Technology and Engineering Education

Students will work collaboratively in teams to refine their game design skills as they apply graphic design, animation, audio and writing skills to create innovative games for education and entertainment. This project-based course enhances problem-solving, project management, and communication skills through the analysis, design, construction, and critique of interactive games. Students will learn about career opportunities in game design and development and investigate the training and certification requirements.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Information Technology

In Animation and Digital Content Technology, formerly Digital Visualization, students will gain experiences with computer animation by using graphics and design concepts. Students will solve problems involving 2D and 3D object manipulation, storyboarding, texturing/mapping, lighting concepts, and environmental geometry. They will create a variety of animations that reflect real-world applications and will explore interactive and animation software. Production of a portfolio showcasing original student work is included. 

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Arts, A/V Technology & Communications

Architectural Drawing and Design students learn the principles of communicating architecture designs and increase their understanding of working drawings and construction techniques learned in Technical Drawing and Design. Experiences include residential and commercial building designs, rendering, model development, and structural detail developments. Students use computer-aided drawing and design (CADD) equipment and established standards or codes to prepare models for presentation. The course is especially beneficial to future architects, interior designers, or home builders.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Architecture & Construction

In this Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering specialization course, students collaborate on both the development of community-based building and design projects and conceptual design for project presentations.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Communication Systems provides experiences in the fields of imaging technology, graphic productions, video and media, technical design, and various modes of communicating information through the use of data. Students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills using the universal systems model. Students also learn about the impact of communication on society and potential career fields relating to communications.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Arts, A/V Technology & Communications

In this Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering specialization course, students are taught concepts of robotics and automated manufacturing by creating 3D designs with computer modeling software and producing computer-controlled models of their designs.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Manufacturing

Students explore commercial, industrial, residential, public works, and institutional technologies to help them understand construction careers. Through hands-on projects, students learn proper safety procedures for tools and machinery, while exploring preconstruction and construction processes and investigating evolving technologies. Students apply mathematics concepts and principles used in construction.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Architecture & Construction

Students use computer simulations to learn about the logic of electronics as they design, test, and actually construct circuits and devices. They apply control system programming and explore sequential logic and digital circuitry fundamentals. Topics in computer circuitry are also presented.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Engineering Analysis and Applications is the second of a possible four-course sequence that will allow students to apply the engineering design process to areas of the designed world and examine engineering systems. Students will participate in STEM-based, hands-on projects as they communicate information through team-based presentations, proposals, and technical reports.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Students use graphic language for product design, technical illustration, evaluation of designs, and engineering drawings. Students increase their understanding of drawing techniques. Students use computers, calculators, and descriptive geometry and adhere to established standards to solve design problems. They work in teams to design solutions for an identified need and to produce parts on a 3D printer.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

In Engineering Explorations, students examine technology and engineering fundamentals in relation to solving real-world problems. Students investigate engineering history, including major engineering accomplishments, and their effect on society. They also examine engineering specialty fields and their related careers. Students practice engineering fundamentals and apply the engineering design process through participation in hands-on engineering projects. Students communicate project-related information through presentations, proposals, and technical reports.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Environmental Sustainability (ES) is a specialization course in PLTW Engineering. Students investigate and design solutions to solve real-world challenges related to clean drinking water, a stable food supply, and renewable energy. Students are introduced to environmental issues and use the engineering design process to research and design potential solutions.

The game design industry is the fastest revenue growing entertainment medium and has created many new job disciplines. In this project-based course, students will create innovative games through the application of graphic design, animation, audio, and writing skills. Students will work in teams while developing problem-solving, critical thinking, and effective communication skills. They will analyze, design, prototype, and critique interactive games within a project management environment. Career opportunities across multiple industries, including the entertainment and educational arenas, will be explored.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Information Technology

The Graphic Communications Systems course provides experiences related to a wide range of tools and materials used to reproduce information and images. Students develop competencies in message design, composition and assembly, and message transfer and product conversion. Various digital and print output techniques and devices are used to develop concepts into finished products.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Arts, A/V Technology & Communications

In this introductory Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering course, students use 3D computer modeling software as they learn the engineering-design process and solve design problems for which they develop, analyze, and create product models.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Manufacturing
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

In the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Capstone course, formerly Engineering Design and Development, teams of students, guided by community mentors, work together to research, design, and construct solutions to engineering problems. Students synthesize knowledge, skills, and abilities through an authentic engineering experience. Students are expected to develop and formally present an independent-study project and a team-oriented project that are critiqued by an evaluation committee.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Manufacturing

In this foundational PLTW Engineering course, students explore the engineering profession and the fundamental aspects of engineering problem solving. Students study the historical and current impacts of engineering on society, including ethical implications. Mathematical and scientific concepts will be applied to fundamental engineering topics, including mechanics and electrical-circuit theory.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Manufacturing
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Students assess the relationship between production and society as they compose design portfolios, construct production prototypes, and apply automation to evaluate their solutions to technological problems.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Architecture & Construction

This Project Lead the Way course aims to develop students' computational thinking, generate excitement about career paths that utilize computing, and introduce professional tools that foster creativity and collaboration. Students develop programming expertise and explore the workings of the Internet. Projects and problems include app development, visualization of data, cybersecurity, and simulation.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Students will experience the major topics, big ideas, and computational thinking practices used by computing professionals to solve problems and create value for others. This course will empower students to develop computational thinking skills while building confidence that prepares them to advance to Computer Science Principles and Computer Science A.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Sustainability and Renewable Technologies explores issues that affect global citizens in the areas of economics, culture, and the environment. The course introduces students to the historic, economic, political, environmental, and cultural issues that impact the global community and its future. Students will address issues affecting the health of our environment and explore solutions offered by sustainable agriculture, energy efficient building design, and renewable energy sources.

This course connects to the following career pathways:

• Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

In this foundational course, students design, sketch, and make technical drawings, models, or prototypes of real design problems while learning the language of technical drawing and design. The course introduces the language of graphic communication to all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students and is especially recommended for those planning a future in engineering and architecture.

This course connects to the following career pathways:

• Architecture & Construction
• Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
• Manufacturing - Welding

In this hands-on technology education course, students use tools to build and control objects and systems using engineering design. Students will learn about materials, energy, and engineering processes. Students design, create, and assess innovations, systems, and products to learn about how and why technology works.

This course connects to the following career pathways:

• Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

This Video and Media Technology course allows students to explore video and media technology, from the history of the field to current methods of planning and producing video media. Students will learn the basics of camera operation, audio, lighting, and editing by creating their own videos from storyboard to presentation.

This course connects to the following career pathways:
Arts, A/V Technology & Communications