STEMM

STEMM


 * Here's a link to some useful resources for STEM: **

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 * STEMM Course Descriptions **

__ Foundation Courses for Engineering __

Introduction to Engineering and Design: Quality of Life Prototypes

This course is designed to teach basic engineering and design skills to enable students to build prototypes that could benefit physically and mentally challenged individuals to improve their quality of life. Students experience various handicaps in a three day workshop to introduce the need for better canes, wheelchairs, eating utensils, and hygiene devices. Engineering principles and the design cycle are emphasized. Grade 10 course Conceptual Physics is a prerequisite.

Solid Works

This course is a 3D mechanical computer aided program (CAD) that runs on Microsoft Windows. This course is necessary for engineering and design projects. This program is used extensively at all universities and engineering firms. It permits the user to design prototypes, run simulations, and to collaborate with other students. Projects include: designing a house, furnishings, and appliances. Grade 10,11,12

Robot Algebra/CS2N This course is robotics curricula designed to strengthen algebra and computer science skills. This course is a collaboration with Robin Shoop and Ross Hagashi at CMU’s NREC, and Vincent Aleven, Albert Corbett, and Ken Koedinger at CMU’s HC11. The Computer Science Student Network (CS2N) is a collaborative research project between Carnegie Mellon University and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) designed to increase the number of students pursuing advanced Computer Science and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CS-STEM) degrees. Grade 10,11,12

Engineering Units

Heating/Cooling Immersion Unit This immersion unit is designed for high school chemistry students. In this engineering and design unit, students will create a prototype of a heating or cooling system that relies on chemical energy. The H/C system is decomposed into two major subsystems: Reaction and Container. The students will make various modifications to their design as they cycle through each subsystem. Once the needs and requirements are determined, they will proceed through Reaction I, Reaction II, and finally the Container Subsystem. 9 week unit grade 10,11

Artificial Limb Unit**:** A Force and Simple Machine Design-based Immersion Module

This immersion unit is designed for high school physics students. Students will determine the needs and requirements to engineer and design an artificial limb. The students will proceed through three subsystems: Transmission, Structure and Control. Students begin with the Structure subsystem, where they will learn about the strength of materials and action-reaction (Newton’s 3rd law). The Transmission subsystem then provides opportunities to learn about work, energy and simple machines. Students will complete the first cycle through the Control subsystem with a focus on friction and conservation of energy. Students will cycle again through the entire prototype cycle, refining their prototype with the help of recently gained knowledge about simple machines and mechanical advantage. Improved prototype designs enable students to connect features of their designs with the concepts of power, kinematics and Newton’s 2nd law. 9 week unit. grade 10,11,12

Electrical Alarm Unit This immersion unit is designed for high school physics students. Students will experiment with electrical circuits in series and in parallel. The objective is to sound an alarm as loudly as possible and to make a light shine with intensity. Other electrical components are added to the mix as the unit progresses. Students will experience hands-on activities with various electrical devices. Students will then engineer and design a prototype that uses electrical energy. 9 week unit grade 9,10

Introduction to Material Science and Engineering This course is designed to introduce the fundamental principles of structure and to discover the properties of materials that are utilized in engineering. Properties of materials are related to atomic, molecular, and crystalline structure. Metals, ceramics, multiphase systems, and polymeric materials are used in this course. Students recognize the relationships between structure and electrical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. This course is recommended for students who have already had chemistry and physics. 18 week course, grade 10,11

Senior Capstone Course- Engineering Design and Prototype Development Students will collaborate in 3-4 person teams. Engineering and industrial professionals will guide these teams in the development of a prototype to fulfill a technical need or to solve a problem. The prototype or solution must operate or be feasible and be presented to a board of STEM professionals. Students must show evidence of engineering and design principles, data, and testing.

Science Units Designer Bacteria Unit This immersion unit uses a design-based learning approach. In design-based science units, students make decisions about how they want to design and develop a specific kind of prototype. Designing and improving that prototype allows students to engage deeply in various experiences, improving their science learning. In this unit, students will genetically modify bacteria. Subsystems include three major topics: Environment, Genes, and Expression. 9 week unit, grade 11,12

The Gecko Challenge This immersion genetics unit is based on mathematical models to breed “rare” geckos. Students are given start up money to begin the challenge and will receive $10,000 to produce a pure breeding pair of geckos for a zoo. This is a genetic simulation. Students must develop equations using inheritance rules. Students who produce geckos with the most visible traits (genes) are the winners. 3 week unit, grade 11

The Landmine Crisis: Firefly Evolution This immersion unit is based on natural selection and evolutionary principles. Students will develop special fireflies that will glow red in the presence of landmines. The challenge is to develop a way to breed the special fireflies, contain them, and to identify where the landmines are located. Mathematical models, best fit lines, proportions, fractions, and percentages are used extensively to solve the landmine problem in Laos. 3 week unit, grade 11

Water Purification: An Environmental Unit This unit challenges students to develop methods to purify water in various situations. They may choose from several situations: wilderness camping, contaminated well, shipwreck, or poor quality community water system. The objective is to design an innovative method to purify water or to develop a prototype that will make the water potable. Research, testing, data collection and analysis are emphasized. 3 week unit grade10,11

Designer Soil: An Environmental Unit Students will collect soil samples from three places in their communities. They analyze soil components, test the soil elements, check the pH and then correct the soil so that it can grow a specific form of plant- flowers, vegetable, tree, or shrub. Students learn to use various testing devices and apply math skills to add nutrients in the appropriate amounts. Chemistry is a prerequisite. 3 week unit grade 10,11

Senior Capstone Course- Environmental Science/Geo-science Course Students must have taken physics, chemistry, and biology to participate in this 12th grade capstone course. Students may choose from issues dealing with global warming, sustainability, or environmental health. (Economics and social justice should be included if sustainability is the chosen topic.) Environmental professionals will mentor and guide teams of 3-4 students in an independent study. Students will present and defend their argument/solution to a board of STEMM professionals.

Biomedical Courses

Medical Perspectives Course

This course is designed to introduce students to numerous medical careers and medical specialties. Students will learn about careers that take two years of preparation to those that require eight or more years to complete. They will have the opportunity to shadow professionals and to observe various types of surgery. Students will also be provided internships. Field trips to the STARSimulationCenter will be the centerpiece experience and specializes in hands-on experience in medical techniques. This course is offered by the West Penn-Allegheny Health System and lays the foundation for the biomedical program. 18 week course grade 10,11,12

Human Body Structure and Function This course requires students to learn the eleven body systems, associated disorders and diseases, medical literacy, and medical terminology. Students design experiments to gather data on system functionality. Software is used to measure muscle strength, nerve impulses, and respiration capacity. Students compare body set points which are normal and data which is abnormal. This course is invaluable for the pre-medical student. Students must have biology and chemistry prior to this course. 32 week course grade11,12

Applied Human Genetics This course takes the student beyond the fundamentals of genetics that is taught in the high school biology class. Multifactorial genes are the majority of human genes and have special implications for human health. The environment can “ turn on” the genes that cause chronic and fatal diseases. Special topics include cloning, stem cell research, DNA fingerprinting, genetic basis of disease, and genetically modified crops. Field trips to the Craniofacial Research facility at the Bridgeside Labs (University of Pittsburgh) give opportunity for research, projects, and lecture. 18 week course, grades 11,12

Microbes, Disease, and Society In this course students will learn about the microbiology of human disease through lecture, discussion, labs, and independent projects. Topics include the Influenza Plague of 1918-1919, other historical plagues, serious outbreaks, ongoing endemic global diseases, and potential biological terrorism attacks. Students will take on the role of epidemiologists and learn how these scientists find “patient zero”, control infectious disease, and identify social, political, and economic issues that complicate defeating disease agents. The emphasis is on bacteria, viruses, and parasites. 18 week course, grades 11,12

Biomedical Engineering This course is designed to give the student a glimpse of regenerative medicine through coursework, lecture, tours of facilities, and interviews with cutting edge bioengineers. Pittsburgh is a premier center for many bioengineering projects .Tissue engineering, computerized limbs, next generation sight devices, artificial hearts, replacement urinary bladders, brain defibrillators, and biomaterials development are only a few of the projects that are underway at our research universities and institutes. This field will employ thousands of people in the near future. Students must have taken biology, chemistry, and one physics course prior to enrollment. 18 week course grades 11,12

Senior Capstone Course (grade 12)- Biomedical Healthcare Solutions Students may choose from a variety of healthcare challenges and problems that face humankind. Independent projects may include but are not limited to: clinical medicine, human physiology, public health problems, biomechanics, bioengineering, or regenerative medicine. Students will have a mentor or advisor from a university, hospital, health agency, or biomedical industry to guide them in the development of the project. Students will present their work to a board of STEM professionals.