10th Grade Students
CAREER EXPLORATION
After becoming aware of the vast array of professions available, students spend the 10th grade exploring and researching a few fields that they may be interested in. The Career Exploration part of the Work-Based Learning sequence involves visiting job sites, attending more workshops with our business partners to strengthen professional skills, job shadowing, and beginning college trips to aid their college selection and application process in the future.
COURSES
All 10th grade students are required to take C.A.D. / Civil Engineering & Architecture. Students will then have the option to take an additional CTE course in AP Computer Science Principles, Electronics & Green Technology, or Adv. AV Engineering & TV Studio. The course descriptions are linked below.
C.A.D./Civil Engineer & Architecture: 2 Terms, Required
Visit https://www.sitechcad.com/our-cad-classes.html for more information.
Students use professional, industry-standard programs to become proficient in designing or drawing in 2D and 3D with perfect precision. Students also learn how to analyze CAD designs for the purpose of interpretation and documentation of such drawings.
A successful CAD user can work efficiently with no errors, and infuse balanced and creative design strategies to satisfy cost, usability, durability, and aesthetics in the final design.
The class also includes discussion and use of skills for rapid prototyping using 3D printing technology with FDM printers using plastic and SLA printers using resin. We also use laser cutting / engraving in the course for robust finishing techniques for 2D material or 3D material that is pieced together.
Students primarily use Autodesk software. Autodesk leads the industry globally in professional and educational Computer Aided Design (CAD). The first term focuses on the most widely and long standing used CAD software, AutoCAD. At the end of the first term all students become industry certified in AutoCAD through Certiport, the only globally accepted program. The second term follows a 3D driven perspective with Revit, Inventor, Blender/3D Studio Max, or AutoCAD in any combination or a single program with great depth.
This is a project based learning (PBL) class. The instructor teaches the material by conducting demonstrations often at first until students get used to the interface and general workflow in Autodesk CAD software. As the term develops, less demonstrations occur and a normal day will consist of students working on their projects getting individualized help from the instructor and also giving / receiving help from their peers. The projects drive the students to gather vast depth inside knowledge of technique and commands so they develop their own optimized style of being a CAD professional. There is NO daily homework, and NO written exams. Projects carry grades based on deadlines and performance. Occasionally timed and silent projects with no discussion or help permitted occur to assess critical skill-sets.
The CAD class comes with multiple credentials for the students. As mentioned earlier, during the course of the year students are required to take a Certiport examination to become industry certified as an Autodesk AutoCAD certified user. This is free and the rate of success with no outside prep-work is effectively 100%. More user level certifications are available for free as optional ventures to the students. The course also grants the students CUNY - College of Staten Island credit for ENS 110 - Engineering Graphics provided students take other CTE courses in our school before graduating. The credits appear on a CUNY transcript and are transferable to other institutions. Lastly, CAD at SI Tech counts as the required art credit for graduating high school in NYC/NYS.
Advanced Audio/Video Engineering & TV Studio: 2 Terms, Elective
Advanced A/V Engineering 1 is a full year elective that builds upon what was learned in Intro to A/V. During the first term, more in-depth techniques and skills are covered in class and students produce a series of short videos to demonstrate these new concepts, which include shot composition, chroma keying (green screen), and more advanced capabilities of the Adobe Premiere Pro editing software. During the second term, students will produce more complex studio productions, such as an in-studio interview and a news program. We finish the year with students working in groups to reproduce a film scene. Throughout the year, students will not only hone their filmmaking and video production abilities but also cultivate various job skills such as time management, interpersonal communication, and collaboration as they work with their peers to produce all of these projects.
AP Computer Science Principles: 2 Terms, Elective
There are two versions of the course that you can choose from. Both versions of AP CS Principles culminate in an AP exam. https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-computer-science-principles
Python: The Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles course centers on the python programming language and provides an introduction to the basic principles of computer science (CS).
The lessons and materials used by students incorporate programming while also integrating all other AP CSP big ideas: creativity, abstraction, data and information, algorithms, the internet and global impact. The curriculum engages students and supports the development of problem solving skills honing in on the computational thinking practices as indicated in the AP CSP curriculum framework. Students learn to create socially useful computational artifacts using Python.
The curriculum also emphasizes communication and collaboration in a project-based approach and classroom environment. This course involves a strong writing component. Students will maintain a portfolio of their work, which will include several performance tasks in the areas of programming and the impact of computing technology.
JavaScript: For students who are interested in building user interfaces AND/OR backend databases. This course is a rigorous project-based curriculum centered around building skills desired in the industry. Students will continue to learn key front-end development concepts in JavaScript while building a GitHub portfolio of web-based projects. Students will then transition to a focus area of their choosing. Data Visualization, Reactive User Interfaces, Design and backend server architecture are among the specializations offered. Students may choose to learn backend architecture using Python. The skills in this course are directly transferable to other programming languages.
The curriculum also emphasizes communication and collaboration in a project-based approach and classroom environment. Students will maintain a portfolio of their work, which will include several performance tasks in the areas of programming and the impact of computing technology.
Electronics & Green Technology: 2 Terms, Elective
Electronics is a full year course offered at Staten Island Technical High School that will cover theoretical concepts of digital components and circuitry, and then reinforce it in the lab setting by using National Instruments “Multisim 11” software. Two Makerspace hands-on projects - designing and building Digital Clock/Timer and Portable Bluetooth Speaker are part of the electronics curriculum.
Students will gain core knowledge and applications of principles representative of the various fields of study within the Engineering industry including Green Technologies such as solar and wind power. The Electronics two-term curriculum will enable students to explore various aspects of circuit theory with direct and alternating current. This includes analysis of various types of circuits using passive and active components and is complemented with the use of virtual lab activities that reinforce what students learn. The second term curriculum builds on previous knowledge of circuit theory to explore the effects of components such as inductors, capacitors, filters, transistors, amplifiers etc. This leads into basic understanding of radio and amplifier circuits in communications. The use of National Instruments “Multisim 11” lab software activities enhances and reinforces this instruction.
The following topics will be covered:
- Number Systems: Binary, Hex, and Octal.
- Boolean Algebra – Algebraic, Standard, Canonical, and Karnaugh Forms of Boolean Functions.
- Optimization of Boolean Functions. two through five variables functions simplification using K-Map Method.
- Combinational Logic – (SSI – Small Scale Integration) – Gate Diagrams, Decision Making Digital Circuits.
- Optimizing circuits for cost, speed, and size.
- MSI (Medium Scale Integration) and PLD’s ( Programmable Logic Devices)
- The following components will be covered: Adders, Multiplexers, ROM’s, Programmable Logic Arrays (PLA), and Programmable Array Logic (PAL).
- Synchronous Sequential Logic (Memory Elements) – JK, D, T, and RS Flip-Flops.
Design & Fabrication “Makerspace” - (Grades 10, 11 or 12 - 2 Terms)
In addition to developing their own projects, throughout the year students will assist their peers in the Makerspace as apprentices. Subject teachers will bring down their classes for project-based learning (PBL) assignments at which time D&F students will assist them with safety, developing their projects, painting, sculpture, woodworking, and using machinery/tools, among other things.
The following topics and skills will be covered but are not limited to:
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Woodworking
- Fabrication
- Product Design and Development
In addition to the skills listed above, students will learn career and life skills such as time management, interpersonal communication, community projects, and collaboration as they work with their peers to produce all of these projects.