Welcome to GTT!
Communication
Instructor: David McPhillips
Email: dmcphillips@greenville.k12.us.sc
Supplies
Classroom Expectations
Students are expected to participate in all curriculum activities, including collaborative group projects for problem-based learning. All students are expected to maintain acceptable behavior in and out of school. At CTC we expect that all Griffins demonstrate positive character and behavior. Any behaviors that oppose a positive learning environment will be subject to the CTC discipline policy. Please see the student handbook for additional information.
Absences
Students do get sick and will most likely miss some days. While out, the student should check my Google Classroom to see what we are doing in class. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain and make up missing work. The student is responsible for getting notes or information from either the teacher or another student in class. Failing to make up work will result in NHIs in the grade book. If a student has any questions or concerns they can ask them during the appropriate time of class or through email (Preferred method). Students are welcomed and encouraged to make an appointment with me for before or after school for additional help.
Grading Policy
The State Board of Education requires all schools to follow a statewide uniform grading scale. Middle school course averages have a floor of 50 for each grading period for each course. Assignments completed at home, as per school policy, will be allowed to be turned in for 7 school days after the deadline for full credit. After which, the NHI (see below) will become a 50. All Assignments completed during class time WILL NOT be subject to this policy, as per school policy, and will be due during class. All assignments will be completed in the engineering notebooks or google classroom. Engineering Notebook assignments are available for corrections up to the 7 week mark of the quarter.
Grading Scale: A (90-100) B (80-89) C (70-79) D (60-69) F (50 or less)
Projects/Engineering Notebook: 50% Labs/Daily Work: 50%
Grading Terms to be Familiar With:
NHI—Not Handed In
INC—Incomplete
GFA—Grading Floor Applied
ABS—Absent
EX—Exempt (acts as if the grade were not there)
GTT: Design and Modeling Course Overview:
Course Description:
Design and Modeling (DM) provides students opportunities to apply the design process to creatively solve problems. Students are introduced to the unit problem in the first activity and are asked to make connections to the problem throughout the lessons in the unit. Students learn and utilize methods for communicating design ideas through sketches, solid models, and mathematical models. Students will understand how models can be simulated to represent an authentic situation and generate data for further analysis and observations. Students work in teams to identify design requirements, research the topic, and engage stakeholders. Teams design a toy or game for a child with cerebral palsy, fabricate and test it, and make necessary modifications to optimize the design solution.
GTT: Automation and Robotics Course Overview:
Course Description:
Students are given the opportunity to combine mechanisms with input and output devices to automate the mechanisms. Construction and programming skills are layered, and projects and the problem provide students the opportunity to connect their learning throughout the lessons in the unit. Students take on the role of interns, and work in teams to identify design requirements and create prototypes to meet the needs of clients. They also explore different aspects of automation and robotics, and experience how solving real-life problems involves the teamwork of mechanical engineers, software developers, and electrical engineers.
GTT: Flight and Space Course Overview:
Course Description:
The exciting world of aerospace comes alive through the Flight and Space (FS) unit. Students become engineers as they design, prototype, and test models to learn about the science of flight and what it takes to travel and live in space. They solve real-world aviation and space challenges and plan a mission to Mars.
GTT: App Creators Course Overview:
Course Description:
This unit will expose students to computer science by computationally analyzing and developing solutions to authentic problems through mobile app development, and will convey the positive impact of the application of computer science to other disciplines and to society.
