Intro+&+Logistics

toc

=EXPECTATIONS= This is a Google Doc created by the students on Wednesday, 8-31.

=COURSE DESCRIPTION= This survey course of engineering exposes students to some of the major concepts that they will encounter in a postsecondary engineering course of study. In addition to investigating engineering and high tech careers, students develop skills and understanding of course concepts through activity-, project-, and problem-based (APPB) learning. = = =MATERIALS= A student will have these materials when he or she comes to class.
 * ENGINEERING NOTEBOOK – These will be provided. If you have one from a previous engineering class, you may continue to use it.
 * CALCULATOR – Scientific calculators will suffice; graphing calculators are not necessary. Students are encouraged to “deface” their calculator and scratch their name into it.
 * PEN, PENCIL, & ERASER – When working activity worksheets, pencil is preferred. Students should reserve the right to revise their work. White erasers (not pink) work best. Pens are required for the Engineering notebooks.
 * EMAIL ADDRESS – Students would greatly benefit from email updates about online discussions, class announcements, and homework. Free email addresses can be set up through your internet service provider, Gmail, or other webmail service. Computers are available at the high school before or after school, during study halls, as well as in class. Students are encouraged to access those resources. Please contact me with any problems or concerns.

=POLICIES & PROCEDURES:=

The Wiki
MedwayPOE.wikispaces.com This website is “digital home base” for the class. The members of a wiki are able to contribute content and edit the site. Students will collaboratively build a class wikispace to showcase their projects, lab reports, knowledge, and skills to the world.

The Blog
MedwayPOE.blogspot.com Picture the blog as an online interactive newsreel. Class announcements, discussions, and homework assignments will be posted to the blog, and subscribers will receive everything in their email. It is viewable by the public, but only members of the class will be allowed to comment and ask questions. 21st century skills and digital literacy are purposefully built into the course.

Daily View
Once the bell rings, students are to begin the Daily View, an activity that is on the board at the beginning of every class. Most Daily Views will be kept in the student’s physics journal. Daily Views missed because of excused absences will not count toward or against the student’s grade.

Tardies
Be here. Be on time. Class begins with the Daily View when the bell rings. Students are expected to sign in on the sign-in sheet near the door if late.
 * 3 tardies: Teacher Detention and solutions will be discussed
 * 5 tardies: Referral to the Office for further action.

Cell Phones
As per school policy, cell phones may only be used in the cafeteria during the school day. Cell phones are useful tools, but inherently distracting to the learning process. If seen or heard, they will be confiscated and delivered to the office. Students may pick them up at the end of the day. Academic Deans will deal with repeat offenders.

Make-up Work
It is always the student’s responsibility to check the blog for updated assignments and announcements. According to the MHS Student Handbook, “the time allowed to complete work is equal to the number of days absent." Students should talk to me to establish new deadlines for any assignments missed.

Late Work
Due dates will be set for each activity depending on its length. Late work will be accepted, but will lose 10% each week it is late. No work will be accepted once grades close for the quarter. Because the course is project based, there is more possibility for individual differentiation.

Extra Help
Ask questions! Ask me. Ask other students. Ask other teachers. Use the discussion forums on the wiki. Ask. Ask. Ask! Extra help is available and encouraged before or after school most days; check with me to see if I have meetings. DO NOT WAIT until the day before a test to ask for help. It may take only a few minutes here and there to get back on the right track. The only dumb question is the one that is not asked.

=GRADING=

Points
Total points will be used to determine grades. There are 4 types of assessments in POE: activities, tests, and design problems. None of them are weighted, a point is a point is a point.
 * Activities || 5-30 points || 12-15 per quarter ||
 * Tests || 25-100 points || 2-3 per quarter ||
 * Design Problem || 200-250 || 1 per quarter ||

Design Problems
POE consists of 4 units, each with a unique design problem at the end. In addition, students will also work through a career exploration project to better understand the field of engineering and engineering technology. One unit will be presented each quarter.
 * 1) Energy and Power
 * 2) Materials & Structures
 * 3) Control Systems
 * 4) Statistics & Kinematics

Mid-Year & Final Exam
There will be a cumulative mid-term at the end of the first semester, and a cumulative final at the end of the year. Each will be worth 20% of the semester grade (10% of the overall grade at the end of the year).

=COLLEGE CREDIT= In some cases, for some colleges, college credit can be obtained for Principles of Engineering. A certain final score in the course, as well as a certain score on the Final Exam (as determined by the college) are necessary to qualify. Credit determinations will be made by each individual college. More details will follow later in the year.