Exploration in Technology is a hands-on course designed to give students an understanding of how the world relies on technology and many of the different careers available in technological fields.
Instructor:Toni Francis
Email Address: toni.francis@cobbk12.org
Homework Hotline :770-795-5720 Ext. 7886
Voicemail: 678-594-8378 Ext.251
Text: Technology Education Learning by Design
HOW THE CLASS WORKS
The program is organized to place greater responsibility on the individual student to manage his or her own activity, behavior, grade, and appropriate use of laboratory time. This aspect of the program is accomplished mainly through the use of individual student notebooks that each student is required to maintain on a daily basis. For a period of 10 days there will be 2-3 students per module. The students then rotate to a new module with a new partner. This process enables students to learn to work with classmates. In this setting, students are required to follow daily instructions provided by the teacher in a notebook specifically designed for each module. These notebooks outline on a daily basis the pre-designed activities of reinterpreting instruction, performing computations, writing answers and to problems, and performing some form of hands-on activities. They also under go an evaluation of a pre-test before the module and a post-test after the module to ascertain their increased knowledge based on the piece of technology studied. There is also a computer in nearly every module, textbooks, videos, computer software, notebooks and various prototypes to assist with hands-on activities. Students are, therefore, required to stay in the module which assists teachers in providing better classroom management practices which in turn provides for a better learning environment for the students.
MODULES
The labs presently in place at Palmer are: 1. Aerospace 2. Audio Broadcasting 3. Aviation 4. AutoCAD 5. Bio-Related 6. Computer Animation 7. Digital Photography 8. Electricity 9. Television Broadcasting 10. Television Broadcasting 11. Transportation 12. Robotics
AEROSPACE
Students use computer simulation programs and videos to explore the solar system and several individual celestial bodies. They also study President Kennedy’s challenge to reach the moon and the formation of NASA as a direct result of this challenge. Students will discover the obstacles and disasters NASA encountered and overcame as they raced the USSR to the moon, and how that race led to the Space Shuttle program and the multinational space station
AUDIO BROADCASTING
Students will study the history of wireless radio and be introduced to the pioneers in the field. They will also read about the electronic communication system, define differences between AM and FM. Using the audio manipulation software, students will create call signs, commercials, news reports. Once the audio work is complete, they will import these files into the automation software and, including provided music, create a play list.
AVIATION
Students learn the four forces that affect flight as they explore the history and principles of aviation. During their study, they will design, construct, and test their own model aircraft. Students also operate a flight simulator to help foster an understanding of how an aircraft is controlled during takeoff, flight, and landing by adjusting various surfaces of the wings and tail.
AUTOCAD
Students study the history of graphic communications while learning how to manipulate primitive objects to produce both mechanical and architectural drawings. They also learn how to start a drawing, place symbols on the drawing, dimension the drawing, and plot the drawing to produce a completed project.
BIO-RELATED TECHNOLOGY
Students learn how the systems of the human body work and how to grow plants in a hydroponic environment. While conducting a recycling experiment, students will be able to monitor the amount of trash their household generates as they strive to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste.
COMPUTER ANIMATION
Students will be creating 3D computer-generated animations and presentations. As they learn how to operate a computer animation system, they will study the history of animation. The easy powerful animation software has hundreds of actors and actions from which to choose.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
The student learns how to input, process, and output images as well as manipulate or edit them. Pixels, sensors, color, image size and quality, plus much more is explored. Innovative image-editing software will be used throughout the CPU to manipulate and work with digital photographs. Students discover all the necessary tools and terminology associated with the world of digital photography.
ELECTRICITY
Students will learn safety in using electrical devices, how simple circuits are built and used, and the terminology and symbols for the components in circuits. They will study static electricity, electric current, magnetism, and electromagnetism. They will also complete experiments by building working circuits.
TELEVISION BROADCASTING & TELEVISION PRODUCTION
Two students work as TV news broadcasters while two other students work as video production engineers in the. Using two camcorders, a video titler to produce lead-in credits and special effects, a digital audio/video mixer, wireless microphones, a VCR, and more, students apply the principles of television news broadcasting and production by writing, producing, and recording news scripts and commercials.
TRANSPORTATION
A study of various transportation systems including land, sea, air, and space, as well as fixed transportation systems such as pipelines roads, and lines. Research of history will reveal how each type of transportation has become the planes, trains, and automobiles we are accustomed to today. While history is an important component, the future is also a focus as students explore promising technologies currently being researched.
