Week of Dec 17

This is final exam week.  The schedule for exams for my IED classes is listed below.  Remember that school is out at 1:15 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  School is out at 9:05 on Friday, so have a good and safe holidays.
1st period - Tuesday 9:05
2nd period - Wednesday  9:05
3rd period - Monday 9:05

EXCITING NEWS!  Novacentrix presented to our engineering classes last year.  One of the vice presidents is a RRHS graduate and very involved in helping our program.  He is offering for our students to participate in teams in a project and possibly present at a professional conference in February.  Novacentrix makes conductive ink and they demonstrated for us that you could print a circuit directly on a sheet of paper using a standard ink jet printer. (The ink, of course, is special and not available at Office Depot.)  We will have more details for you in January, but for now be thinking about 3-5 other people that you would like to work on a team with.  The teams will be tasked with designing an object that integrates electronics in the design, and you can create your designs on the 3d printer.  For example, you might make the train design (remember that from IED?) that has an LED for a light.  When you press a button, the light lights up.  It is a simple concept, but this is a new and emerging field.  The team with the winning design will be asked to present their results and process at the 3d manufacturing conference in February.


Don't forget about High Tech U
You have just another 2 weeks to get your application in before everyone else for Semi High Tech U.  If you are interested, you will need to submit your application on Semi's web site (above).  RRHS students are able to apply right now even though they will not open the applications to the public until after January 1.  The dates again are Feb 20, 21, & 22.  You would have to be able to miss those three days of school, but it is well worth it!


Have a happy holiday break, and be careful.  I look forward to seeing all of you back in one piece on January 7.

One More Week!!!! (practically)

The end of the semester is fast approaching.  You will get the final exam review this week.  Even if you are exempting, you need to complete the review as it will be good practice for your EoC exam next spring.  It is a good time for you to brush up on the concepts covered this fall and know what is important to remember.  Remember that (1) you may not exempt the IED exam in the spring and (2) to turn in your completed exemption form to the office by 4:30 Tuesday.  Check out the rules & procedures as well as the final exam schedule on the RRHS home page.


Any women interested in engineering?  Would you like a free lunch and a chance to talk with engineering students and faculty at UT?  The UT Society of Women engineers is hosting an Encounter with Engineers on Saturday February 9.  The link will take you to their event page where you can learn more about the day's events and how to register. You must register by January 11, 2013.  That is over a month off, but don't put it off if you are interested.  You can apply online.  Below is a summary from their web page to get you a little more information.
Encounter with Engineering (EWE) is a day-long program created to introduce engineering to high school girls. EWE is a great introduction the different engineering fields and is a great opportunity for students to find out about engineering, what they can do with a degree, and talk to engineering students. This event is entirely free, and lunch is provided. Many of our past EWE participants have been inspired to pursue a career in engineering. We strongly encourage girls in grades 10 and 11 to participate.

Also, NASA is sponsoring the WISH program (Women in STEM High School) for junior and senior girls interested in engineering.  This is an internship in which you would get to work on an actual NASA space exploration project with other high school students and present your team's results at the Johnson Space Center in Houston over a week's time this summer.  If you are interested, check out the WISH web site, but be aware that the deadline to apply is January 3.  

This is the last week you have to get caught up on work and get those grades up before the semester ends.  Next week, we will only be taking and grading final exams.

It's Almost Here!!!!!!

The end of the semester is fast approaching.  Just two more weeks, and then we will be taking final exams and off for the semester break.  Students should finish up their portfolios on Tuesday, and then we will look at some brief design concepts before getting ready for the final exam.

You may exempt the fall semester final for IED, if you meet the school qualifications.  If you want to exempt any engineering final, it will have to be the fall.  The spring exam will be an end-of-course exam that is required by PLTW, so you will not be able to exempt regardless of your grade and attendance.  I will add that this exam will be a preview of that final, so it would give you some insight as to what the EOC will look like for this course.

Speaking of final exams, be on the lookout for exemption forms.  Be sure that you get yours and, by all means, turn it in filled out and signed correctly by the deadline: next Tuesday December 11.

Any women interested in engineering?  Would you like a free lunch and a chance to talk with engineering students and faculty at UT?  The UT Society of Women engineers is hosting an Encounter with Engineers on Saturday February 9.  The link will take you to their event page where you can learn more about the day's events and how to register. You must register by January 11, 2013.  That is over a month off, but don't put it off if you are interested.  You can apply online.  Below is a summary from their web page to get you a little more information.
Encounter with Engineering (EWE) is a day-long program created to introduce engineering to high school girls. EWE is a great introduction the different engineering fields and is a great opportunity for students to find out about engineering, what they can do with a degree, and talk to engineering students. This event is entirely free, and lunch is provided. Many of our past EWE participants have been inspired to pursue a career in engineering. We strongly encourage girls in grades 10 and 11 to participate.


Make sure that you are checking on any missing work and getting your grades up now.  Progress reports go out this week, but you only have a week left after that before finals start. You want to be first in line to get what you need from me or any other teacher before the semester ends.