HAZELWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT
ENGINEERING DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT (PLTW) SYLLABUS
Senior PLTW Capstone Course
Course Description:
Engineering Design & Development is an engineering research course in which
students work in teams to research, design, and construct a solution to an open-ended
engineering problem. Students apply principles developed in the four preceding
courses and are guided by a community mentor. They must present progress reports,
submit a final written report and defend their solutions to a panel of outside reviewers at
the end of the school year. This course may be taken at St. Louis Community College –
Florissant Valley and articulates for college credit.
(Prerequisite: 3 foundation courses and 1 specialization course)
Approved Course Materials and Resources:
*Instructional videos limited to no more than six hours each semester
Course Expectations:
Students will demonstrate:
 an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
 an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and
interpret data
 an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political,
ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
 an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
 an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
 an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
 an ability to communicate effectively
 the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering
solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
 a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
 a knowledge of contemporary issues
 an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools
necessary for engineering practice
 an ability to read at least 100 pages of technical reading
Sample Course Activities/Projects/Assessments:
 Work in teams to research, design, and construct a solution to an open-ended
engineering problem
 Present and defend team’s solution to a panel of outside reviewers at the end of
the school year.
 Create designs using 3-D Design software applications
 Maintain an engineer’s notebook
Civil Engineering and Architecture (PLTW) Syllabus
April 2008
1
Course Outline:
Unit 1 – Course Introduction and Justification (17 days)
Lesson 1.1 – Introduction to Engineering Design and Development™ (17
days)
1.1.1 Decision-making
1.1.2 Technical writing
1.1.3 Expository writing
1.1.4 Project management
1.1.5 Design process
1.1.6 Engineer’s notebook
Unit 2 – Problem Identification (30 days)
Lesson 2.1 – Introduction to Problem Statement (9 days)
2.1.1 Brainstorming
2.1.2 Problem statement
Lesson 2.2 – Verify and Justify the Problem (21 days)
2.2.1 Verify problem statement
2.2.2 Justify problem statement
2.2.3 Experts
Unit 3 – Research (15 days)
Lesson 3.1 – Research and Development (3 days)
3.1.1 Research
3.1.2 Market research
Lesson 3.2 – Investigate Current and Past Solutions (6 days)
3.2.1 Patent
3.2.2 Securing a patent
3.2.3 Research solutions
Lesson 3.3 – Invent and Innovate (6 days)
3.3.1 Invention
3.3.2 Innovation
3.3.3 Creative thinking
3.3.4 Trend analysis
Unit 4 – Decision Process (8 days)
Lesson 4.1 – Defining Product Specifications (8 days)
4.1.1 Specifications
4.1.2 Decision matrix
4.1.3 Parameters
4.1.4 Optimization
Unit 5 - Design (20 days)
Lesson 5.1 – Sketching and Technical Drawings (20 days)
5.1.1 Sketching
5.1.2 Technical Drawings
5.1.3 Communication
5.1.4 Evaluation
Civil Engineering and Architecture (PLTW) Syllabus
April 2008
2
Unit 6 – Build (35 days)
Lesson 6.1 – Building a Prototype (35 days)
6.1.1 Tool machine safety
6.1.2 Step-by-step instructions
6.1.3 Materials and cost analysis
6.1.4 Prototyping
Unit 7 – Test (24 days)
Lesson 7.1 – Test Method (6 days)
7.1.1 Testing criteria
7.1.2 Prototype testing
7.1.3 Prototype refinements
Lesson 7.2 – Test Designed Solution (18 days)
7.2.1 Testing procedure
7.2.2 Accurate testing
7.2.3 Repeatable test
Unit 8 – Presentation (26 days)
Lesson 8.1 – Project Documentation (17 days)
8.1.1 Project documentation
8.1.2 Professional presentations
8.1.3 Communication
8.1.4 Target audience
Lesson 8.2 – Juried Presentation (9 days)
8.2.1 Public speaking
8.2.2 Visual presentations
8.2.3 Resumes
8.2.4 Mock interviews
8.2.5 Exit interviews
Course Curriculum MAP:
Unit 1
Course
Introduction and
Justification
Unit 2
Problem
Identification
Unit 3
Unit 4
Research
Decision Process
17 hours
Unit 5
Design
30 hours
Unit 6
Build
15 hours
Unit 7
Test
8 hours
Unit 8
Presentation
20 hours
35 hours
24 hours
26 hours
Civil Engineering and Architecture (PLTW) Syllabus
April 2008
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Lesson Protocol:
 Bell Ringer Activity: Anticipatory Activity or review of previous learning
 Teacher Input
o Check for understanding
 Teacher Models steps/processes
o Check for understanding
 Guided Practice: Students apply steps/processes with guidance
o Check for understanding
 Independent Practice: Students work in teams or independently to complete
project
 Closing Activity: summarize learning and final check for understanding
Course Power Vocabulary:
accountability
aesthetic
alternatives
analysis
artifact
assembly
bioengineering
biotechnology
capital
concept
consequence
constraint
construction
control
correlate
cost-benefit analysis
cost effective
deductive reasoning
deliverables
dependant variable
descriptive abstract
design brief
documentation
engineering change
order
engineering design
engineer’s notebook
executive summary
experimentation
extrapolate
feasibility
fluid power
forecast
function
histogram
hydraulics
hydroponics
hypothesis
independent variable
inductive reasoning
innovation
inquiry methods
intellectual property
interpolate
invention
iterative
juried presentation
jury
justify
kinetic energy
margin of error
market research
material cost analysis
mechanism
media center
mock-up
model
natural material
nomenclature
non-biodegradable
nonrenewable resource
obsolescence
optimization
parameter
patent
patent infringement
Civil Engineering and Architecture (PLTW) Syllabus
April 2008
perspective drawing
pneumatics
preliminary
problem statement
product development
lifecycle
qualitative testing
quality control
quantitative testing
ratio
refinement
reliability
renewable
research and
development
reverse engineering
scale model
schematic
scientific method
simple machine
specifications
technical drawing
technical writing
test criteria
theory
trend analysis
trial and error
troubleshoot
validity
verify
virtual
working drawing
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Civil Engineering and Architecture (PLTW) Syllabus
April 2008
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