Grade Level: 9^th – 12th

Length of Course: 1 semester

Prerequisite: Principles of Technology and Design

The purpose of the class is to prepare students to use SketchUp to develop technology skills and spatial reasoning in order to enhance visual communications of 3-Dimensonal information.  Students will learn to build complex 3D models at a variety of scales and will use v-ray for SketchUp to create renderings with proper lighting and photo realism.  Some of the models will be 3D printed and/or milled on the CNC machines in the Levine Innovation Lab. The skills learned in this class will assist in engineering, architecture, arts, physics, chemistry, game design, film, fabrication, and other fields that students may pursue after EWS.

Grade Level: 10th – 12th

Length of Course: 1 semester

Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra I and Principles of Technology and Design

The Computer Programming I course is designed to introduce students to object-oriented programming.  Students will design, write, and debug computer programs.  No knowledge of programming is assumed.  Students use program flowcharts and pseudocode to map solutions to problems and as a basis for applications. Working with Python 3, students develop and troubleshoot software applications.  As an introductory course, the emphasis is placed on keywords and syntax, data types, and program flow and control structures.

Grade Level: 9th – 12th

Length of Course: 1 semester

Prerequisite: Completion of Principles of Technology and Design or one semester of an Upper School Technology Course

Course Description:

As an introductory course in robotics, students design and build robots using Tetrix robotics building components.  Students create programs to control their robots autonomously and using remote controls.  This course focuses on designing and constructing robots to complete assigned tasks. Through implementation of the design process, students transfer advanced academic skills to component designs in a project-based environment.  Students build prototypes and test their designs. As part of design teams, students will explore multi-robot solutions to complex problems.

Grade Level: 10th – 12th

Length of Course: 1 semester

Prerequisite: Completion of Robotics I

Course Description:

As an intermediate course in robotics, students design and build autonomous and semi-autonomous robots using an array of building materials and their choice of programming language(s).  Miniaturized computing modules such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi serve as the starting grounds for robots. Students learn to build circuits and program robot behaviors using a tradition-al, text-based language.  Through implementation of the design process, students transfer advanced academic skills to component designs in a project-based environment.  Additionally, students may use 3D modeling software and printers to create custom robotics parts.

Grade Level: 10th – 12th

Length of Course: 1 semester

Prerequisite: Completion of Principles of Technology and Design and one additional semester of an Upper School Technology course

Course Description:

Working individually or as part of small project teams, students in this course will follow the Design Thinking Model as they engage in designing and constructing projects in which they share an interest. Students will identify their goals and objects to build, research solutions, make technical drawings and digital models, and create prototypes following the iterative design process. Finally, students will deliver their project and written documentation. In consultation with the instructor, students will develop project rubrics and timelines that includes a list of student deliverables and an explanation as to how the innovation will be measured. All students enrolled in the course must have previously completed two courses in the Technology Department, including Principles of Technology and Design. Additional time may be required outside of regular class hours (after school) in order to complete projects. *Capstone option offered to seniors only

Grade Level: 10th – 12th

Length of Course: 2 semesters

Prerequisite: Completion of Computer Programming I or II

Course Description:

In this rigorous, project -based curriculum, students dive deep into programming concepts while collaborating to solve a series of socially relevant challenges. Each unit introduces a unique, real-world problem following an overarching course narrative as students “travel the globe” in search of a missing scientist.  This curriculum immerses students in Java programming topics (e.g. abstraction, algorithms, data structures, object-oriented programming) and prepares students for advanced college coursework and potential career pathways in computer science.

                                       The University of Texas at Austin; UTeach Computer Science A