STEM is the first half of a suggested STEM/STEAM full year course. This course teaches professional communication, design skills, and combines concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through research, design and iterative project based learning. In STEM, the fabrication room is a laboratory rather than a traditional workshop, where emphasis is placed on experimentation, observation, reflection. This course is intended for any student interested in taking additional Technology courses at VHS. Computer aided design, traditional and digital fabrication including a laser cutter or 3D printer may be utilized.
Projects may include (but not limited to): Notecard Tower, Spinning Tops, Bridge Design, Ultimate CO2 Racer, Electromagnetic Sculpture
The second half of the STEM/STEAM full year course infuses science, technology, engineering and math concepts with Art and Design. Students must not only understand complex academic principles, but they apply these principles to make real world devices with the primary function to delight & entertain. Computer aided design, traditional and digital fabrication including a laser cutter or 3D printer may be utilized.
Projects may include (but not limited to): Material Science & Fasteners/Defy Gravity Sculpture, Kinetic Sculpture & the Mobile, Boomerang
This pre-engineering and pre-architectural course is designed to provide students with both hand drafting and computer skills. This course will guide students from basic perspective, orthogonal, and isometric drawing to complex 3-dimensional modeling and design. The software used in this class is the same utilized by professionals in the fields of Engineering and Architecture. The bulk of this course utilizes extended drawing and computer time.
Projects may include (but not limited to): 5 Methods of Displaying Depth by Hand Drawing, CAD Cartoon Illustrations, Multiview and Isometric Engineering Drawings, Puzzle Me This 3D Puzzle Competition, Craftsman Bungalow Project
This course is the continuation of CAD I and is recommended for students interested in Architecture, Interior Design, Drafting, Engineering, or Construction. Students learn how to design Dwelling spaces through concept driven methods with an emphasis on building function, structure and aesthetics, while maintaining important building code standards. Students use industry-standard software that aids their understanding through 2D and 3D computer aided design. The bulk of this course utilizes extended drawing and computer time. Projects may include (but not limited to): Living Cube, Tree House, Dream House
Fabrication and Design 1 is for students interested in all aspects of woodworking and fabrication. Students learn about the properties of wood, the safe use of tools, and the procedures necessary to design and build their own projects.
Projects may include (but not limited to): Falling Blocks (Jacob’s Ladder), 5 Wood Joints, Recycled Furniture, Catapult
This course builds upon the woodworking skills learned in Fabrication & Design I and incorporates advanced project planning, digital fabrication, and community based design. This curriculum is project based and the instruction is split between a Design/CAD lab to research and generate solutions and a Fabrication lab to test hypotheses. Projects vary greatly in scale and a variety of materials are used including: wood, metal, plastic & concrete. This course is recommended for any student interested in the study/practice of Woodworking, Carpentry, Industrial Engineering, or Product Design after high school.
Projects may include (but not limited to): Pattern Language Lamp, Speaker Design, Design our Shop Project, Electric Guitar, Concrete Casting, Cardboard Boat, Independent Projects
Students who have completed a minimum of four TE&D courses, and are in good academic standing, have the opportunity to select a Student Driven area of interest for an independent research, design, or fabrication project under the guidance of the instructor. Space for the Capstone Course is limited and students are admitted on a competitive basis. Proposals for any Capstone projects are due at least 1 month prior to the start of the course.
Projects may include but not limited to: Student Design Competitions, Green Building Design, Kickstarter Projects, Filing of a Patent, Designing/Building an Outdoor Classroom, Catapult, Custom Furniture, Speaker Design, Musical Instrument Design, Robotics, Sumo Bot, Reactive Environments, School/Community Improvement, MOOCS/Online Coursework from Top Universities, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Remediation