Engineering Technology

The key skills of critical thinking and problem solving in engineering technology are first introduced in our Makerspace program in Grades 1 through 3. Through various challenges, students learn how to work together and fail forward in order to design and build various prototypes using our various different hands-on materials. For example, students learn how systems and how electrical energy can be converted through using our mPuzzle and mPie quests, and students extend their understanding of electrical circuits when they create different systems with our Makey Makey unit. With each lesson, students are given a particular challenge or problem that they need to solve, and through working together as a team, they are able to sketch, design, and re-design their ideas for a potential solution. Every student in Grades 1 through 3 has the Makerspace program every six days alongside their other special courses, like art, music, and physical education.

In the upper elementary, many of our students work with the enrichment teachers on small four to five day enrichment projects during X-period. Students may continue to work with similar materials from Makerspace to extend their understanding of the ideas of these challenges. Alternatively, some students may work with their enrichment teacher on different coding projects or other smaller projects based on student interest. In these smaller groups, many of our students are given the opportunity outside of the classroom to continue to develop and hone their thinking on how to approach particular problems.

In middle school, students take one of two courses that continue to foster student curiosity and creativity. In the Technology course, students work on an extended engineering design project, where students are asked to brainstorm, research, design, and construct a prototype to be tested in this 10-week course. In the STEM course, the teachers have developed various projects that are linked to science, technology, engineering, math, and art where students are able to demonstrate their creativity in designing different solutions. Students will take one of each of these courses in seventh and in eighth grade for ten weeks. Due to the longer nature of the courses compared to Makerspace and enrichment, the students are able to really extend their understanding of these important STEM principles before choosing to continue into various elective courses at OHS.

At OHS, students can start taking courses in the engineering technology department in ninth grade through the PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design course, which can also be used to satisfy the students' art graduation requirement. Two additional PLTW courses are offered as concurrent courses with the Rochester Institute of Technology, where if students earn higher than a particular score on the national end-of-course exam, they may be eligible to receive up to nine college credits in the three PLTW courses. Additional courses in drafting. materials processing, and construction are offered as electives for students in 10th grade and above. For a full overview of all of the possible courses students can take at OHS, please visit the department website.