| Exploring Technology Applications |
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Grade Level: 9, 10 Credit: 1 Term(s): Semester |
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Exploring Technology Applications is designed
to help students understand technology as a broad field of knowledge
stretching far beyond computers and other electronics devices. Each
quarter of this one-year course offers an overview of a major field
of technology within our culture: communication, production, energy
utilization, and transportation. By design, this class will have
more class time and less lab time than the skill-level classes
within the Industrial Education Department. Communication: Various forms of mass communication are studied, along with the systems and devices which make them possible. Especially emphasized is drafting and print reading, as they are an essential job skill in many fields. Production: Processes and materials used to mass produce the goods we use everyday will be explored. Of special focus will be the safe use of hand tools and machines, as a mass production project is selected and completed. Problem solving and design will be important factors in lab work. Energy Utilization: Sources of energy, their applications and the systems which harness them are studied. One highlight is the understanding and use of electricity, especially as applied in home situations. Students will wire lighting and power circuits in a lab setting. Transportation: The multitude of transportation modes will be explored. Special focus will be given to emerging technologies which are more energy efficient and have less impact upon the environment. Lab work will focus on aviation and aerodynamics as gliders are built and flown. |