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Technology Education

The Technology Education curriculum consists of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) based approach to integrate lab-based lessons and activities. Students apply the concepts and processes they learn in the areas of Broadcast, Communications, Electronics, Design, Manufacturing, Construction, Transportation, and Firefighting.


Department Curriculum

SCHOOL-WIDE RUBRICS


COURSE OFFERINGS:

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

HS21103G Architectural Design
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12

In this course students will learn why our houses are designed and constructed the way they are. Where are windows placed? How big is a large living room? What is a Green home? Students will also have the opportunity to design their own home and create a set of plans for that home. Topics covered in this class include different areas of the home, building codes, zoning, community planning, sustainability and energy efficiency. Students will also learn about standards of drawing and construction using a professional CAD system.

AUTOMOTIVE I

HS20103G Automotive I
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite : Intro to Power Transportation Systems.

This course introduces students to automotive power systems. It encompasses automotive safety, tools and measuring devices, basic engine cooling, lubrication, fuel, electrical, emissions, brakes, suspension and steering systems. This course uses both lecture and activity based lessons designed to develop a student's awareness of automotive power system fundamentalsand safety. Students will investigate other power systems such as; Bio Fuel, Diesel, Electric Motors and Hybrid Vehicles. Students will learn the basics of automotive power system theory, repair, maintenance and safety. Students wishing to perform basic maintenance of their own vehicles must pass safety exam and present a valid driver’s license.

DIGITAL MEDIA & MOVIEMAKING

HS11151G Digital Media & Moviemaking
Full year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12

DM3 introduces students to the world of digital film and video as a component of the rapidly evolving digital media industry. During semester one, students will develop and enhance academic skills, creative thinking skills, digital media literacy, and film making skills through the successful completion of individual assignments. In the second semester, students will form a production company, producing a Public Service Announcement (PSA), a CCC News Report, an Animated Short, a Documentary Short, and a Fictional Short.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

HS11054G Digital Photography
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12

This student centered course emphasizes the technology of imaging and its use. Students areintroduced to digital imaging and software, the history of photography, cameras, lenses, light in photography, light sensitive media, and composition.
Lab time occurs daily with a variety of engaging and interesting projects, such as: Pinhole Photography, Design in photography, Portrait Photography, Digital Slide Shows and Photoshop projects. School service projects and class projects will be used to supplement individual activities. Access to a digital camera is required.

ENGINEERING DESIGN AND ROBOTICS

HS21006G Engineering Design and Robotics
Full year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Algebra I.

Students will develop an understanding of engineering design; the formal process that transforms ideas into products or systems of the designed world. Group and individual activities engage students in creating ideas, developing innovations, and producing practical solutions. The course explores design principles through hand sketching, training in 3D CAD, and model making. Students will develop presentation skills with emphasis on visualization and communication. This course includes a number of problem solving design activities that require creative thinking skills.

FIREFIGHTER

HS15152G Firefighter
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12
Prerequisite: Must be at least 16 years of age.

This course is the study of firefighting and its relatedsystems. The course is correlated to the 2002 edition of NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, Levels I, widely accepted as the standard of knowledge and skills measurement for all firefighters in North America. Basic Firefighting is offered to all students who have an interest in working in the fire service and enjoy working with both their hands and their heads. The course covers the fundamentals of firefighting for students who have fire service career interests or those studentswho wish to learn as a precursor to community involvement at a volunteer fire department. A firefighting class would provide most of the training in the classroom with a variety of hands-on labs. During their academic coursework, students study and make connections to English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Fire Science in relation to real-life fire situations. To be effective problem solvers and keep up good communication on the job, a firefighter needs to be well-rounded.

FIREFIGHTING LEADERSHIP

Firefighting Leadership HS15199G
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 11 and 12
Prerequisite: Firefighter

Firefighting Leadership encourages students to take active leadership roles within the firefighting class. Acting as an officer causes students to integrate their problem solving, communications, and organizational skills together to accomplish the task. This combination of English (communications), Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Fire Science makes this a true STEM-based class where students master transferable skills. Leaders work to be effective problem solvers working with multiple academic disciplines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Firefighters control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, freeing trapped individuals, hazardous material response, and search and rescue. The course covers the fundamentals of firefighting for students who have fire service career interests or those students who wish to learn as a precursor to community involvement at a volunteer fire department. With a positive job outlook by 2020 there will be over 110,000 openings with an average salary of over $60k annually. This course is correlated to the 2002 edition of NFPA 1001, Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualifications, Level I, widely accepted as the standard of knowledge and skills measurement for all firefighters in North America.

INTRODUCTION TO CAD & DESIGN

HS21102G Introduction to CAD & Design
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12

Students will develop an understanding of the Design Process with an emphasis on the Elements & Principles of Design as they relate to student’ individual interests. The course explores design principles through hand sketching, drawing in CAD, model making, and presentation boards. The course also introduces students to the various career opportunities including Interior Design, Architecture, and Engineering.

PC BUILD AND REPAIR

PC Build and Repair
HS102522G   1/2 Year
Grades 10, 11, and 12


This course is a hands-on introduction to the field of computer hardware and software. If you are interested in building, repairing, or just upgrading your PC, this course is for you. The course will cover the following topics: how PCs work, how to install hardware and software, how to diagnose common computer problems, and basic networking. In addition, an overview of A+ certification will be included.

INTRODUCTION TO MOBILE APPS & VIDEO GAME DESIGN

HS10160G Introduction to Mobile Apps &
Video Game Design
Full Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12

This course introduces students to the world of mobile app and video game design in a straight forward format. Students will have the opportunity to learn the creative and technical components required to launch a new app or video game. Students will develop the skills of art, science, and technology needed to design apps and video games. This course is designed for beginners with little or no prior programming experience.

INTRO TO POWER TRANSPORTATION

HS20102G Intro to Power Transportation Systems
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12

This is an introductory course with activity based lessons designed to develop a student's awareness of small engine fundamentals and safety. This course introduces students to various types of two and four cycle small engines, such as those used on lawn and garden equipment. Students will have hands on opportunities to discover the relationships between exhaust, intake, compression, power, electrical/ignition, cooling, carburetion and lubrication of internal combustion engines. Students will learn the basics of small engine theory, repair, maintenance and safety.

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

HS13002G Manufacturing Technology
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12 

This is a hands-on course that will involve student in all aspects of manufacturing. Units of study will include: Sheet Metal Fabrication, Machining Methods, Forming Methods, Material Conditioning and Combining Methods, Engineering Drawing Interpretation and Design. Student activities will involve designing, process engineering and manufacturing unique individual and group projects.
School service projects and class projects will be used to supplement individual activities.

WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY

HS21052G World of Technology
Full Year 1.0 credit
Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12

 This course introduces students to the varied Technical Education areas using a STEM-based approach to integrate lab-based lessons/activities with communication, mathematics, and the sciences. Students will rotate between all Tech Ed teachers through the six Tech Ed labs, BHS TV studio, and the WERB 94.5 FM radio station. Each topic is designed as an exploration in the areas of Broadcast, Communications, Electronics, Design, Manufacturing, Woods, Transportation, and Firefighting. Students have opportunities to work both in teams and individually with the emphasis on pushing beyond the core academics into discovering where all subjects meet as a comprehensive activity. Broadcast puts the ability to develop scripts with the artistic act of video composition, lighting, sound recording, and editing. Woodworking joins artistic and functional design, measurement, machining, problem solving, and the chemistry of finish. The premise of World of Technology is to have students explore a variety of areas as well as start the development of transferable college or career skills.

TELEVISION PRODUCTION

HS11051G Television Production
Full Year 1.00 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12

 This activity-based course introduces students to basic television production skills. Students will work in small groups applying the concepts and processes of pre-production (planning and scripting), production (BHS TV), and post-production techniques. Projects will include creating content for Berlin High students and FOX Student News.

WOODS I

HS17006G Woods 1
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 10, 11 or 12

 This is an introduction to woodworking using a STEMbased approach to integrate woodworking with mathematics and science using activity-based lessons. Instruction is designed to develop a student’s awareness of various types of materials, measurement, layout, hand tools, and machinery with an emphasis on safety. Students will learn how to plan and design a project along with how to measure, select, cut, assemble, and finish materials into completed useful objects. These skills are widely transferable into many trades and design related fields. Students will create, design, and construct personalized teacher assigned projects with teacher guidance and close supervision. The curriculum exposes students to employment opportunities within the woodworking field along with a historical and scientific look at wood/woodworking, plastics, and manufacturing.

WOODS II

HS13054G Woods II
1/2 Year .50 credit
Grades 11 and 12
Prerequisite: Woods I

This is a continuation of a STEM-based education in woodworking with mathematics, science, and problem solving using activity-based lessons. Instruction is designed to extend a student’s awareness of various types of materials, measurement, layout, hand tools, and machinery with an emphasis on safety. The class will explore all aspects of woodworking including fasteners, materials, building practices, and building codes. Students will construct personal project(s) of their choice with teacher guidance and close supervision. This hands-on course will focus on both the student’s independent skills and working collaboratively with others on various projects. The curriculum exposes students to employment opportunities within the woodworking field along with a historical and scientific look at wood/woodworking and residential construction marketplace. The job outlook is very positive for building trades and design related fields; the outlook for 2020 in the US is over 100,000 vacancies and an average third year salary of $42k to $61k.

BROADCAST JOURNALISM, BROADCAST JOURNALISM II

HS11149G12 Broadcast Journalism I
HS11149G22 Broadcast Journalism II
Semester I & II .50 credit
Grades 11 or 12

This course provides students the opportunity to learn multiple aspects of broadcast journalism (television and radio) in three lab settings: the radio studio (WERB), the television studio, and the computer lab. With the guidance and knowledge of two teachers, a Technology Education and English teacher, students will engage in activity-based assignments focusing on: preproduction of broadcasting segments (scripting and creating storyboards), production (actual filming and recording), and post-production (revising and editing broadcasts). Additionally, students will learn interviewing skills, examine present investigative and news reporting, and consided ethical matters in broadcasting. Major projects include: producing live radio shows for WERB, TV production broadcasts from our Berlin High School studio, and video blogging on the WERB or Berlin Wall website. Guest speakers and field trips to local radio and television stations will supplement this course.

Tech Ed Staff
Department Members:

Jeffrey Carpenter
Laura Kulpa*

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

  • FCC licensed FM radio station 94.5
  • HD TV studio
  • Firefighting program
  • 5 CNC Metalworking mills
  • CNC Plasma cutter
  • 3 CNC Woodworking machines
  • 2 Laser engravers
  • Hunter Hawkeye aligner
  • 2 Auto / truck lifts
  • 3D Printer