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Engineering Academy Theme
The NAF Engineering Academy aims to educate students in various fields within the engineering discipline. Students participate in STEM coursework with an emphasis on hands-on experience and collaboration. Some courses include Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science. Engineering Academy members also get exclusive opportunities to explore real-world examples through field trips to power plants and even theme parks.
NAF Mission Statement
The Burbank Unified School District NAF Academy will provide an academic and technology-based program that inspires students to become respectful and successful members of a continually evolving global community. Through high quality instruction, community service, shadowing experiences, and work experience/internships, students will graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, the workplace, and the world beyond.
Engineering 1
This class goes over many aspects of engineering: 3D modeling, engineering processes, structural design, and more. With a focus on hands-on activities, Engineering 1 is the perfect introductory course for aspiring engineers. It demonstrates how to apply science and math in a practical sense while also showing the mindset behind the practice. The class structure invites collaboration and encourages students to think through problems like real engineers.
Engineering 1 was the first NAF class I ever took! In fact, it was the first engineering focused experience that I had in my life. As a result, this class had a major impact on my future trajectory. It made me realize my passions for the environment and my drive to create technology that heals it. Through activities like the lessons on biomimicry and creative design, my curiosity for engineering grew substantially.
Computer Programming
Computer Programming provides students with an introduction to the world of Java and HTML. The main curriculum includes lab-based assignments where you design full length programs, code tracing assignments, and website design. This class is perfect for developing critical thinking skills while also providing knowledge in various different coding languages.
This class was probably one of the most interesting classes that I took during my high school career. Each assignment felt like a puzzle to solve, and it was an awesome feeling to see the programs compile with no errors. I loved thinking logically through each problem and figuring things out as I went.
AP Physics 1
AP Physics 1 is a college-level course that brings students on a journey through the basics of Newtonian mechanics. In this class, students learn about the concepts of forces, momentum, torque, and gravitation. In essence, this class teaches students the basics of how the world works.
Physics was simultaneously the most fun and difficult class that I have taken. With most of the concepts being purely theoretical (apart from proving them through labs), it was hard to grasp in a physical sense. However, in a similar fashion to Computer Programming, the problems required a degree of logical and critical thinking that made every correct answer extremely rewarding. It was satisfying to whittle long equations down to a few terms or receive less than 5% error on a lab. The algebraic focus improved my calculative skills in all my STEM classes and I still use the methodology of solving physics problems in classes like AP Calculus.
Engineering 2
Engineering 2 is the final class in the NAF Engineering circuit. This course will have students journey even further into the roles of an engineer, with activities about the field and research about prominent engineers from the past and present. The curriculum also goes through the 6 simple machines: inclined plane, wedge, pulley, screw, lever, and the wheel and axle.
This class taught me a lot about collaboration and teamwork. From the Battleship Project, to the various worksheets and assignments, Engineering 2 taught me, in concept, how to be an engineer. It taught me how to think of processes as different parts of a puzzle, and teammates as the ones helping me to put it together. I will be sure to utilize these skills when I become a real engineer.
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