CONSTRUCTION

Grades 9-12
.5 unit

Construction is one part of a three sequential unit program that assists in providing students with concepts and skills in construction related occupations. Students may earn advance placement in post-secondary institutions (Ellsworth Community College) upon the successful completion of all three sequential units of instruction. The other two units of instruction include Workplace Basics and Advanced Construction. A number of specific competencies will be addressed in each unit of instruction.

Course Content: Construction is designed to acquaint the student with general information dealing with the light construction industries. Students will become familiar with the vocations within the construction industry. Students will also learn and demonstrate the basics of fabrication methods used in the building trades industries. Units in this course include Careers, Building Materials, Tools and Machinery, Safety, Foundations, Framing, and Exterior Finishing. The student will participate in as many “hands-on” experiences as it is possible to arrange. Past activities have included: laying concrete for driveways and sidewalks, laying concrete blocks, framing, sheathing and siding small structures and shingling.



ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION

Prerequisites: Construction
Grades 10-12
.5 unit

Advanced Construction is one part of a three sequential unit program that assists in providing students with concepts and skill in construction related occupations. Students may earn advance placement in post-secondary institutions (Ellsworth Community College) upon the successful completion of all three sequential units of instruction. The other two units of instruction include Workplace Basics and Construction. A number of specific competencies will be addressed in each unit of instruction.

Course Content: Advanced Construction is designed to provide additional experiences in the construction field beyond that which is taught in the Construction course. Students will learn and demonstrate the basics of interior finishing and special framing methods used in the building trades industries. Units in this course include Insulation, Drywall, Wood Flooring, Stair Framing, Cabinetry, Chimneys and Fireplaces, Plumbing, Electrical, and Heating, Ventilating and air-conditioning Systems. The students will participate in as many “hands-on” experiences as it is possible to arrange.



MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY

Grades 9-12
.5 unit

Materials Technology is a course that deals with materials used in industries of today. Woods, metals, composites, ceramics and plastics are the materials covered in this yearlong class. These materials are diverse in nature and this class will attempt to identify occupations, skills and processes within those industries and duplicate when possible their processes. An emphasis is placed on safety during the lab portions of the class. Hand, portable power tools, and stationary power tools along with other equipment will be used in developing skills and processing materials.

Course Content: The woods portion of the class will address the technology of the material from its classifications and characteristics, species, harvesting techniques, sawing, drying and grading, purchasing, fasteners, gluing and joinery, finishing and different forms in which materials can be obtained. The metals portion of the class will address the technology of the material and cover the areas of patternmaking and foundry, sheet metal and pattern development, machining including an experience with CNC (computer numerical control), welding and brazing, forging and heat treating. The composites, ceramics and plastics portion of the class will address the technology of the material, the processes used to form, separate and finish those materials, and the properties and uses of each material. Students will have the opportunity to construct an assigned project in each of the content areas.

Expectations: All students are expected to complete all written and test materials that may be assigned. Students will also learn the concepts and skills related to the materials used in industries of today. Students will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes that reduce the possibility of accidents in the workplace. Students will demonstrate competence in the areas of material identification, appropriate material processes, finishes and project design. Students will finally have developed adequate skills in constructing projects relating to the unit of study. Students will be charged for materials they use during the course.



ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTING

Grades 9-12
.5 unit

Architectural Drafting is one part of a three sequential unit program that assists in providing students with concepts and skills in engineering related occupations. Students may earn advance placement in post-secondary institutions (Hawkeye Community College and/or Iowa Valley Community College) upon the successful completion of all three sequential units of instruction. The other two units of instruction include Workplace Basics and Mechanical Drafting. A number of specific competencies will be addressed in each unit of instruction.

Course Content: Students will cover the area of architectural drafting using manual and computer-aided-drafting techniques. Students will study and create drawings for either a residential or small commercial structure. Drawings to be created include a presentation drawing with site plan, elevations (both exterior and interior), section drawings, detail drawings, standard structural connections, framing plans, floor plans, foundation or basement plans, and appropriate schedules. The training required to gain meaningful employment in the architectural drafting field would be covered as well. Students will in small groups construct a model(s) of one of the plans generated during the fourth quarter.

Expectations: All students are expected to complete all written and test materials that may be assigned. Students will also learn the concepts related to and issues facing the architectural drafting and design fields. Students will be charged for materials they use during the course.



MECHANICAL DRAFTING

Grades 9-12
.5 unit

Mechanical Drafting is one part of a three sequential unit program that can assist in providing students with concepts and skills in engineering related occupations. Students may earn advance placement in post-secondary institutions (Hawkeye Community College and / or Iowa Valley Community College) upon the successful completion of all three sequential units of instruction. The other two units of instruction include Workplace Basics and Architectural Drafting. A number of specific competencies will be addressed in each unit of instruction.

Course Content: Students will cover areas of drafting including basic drafting skills, geometric construction, drawing specifications, computer-aided-drafting, and mechanical drawings. Students will study and complete drawings called for in the engineering related vocational standards competency list such as orthographic projections, isometric pictorials, oblique pictorials, auxiliary drawings, keyways and keyseats, splines and gears, cams and followers, fasteners and threads, casting drawings, etc. Students will use both manual drafting equipment and the computer along with a CAD program to complete their drawings. Discussion will take place regarding the training required to gain meaningful employment in the engineering field.



AutoCAD FOR BEGINNERS

Pre-requisite: Mechanical Drafting
Grades 10-12
.5 unit

This course is recommended for students interested in engineering, architecture, computers, and manufacturing and related careers. Students will become familiar with the drafting methods, develop and practice drafting skills and techniques while using computer aided design (CAD) software. Students will cover areas in basic drafting skills, geometric construction, reading a blue print and computer aided drafting. Students will complete drawings such as orthographic projections, isometric pictorials, auxiliary views and sectional views.

Expectations: Students are expected to complete all written and test materials that may be assigned. Students will demonstrate proper drafting techniques using AutoCAD as well as on the drafting board.



WOODWORKING I

Grades 9-12
.5 unit

Woodworking I is for those who love to work with wood and would like to learn about working with wood. This course is a hands-on learning experience in the woods lab and includes learning about different species of wood, tools, machines and calculating cost of wood and materials. Students will be assigned a project by the instructor and must build one or more personal projects. Students will be expected to draw up a set of plans for his or her project and then build their project.

Expectations: All students are expected to sign a safety contract and demonstrate safe use of tools and machines or they will be restricted to hand tools only. Students will take safety test and must make a 100% on each safety test (students will be given the opportunity to retake test). Students are expected to complete all written and test materials that may be assigned.



ADVANCED WOODWORKING

Prerequisites: Materials Tech/Woods I
Grades 11-12
.5 unit

Advanced woodworking is for those who love to work with wood and are serious about woodworking. This course is a hands-on learning experience in the woods lab and includes learning about different wood materials, process, tools, machines and calculating cost of wood and materials. Students must build one or two major personal projects. A student is expected to have a set of plans or ideas in place for his or her project within the first week of class and begin working on that project by the second or third week of class.

Expectations: All students are expected to sign a safety contract and demonstrate safe use of tools and machines or they will be restricted to hand tools only. Students will take safety test and must make a 100% on each safety test (students will be given the opportunity to retake test). Students are expected to complete all written and test materials that may be assigned.



EXPLORATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY

Grades 9-12
.5 unit

Students enrolled in Explorations of Technology will be introduced to the four clusters of technology; communication, construction, manufacturing and energy/power/transportation. Hands on activities will include building solar water heaters, building airplanes with model engines, Magnetic levitation vehicles, building water and solid fuel rockets from scratch, building and testing air domes and many other problem solving activities.

Expectations: All students are expected to sign a safety contract and demonstrate safe use of tools and machines or they will be restricted to hand tools only. Students will take safety test and must make a 100% on each safety test (students will be given the opportunity to retake test). Students are expected to complete all written and test materials that may be assigned. Students will learn to work with other students in a team to solve simple and complex problems. Students will be responsible to write a research paper for each problem solving activity. Students will be charged for materials they use during the course.



MECHNICAL PHYSICS

Prerequisites: Algebra II or FST
Grades 11-12
1 unit (4 credits HCC)

This is the first trimester of a two- term sequence. The course is designed to provide science students and technology students, not requiring calculus-based physics course with the fundamental concepts in the area of kinematics, statics, dynamics, mechanical properties of materials, sound, fluid mechanics and heat. It is a mathematically rigorous class that assumes the entering student has a strong background in algebra and finite mathematics. This course meets the Grundy Center requirement for Industrial Tech.

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