Course Overviews

The seventh grade STEM course of study includes an introduction to invention and innovation, as well as a primer for the engineering design process.

In Introduction to Invention and Innovation, students explore the role of technology to solve problems or to help accomplish tasks that could not be accomplished without the help of technology.  Students are introduced to the machines and safety protocols used in a technology education classroom.  Students gain an understanding that the development of technology is a human activity, is the result of individual or collective needs, and requires the ability to be creative. Students gain an appreciation for how technology influences and affects society, economy, culture, and politics. Students learn first-hand how the invention and innovation process is iterative and strives to meet human needs.

In studying the Engineering Design Process, students investigate how the engineering design practices are used to research, develop, troubleshoot, and experiment to solve problems for invention and innovation. Students learn that technology involves many types of problems and different approaches to solve them, including troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation. The engineering design process must take all of these things into account.

The seventh grade STEM curriculum meets the requirements of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Technology Education, the Standards for Technology Literacy, as well as 21st Century Skills development. 

The eighth grade STEM course of study includes an overview of STEM and a deeper exploration of the engineering design process including the use of electronic tools and modern rapid-prototyping and manufacturing processes.

The Engineering Design Process is revisited and reinforced to help students expand their understanding of the iterative nature of design. The role of computer assisted design is introduced as students investigate how the engineering design practices are used to research, develop, troubleshoot, and develop a prototype to solve problems. Students explore the capabilities of a variety of Computer Numeric Control (CNC) prototyping and manufacturing devices and their uses in the modern, technological, designed world. Students deepen their understanding that technology involves many types of problems and different approaches to solve them.  These include the identification of problems, research and development, invention, manufacturing, troubleshooting and subsequent innovation of their designed solution.

The eighth grade STEM curriculum meets the requirements of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Technology Education, the Standards for Technology Literacy, as well as 21st Century Skills development. 

This year-long elective class is for students primarily in grades 11 and 12 as an advanced level class in the world of technical drawing. The course meets every day for approximately 50 minutes for 4 marking periods, which culminates with a final project/exhibition of all work that students have done throughout their time in Graphic Arts classes. These collections will be displayed at the Hillsborough High School Spring Arts Festival, which occurs annually in the month of June. The only prerequisite for this class is Mechanical Drawing. Content areas in this course include portfolio creation, exploring personal strengths, career research and designing several different types of buildings, structures, and parts.

Students interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) are encouraged to take this class as all aspects are covered in detail. Students also contemplating furthering their education for potential careers in STEAM areas are strongly encouraged to take this course. This 5 credit two-semester course helps fulfill the state graduation requirements for “at least 5 credits in Career Education courses”. The curriculum is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Additionally, this curriculum makes interdisciplinary connections in Visual and Performing Arts, Language Arts and Career Readiness, Life Literacies & Key Skills content areas. Upon completion of this class, students will become eligible for enrollment in an Independent Study in Drafting.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are all integrated tightly into the modern society. In Integrative STEM, students will be focusing on the multiple types of Industry; Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Medical Technologies, Agriculture, Biotechnology, Robotics & Computation. By studying these industries, students will learn how the products and services effects their lives. By following the Engineering Design Process, students will also practice systematic thinking which will provide students with a structured way of generating ideas. The history of technology is another topic analyzed in this course where students reflect on past technologies and current technologies such as information / communication technology. With such a great impact on the society, computer technology requires student to understand computational thinking processes. Overall, this course will integrate all the knowledge students learned in school and apply it to solve real world problems. 

This year-long elective class is for students primarily in grades 11 and 12 as an advanced level class of Graphic Arts. The course meets every day for approximately 50 minutes for 4 marking periods, which culminates with a final project/exhibition of all work that students have done throughout their time in Graphic Arts classes. These collections will be displayed at the Hillsborough High School Spring Arts Festival, which occurs annually in the month of June. The only prerequisite for this class is Graphic Arts. Content areas in this course include portfolio creation, exploring personal strengths, career research, clothing collections, computer design and working with the HHS and Hillsborough community to complete works through a business-like model.

Students interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) are encouraged to take this class as all aspects are covered in great detail. Students also contemplating furthering their education for potential careers in STEAM areas are strongly encouraged to take this course. This 5 credit two-semester course helps fulfill the state graduation requirements for “at least 5 credits in Career Education courses”. The curriculum is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Additionally, this curriculum makes interdisciplinary connections in Visual and Performing Arts, Language Arts and Career Readiness, Life Literacies & Key Skills content areas. Upon completion of this class, students will become eligible for enrollment in an Independent Study in Graphic Arts. 

This semester-long elective class for students in any grade level is an introduction to technical drawing. The course meets every day for approximately 50 minutes for two marking periods, culminating with a final exam at the end of the second consecutive marking period. There are no prerequisites for this course, and students do not need any prior knowledge to be successful. Content areas include creating and interpreting engineering drawings, sketching techniques, mathematical scales, geometric construction, specific types of technical drawings and several other conventional drafting concepts.

Students interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) are encouraged to take this class as all aspects are covered. This 2.5 credit semester course helps fulfill the state graduation requirements for “at least 5 credits in Career Education courses”. The curriculum is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Additionally, this curriculum makes interdisciplinary connections in Visual and Performing Arts, Language Arts and Career Readiness, Life Literacies, & Key Skills content areas. Upon completion of this class, students will become eligible for enrollment in the Advanced Drafting course.

Advanced Study in Wood Technology emphasizes individual planning and problem solving.  Students construct their own jigs and fixtures and are responsible for machine set-up and break down.  From an existing plan of their choice, or of their own design, students construct and finish advanced pieces of furniture. Students are responsible for supplying the necessary materials, hardware, and finishing supplies required for the project. Maintenance, safety, care, and sharpening of machine parts and hand tools will be reinforced throughout the design and build process. Students will focus on safe woodworking and shop practices, repeatability, and accuracy.  

Students will take a more in-depth look at wood properties, joinery, and construction methods. An emphasis will be placed on precision machining techniques and strategies for producing molding and other furniture and case components. The harvesting of raw materials and construction methods of various time periods will be examined to determine the best choice for the student’s project.

The goal for this course is to introduce students to the use of HTML code and web authoring software in creating effective and attractive websites.  The class will employ a step-by-step and project-based approach in the topics of planning, organizing and publishing websites, HTML tags, tables, Cascading Style Sheets, using Notepad and Dreamweaver, and adding forms and graphics.  Students will gain and display knowledge through individual and group exercises and the creation of original websites. 

Web Page Design is a semester-long elective class for students in any grade level.  The class meets every day for approximately 50 minutes for two marking periods culminating with a final exam and project at the end of the second consecutive marking period.  There are no prerequisites for this course.  This curriculum for this 2.5 credit class is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Performance Expectations and Cumulative Progress Indicators have been noted in the NJSLS areas of Career Readiness, Life Literacy and Key Skills, Speaking and Listening, and Visual and Performing Arts.

This semester-long elective class is specifically for students who are in the special needs program at Hillsborough High School. The course meets every day for approximately 50 minutes for two marking periods. There are no prerequisites for this course, and students do not need any prior knowledge to be successful. Content areas include introductions to graphic arts, STEM concepts, safety information, and collaborative work with “clients” in other areas of the school.

This 2.5 credit semester course helps fulfill the state graduation requirement for this group of students. This curriculum is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Additionally, this curriculum makes interdisciplinary connections in Visual and Performing Arts, Language Arts and Career Readiness, Life Literacies, & Key Skills content areas. Many students will end up taking this course several times before they leave HHS at age 21.

In Wood Technology I, the students learn about woodworking hand tools, measuring/layout tools, and are introduced to stationary woodworking machines and portable power tools. Students will be instructed on how to use these tools and machines safely to create solid wood projects they can be proud of. Areas of study will include safety, machines, measuring, fasteners, methods of joinery, and finishing.   The purpose of these projects will be to develop problem-solving skills and instill patience and pride in the student.

Some of the woodworking machines that will be explored are the miter saw, band saw, radial

arm saw, surface sander, drill press, table saw, router table,  and jointer/planer. Hand tools such

as mallets, chisels, marking gauge, and rulers will be widely used. Popular projects include decorative boxes, cutting boards, joiners mallet, marking gauge, and various other antique reproductions. Throughout the course, safety procedures and demonstrations will be constantly reinforced and evaluated.

In Energy and Power Technology, students engage in practical experiences with various systems that produce energy and power. General shop, laboratory and tool safety will be covered. Simple machines, electricity and electronics are studied as sources of power generation and control systems.  Alternative sources of energy (solar, wind, hydroelectric, etc.), transportation technologies and the environmental implications of these technologies are addressed. The disassembly, study, and reassembly of an internal combustion engine provide students with a foundation to examine other forms of energy production. Throughout the semester, students work independently and in groups to learn course concepts through a series of hands-on problem-solving experiences.

Wood Technology II is a course that builds on the skills and projects from the Wood Technology I course; therefore, Wood Technology I is a prerequisite. Focus will be on mastering machines as well as hand tools. Confidence and competency with tools will increase while safety procedures and protocols will be reinforced at all times.

Students will turn rough lumber into a finished piece of furniture such as a tables,   jewelry boxes, cabinets, and handmade woodworking tools and jigs. Hand planes, carving chisels, layout tools, table saws, jointer, table router, band saw, and portable power tools are among the tools used in the class.

Special jigs and hand tool procedures will be demonstrated to produce unique projects and procedures. Advanced joinery, such as hand cut dovetails, mitered, and splined joints will be utilized by students to create replica and one of a kind pieces of furniture.

This semester-long elective class for students in any grades 9-12 is an introduction into the world of Graphic Arts. The course meets every day for approximately 50 minutes for two marking periods, culminating with a final exam at the end of the second consecutive marking period. There are no prerequisites for this course, and students do not need any prior knowledge to be successful. Content areas include introductions to Elements of Art, text and type, incorporating marketing tactics in designs, traditional printing methods, computer design, clothing design and creation and the use of specialized tools and machines.

Students interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) are encouraged to take this class as all aspects are covered. This 2.5 credit semester course helps fulfill the state graduation requirements for “at least 5 credits in Career Education courses”. The curriculum is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Additionally, this curriculum makes interdisciplinary connections in Visual and Performing Arts, Language Arts and Career Readiness, Life Literacies, & Key Skills content areas. Upon completion of this class, students will become eligible for enrollment in the Advanced Graphic Arts course.

Wood Technology III will refine the techniques learned in previous woodworking classes and is a vocationally oriented program, intended to teach students the skills and knowledge necessary to become a refined cabinet or furniture-maker. The course will focus on solid wood as a construction medium and will deal primarily with furniture and cabinetmaking methods. Maintenance, safety, care, and sharpening of machine parts and hand tools will be reinforced throughout the design and build process. Students will focus on safe woodworking and shop practices, repeatability, and accuracy. Students will either chose from existing plans or have the option to create a unique design of their own.  Students may create a refined woodworking project for either themselves, the school community, or a client.  Cost analysis, meeting deadlines, budget, and production output will be the primary driver of student achievement in Wood Technology III.