Technology & Engineering Curriculum
Curriculum Resource Links
Curriculum Resource Links
Engineering & CADD
- Project Lead the Way (PLTW) provides transformative learning experiences for Pre K-12 students and teachers across the U.S. We create an engaging, hands-on classroom environment and empower students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills they need to thrive. www.pltw.org/
- Autodesk provides students with their own suite of software through the education plan. Students can explore emerging technologies and access rich learning content at www.autodesk.com/education/edu-software/overview.
- TinkerCAD is a free, easy-to-use app for 3D design, electronics, and coding. It's used by teachers, kids, hobbyists, and designers to imagine, design, and make anything!
- Onshape is a professional-grade, cloud-based CAD platform that students and educators can access for free on any device, anywhere, anytime.
Robotics
- VEX Robotics provides the platform for our students learning from grades 6 – 12. You will find information on where to purchase robot hardware and parts.
- VEXCode VR lets you code a virtual robot using a block based coding environment powered by Scratch Blocks. VEXcode VR is based on VEXcode, the same programming environment used for VEX 123, GO, IQ and V5 robots.
- RobotC is the language used to program the VEX robots that North Allegheny uses in the classroom. Visit their website to download the software for free.
- The Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy is the source for curriculum, training and summer opportunities.
- Robot Events is the source for middle and high school robotics competitions across the country.
- National Robotics Engineering Center is where opportunity lies after high school to further your career in robotics.
Game Development
- Construct 3 is a unique web-based game engine and design software that allows users to create various styles of 2D games anywhere.
- Unity is a powerful, accessible 3D game engine with strong documentation, and an active user base used to create 2D, 3D, and VR game and experiences.
- Unity Learn choose various pathways, activities, and courses based on current status as a Unity user.
- Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing and 2D animation pipeline.
Middle School
Grade 6 Technology & Engineering Education (STEM)
The sixth grade Technology & Engineering class is a nine-week course which provides students opportunities to use tools and machines to create a product. Students will also apply the design process to creatively solve problems through the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Design and Modeling curriculum. Students are introduced to the unit problem in the first activity and are asked to make connections relating to the design process throughout the lessons in the unit. Students learn and utilize methods for communicating design ideas through sketches, solid models, and mathematical models. Students will understand how models can be simulated to represent an authentic situation and generate data for further analysis and observations. Students work in teams to identify design requirements, research the topic, and engage stakeholders. Teams design a toy or game for entertainment, fabricate and test it, and make the necessary modifications to optimize the design solution.
Grade 7 Technology & Engineering Education (STEM)
The seventh grade Technology & Engineering class is a six-week course designed to teach students problem solving and the engineering design process by engaging in various activities dealing with flight and aerodynamics. These activities can include, but are not limited to, designing and developing wooden air cars, constructing foam gliders, straw rockets, hot air balloons and/or kites. In addition, the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Flight and Space curriculum is utilized to discover aspects of flight like Newton’s Laws of Motion, forces of flight and how aircraft maneuver. The curriculum will reinforce why the design process is important and engage students in hands-on experiences.
Grade 8 Technology & Engineering Education (STEM)
The eighth grade Technology &Engineering class is a twelve week course in which students study areas of STEM including, but not limited to, Robotics, Electronics, Computer Integrated Design, Game Development, and Advanced Manufacturing. Projects and problem solving methods will be a focus with the continued study of engineering, design, modeling, coding, and troubleshooting. Students will use VEXCode IQ to program robots through various challenges addressing sensor feedback and behaviors. This course will also be enhanced with the newest technologies including 3D printers, laser engravers and CNC routers, along with traditional tools and machines exposing students to a well-rounded experience. An emphasis is also placed on safety, quality control, processes, evaluation of feedback, and recognition of technological problems to develop solutions.
High School
