Principles of Engineering

Course Essential Questions

• What is the impact of engineering on society?
• What is the process engineering teams follow to find solutions to problems?
• How have engineering practices and the engineering profession evolved over time?

Course Learning Objectives

• Describe the process that engineers use to solve problems and recognize the iterative nature of the process.
• Apply the steps of the engineering design process to design and evaluate solutions to problems.
• Identify some of the tools and techniques that engineers use to design and develop products and processes.
• Describe the roles and responsibilities of engineers in various disciplines and recognize the diverse fields in which engineers apply their expertise.
• Assess the impacts of engineering (both beneficial and detrimental) on society and the environment.
• Identify future trends in engineering while understanding the key challenges engineers will encounter in the 21st century.

Unit 1: The Nature of Engineering (Weeks 1-5)

Unit 1 Essential Questions

• What is Engineering?
• How do engineers apply the engineering design process?
• How do engineers communicate ideas and convey information?
• What is the value of reverse engineering?

Week 1: What is Engineering?

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Identify the skills and attributes needed to be a successful engineer.
• Identify items in nature and imagine a product that could be inspired by the natural element.
• Explain the importance of an engineering notebook.

Week 2: The Design Process

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Analyze inventions from the past and create an argument supported by evidence for which is the greatest of all time.
• Explain the purpose of the engineering design process and describe the steps that are involved in the process.
• Apply the engineering design process to a current building structure or product.
• Compare the engineering design process to the scientific method.
• Explain why mechanical engineers work in a variety of different fields.

Week 3: The Importance of Communication

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Communicate a simple engineering design through the use of drawing with detailed instructions.
• Describe how drawing and communication are important to the engineering design process.
• Identify different drawing angles.
• Describe the variety of different careers a civil engineer could have.

Week 4: Spatial Visualization

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Practice and reflect on our current spatial visualization abilities.
• Draw 3D objects two-dimensionally.
• Draw the three principal orthographic views of an object.
• Accurately measure and cut materials as specified in a design drawing to create a product.
• Describe the variety of different careers an electrical engineer could have.

Week 5: Reverse Engineering

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Analyze class results of the wind-powered cars and discuss ways to improve designs.
• Take notes on the significance of reverse engineering.
• Formally document the reverse engineering process by creating an Engineering Notebook.
• Describe the variety of different careers a chemical or biological engineer could have.
• Review and reflect on feedback from past assignments.

Unit 2: Properties of Materials (Weeks 6-8)

Unit 2 Essential Questions

• How do stress and strain influence the design, performance, and safety of structures and products created by engineers?
• What is the significance of elasticity?
• How does the structure of a material impact its function?

Week 6: Stress & Strain

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Apply the Engineering Design Process.
• Explain the relationship between stress and strain.
• Conduct a lab to gather data to analyze the role cross-sectional area has on stress.
• Calculate stress and strain.
• Describe the variety of different careers an aerospace engineer could have.

Week 7: Elasticity

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Analyze data to examine how cross-sectional area affects stress and therefore material design.
• Explain the relationship between stress, strain, and elasticity.
• Conduct a lab to determine the relationship between the spring constant and the stiffness of a spring.
• Calculate stress, strain, and elasticity.
• Describe the variety of different careers a biomedical engineer could have.

Week 8: Types of Materials

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Analyze an engineering failure.
• Explain the importance of chemical structure to material properties.
• Describe the differences between polymers, ceramics, metals, and composites.
• Conduct a lab to determine the strength of clay.
• Calculate compressive and tensile strength.
• Describe the variety of different careers a software engineer could have.

Unit 3: Structures (Weeks 9-12)

Unit 3 Essential Questions

• What is the strongest shape, and why?
• What loads do bridges experience?
• How do engineers decide what type of bridge to build?
• What does it cost to build a bridge?
• How are the different engineering disciplines connected?
• What is the impact of beam strength to weight ratio?

Week 9: Triangles & Trusses

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Analyze and compare the strengths of materials.
• Explain the significance of triangles and trusses.
• List several examples of loads experienced by a bridge.
• Calculate loads experienced by a bridge.
• Describe the variety of different careers an environmental engineer could have.

Week 10: Bridge Types

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Research and analyze famous bridges.
• Define three major types of bridges, including a beam or truss bridge, an arch bridge, and a suspension bridge.
• Describe and locate compressive and tensile forces acting on various types of bridges.
• Use the Engineering Design Process to design a model bridge.
• Describe the variety of different careers an agricultural engineer could have.

Week 11: Bridge Costs

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Apply the steps of the Engineering Design Process.
• Identify the factors that influence the cost of a bridge.
• Calculate the total cost of building a bridge.
• Work collaboratively with a team to discuss and demonstrate the collaborative nature of the engineering profession.

Week 12: Beams

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Apply the steps of the Engineering Design Process.
• Discuss the significance of the Roman Arch.
• Explain the importance of beam strength to weight ratio in choosing the right beam for a task.
• Test beam strength and analyze beam strength to weight ratio.
• Work collaboratively with a team to discuss and demonstrate the collaborative nature of the engineering profession.

Unit 4: Ethics and Change (Weeks 13-15)

Unit 4 Essential Questions

• What role do ethics and safety have in engineering?
• How are the different engineering disciplines connected?
• How has engineering changed over time?
• What are the challenges to the future of engineering?

Week 13: Ethics & Safety

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Apply the steps of the Engineering Design Process.
• Explain the importance of beam strength to weight ratio in choosing the right beam for a task.
• Critically review inventions to analyze their ethical and safety considerations.
• Work collaboratively with a team to discuss and demonstrate the collaborative nature of the engineering profession.
• Prepare for the final exam.

Week 14: Change Over Time

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Explain and provide examples of how engineering has changed over time.
• Discuss the challenges that engineers face today and in the future.
• Work collaboratively with a team to discuss and demonstrate the collaborative nature of the engineering profession.
• Prepare for the final exam.

Week 15: The Future of Engineering

Weekly Learning Objectives

• Discuss the challenges of engineering today and in the future.
• Take a cumulative final exam to demonstrate our learning.
• Provide feedback to VHS Learning about this course and our experience.