2024 - 2025
This class is intended as an introduction for students to understand how engineers think, research, design, problem solve, and create. Engineering is primarily a project-based course, requiring you to apply your knowledge and work in teams to solve open-ended problems.
You should come to class on time, and ready to learn. This means:
Notebook: You will be provided with an engineering notebook. This notebook should be used to keep organized notes for class, including formulas, drawings, brain-storming, calculations, and anything else useful to your tasks.
Additional Items:
A black or blue pen and pencil
At least a basic scientific calculator(capable of doing scientific notation, logarithms, etc)
Ruler (1 foot minimum)
Scissors
-You are expected to meet all the standards for behavior set forth in the Student Handbook.
-I ask all students to be respectful. Disrespectful or distracting behavior(including talking over others, name calling, swearing, slurs, and shouting) is not tolerated as it creates a hostile working environment for all other students.
-No food or drink in the classroom, other than water in a bottle(and only at the desks). This class is in a class/lab room and therefore you will regularly be surrounded by chemicals.
Newtown High School policy requires all phones to be placed in the phone caddy in front of the room at the beginning of class unless otherwise instructed.
1st offense- Teacher warning, email home
2nd offense- Referral to AP
Many of the core concepts in this class will be learned at home through video, articles, websites, etc, while class time will be used for reinforcement and understanding(what would usually be considered "homework"). However, you may be asked to prepare a summary of the information learned, answer questions, etc. These assignments are practice, and therefore not graded on how “correct” the answers are. Rather, it is graded on the effort put into the work:
In the event of you being absent when an assignment is due, it is up to YOU to come see me and show me the assignment the next time we have class. If I never see the homework, it goes in as a zero.
Engineering is a heavily project-focused class. Some projects will be completed in a day, while others may take several weeks to accomplish. Some projects may be intimidating and highly challenging; Remember that learning to be an engineer is learning to deal with and overcoming failure as you design, test, and redesign over and over again. Don't be discouraged and be willing to be flexible in your solutions.
Projects in this class will be part of your summative grade in this class and will constitute the majority of your achieved grade each quarter. This will be based on your final documented submission and reflection on the project. Your grade will only be based on completeness of the documentation and your reflection. While we all want our creations to be completely functional, but you will not be penalized for malfuctioning/non-functioning aspects of your project. This is to encourage you to take risks and try new ideas and approaches.
At points in the year, it will be necessary to assess on the content of the course, including skills, conceptual understandings, and calculations. This will be done primarily through quizzes or tests.
Quizzes and test will be assessed using a Standards Based Grading (SBG) method. Your quiz/test grade will be based on achievement of specific learning outcomes (LO), rather than a simple averaging of grades. LOs will be formative and can be taken multiple times through the quarter, allowing you to improve upon those standards. The score on a retake will replace the original/older score. Students who continually struggle with a particular LO can make arrangements with me to work and reassess that standard.
Each quarter, your grade will be determined by a weighted percentage for different assignments as follows:
Summative assessments 70%
Formative assessments 30%
Formative assessments are given through each unit and comprise mostly of small projects and classwork/homework. Summative assessments are a culmination of your knowledge and represent your understanding at the end of a unit. These assessments are mostly large projects and quizzes.
All assignments missed due to cutting class are considered to have a zero for a grade and cannot be made up.
Late work will be accepted at a 10% penalty if turned in by the end of the day it was due. After that, it will be accepted at a 20% penalty up to two (2) weeks after the original due date.
From time to time, students may require extra help in understanding the material. In these situations, it is expected that students are proactive about seeking help from myself or other students. I can always take questions emailed to me at CarleyC@Newtown.k12.ct.us.
Science Department Policy on Academic Honesty
Academic Honesty on any assignment is expected in this class. Failure to do so will result in a zero grade for all students involved. It is your responsibility to protect your own work. At no time may any work be submitted that is similar to any one else’s. This includes lab questions and lab procedures, questions, and problems from texts, computers, or any other source. Tutors may monitor the format but not influence content or technical analysis.
Academic Honesty: Each student is responsible for producing his or her own work and will be held responsible for protecting and maintaining the confidentiality of their own work.
This definition is based on the performance standard for responsible citizen from the common denominator.
Cheating can include, but is not limited to
The use of unauthorized notes during a test or quiz
Using another student’s work during a test or quiz
Allowing another student to see one’s answers during a test or quiz
Giving information to students who have not taken the test
Allowing students who have not yet taken the test to receive information
Using another student’s homework
Allowing another student to copy one’s work
Plagiarizing by copying another person’s work from any resource (periodical. Book, internet, etc.) and submit it as one’s own
Plagiarizing by paraphrasing or using parts of another person’s work (ideas, written work, diagrams, charts, etc.) without citing it as a resource in context or in a footnote.
Sending data after completion of a lab – Every student is responsible for recording his or her own data during the lab.
Helping a student by sharing work. – If a student needs help, direct them to the teacher.
Every lab report should be individually written. It is NOT a group project but an individual analysis.
Cheating consequences include loss of credit and notification to the guidance counselor. Eligibility for National Honor Society, scholarships, and honors can also be lost.
When you have read the above class expectations, please complete the form found here: https://goo.gl/forms/lIbBtMiFJpD0Qeou1