Principles of Engineering continues the exploration of basic engineering values with a focus on mechanical engineering. The course is project based; each segment begins with a short briefing or instruction on a topic by the teacher which is followed by a problem that must be solved by the students. The projects that the students work on involve mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering. Some of the projects include designing bridges and raising a flag using the 6 types of simple machines. High Tech has a variety of machines, tools, and equipment at the student's disposal to aid in both the design and production of their projects. The class also discusses the social and political consequences of technological advancement and change.
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Computer Integrated Manufacturing blends computer aided design (CAD) and manufacturing and prototyping. Students use Autodesk Inventor software to model and render everyday objects and machine parts. Later in the year, the students relay mathematical coordinates and commands to a milling machine that carves out physical objects for them. The milling machine accepts a computer's CAD file as numerical instructions for milling and creates an object without human interaction. According to student Sean Linford, "CIM provides me with the skills I need for my future."
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During his or her freshman year, every student is introduced to research techniques. The introductory class culminates with each student designing their own research project. In the sophomore research class, the students are given time to actually conduct their research. High Tech has a new research lab that can be used by the students to set up their projects. After conducting the research, the sophomores must write up a report that analyzes the data they gathered and concludes whether their research hypothesis is supported.
Students may choose to participate in the New Jersey Shore Science Fair at Richard Stockton College and to apply for a grant-in-aid from the New Jersey Junior Academy of Science. Students have chosen to explore and compete with a wide variety of research topics ranging from the social sciences to botanical experiments. In the past few years, High Tech students have won several awards at competitions on the local, regional, and national levels. Last year, two TSA members traveled to Denver, Colorado to represent the NJ Junior Academy of Science at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Local and state level competitions lead to national competitions and further recognition of the students' hard work.
Students at the Jersey Shore Science Fair.
The four High Tech students in the Behavioral Sciences category, JSSF 2002.
A student with a project entered in the Botany category, JSSF 2002.
One of the students who presented in Denver at the AAAS National Conference, 2003.
The other TSA member who presented in Denver. (return to top)
JSSF 2002 Photographs courtesy of Ed Jaggard. Denver conference photographs provided by Christopher Harris.