded by a grant from Lockheed Martin, the aerospace, defense, and technology company.