Below, you will find a brief outline of the courses for the Project Lead the Way Engineering program. Students will complete three courses over the course of their Career-Related Programme. All information below is from the Project Lead the Way website.
Students will take the following courses (click on the link to see the course description and outline):
Principles of Engineering (11th Grade)
Course Description:
Principles of Engineering (POE) is a foundation course of the high school engineering pathway. This survey course exposes students to some of the major concepts that they will encounter in a postsecondary engineering course of study. Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of materials and structures, automation, and kinematics. The course applies and concurrently develops secondary level knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, and technology.
Students have the opportunity to develop skills and understanding of course concepts through activity-, project-, and problem-based (APB) learning. By solving rigorous and relevant design problems using engineering and science concepts within a collaborative learning environment, APB learning challenges students to continually hone their interpersonal skills, creative abilities, and problem solving skills. Students will also learn how to document their work and communicate their solutions to their peers and members of the professional community. It also allows students to develop strategies to enable and direct their own learning, which is the ultimate goal of education.
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Energy and Power
- Mechanisms
- Energy Sources
- Energy Applications
- Design Problem--Energy and Power
Unit 2: Materials and Structures
- Statistics
- Material Properties
- Material Testing
- Design Problem--Materials and Structures
Unit 3: Commercial Applications
- Machine Control
- Fluid Power
- Design Problem--Control Systems
Unit 4: Statistics and Kinematics
Introduction to Engineering Design (11th Grade)
Course Description:
Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) is a high school engineering course in the PLTW Engineering Program. In IED, students explore engineering tools and apply a common approach to the solution of engineering problems, an engineering design process. Utilizing the activity-project-problem-based (APB) teaching and learning pedagogy, students progress from completing structured activities to solving open-ended projects and problems that require them to plan, document, communicate, and develop other professional skills.
Through both individual and collaborative team activities, projects, and problems, students apply systems thinking and consider various aspects of engineering design including material selection, human-centered design, manufacturability, assemblability and sustainability. Students develop skills in technical representation and documentation especially through 3D computer modeling using a Computer Aided Design (CAD) application. As part of the design process, students produce precise 3D-printed engineering prototypes using an additive manufacturing process. Student-developed testing protocols drive decision-making and iterative design improvements.
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Design and Problem Solving
- Design Basics
- Visualization and Modelling
- CAD Fundamentals
- Product Improvement
Unit 2: Assembly Design
- Put It Together
- Take It Apart
- A Material World
- Fix It
Unit 3: Thoughtful Product Design
- Responsible Design
- More Than Parts
- Solve a Problem
Unit 4: Making Things Move
- You've Got to Move It
- May the Force Be With You
- Automating Motion
- Make it Move
Environmental Sustainability
Course Description:
Environmental Sustainability (ES) is a high school-level specialization course in PLTW Engineering. In ES, 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. Utilizing the activity-, project-, problem-based (APB) teaching and learning pedagogy, students transition from completing structured activities to solving open-ended projects
and problems that require them to develop planning, documentation, communication, and other professional skills.
Through both individual and collaborative team activities, projects, and problems, students problem solve as they practice common design and scientific protocols such as project management, lab techniques, and peer review. Students develop skills in designing experiments, conducting research, executing technical skills, documenting design solutions according to accepted technical standards, and creating presentations to communicate solutions.
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Environmental Sustainability for a Better Tomorrow
- Introduction to Environmental Sustainability
Unit 2: Ensuring Safe and Abundant Water
- Global Water Crisis
- Water Supply
- Water Remediation
- Disaster Area Water Treatment Design Challenge
Unit 3: Food Security
- World Food Security
- Introduction to DNA
- Genetic Engineering
- Design a GM Food
Unit 4: Renewable Fuels
- Challenges of Renewable Energy
- Biofuels from Algae
- Ethanol Biofuels
- Designing a Commercial-Scale Manufacturing Plant