PLTW Biotechnical Engineering – Stoneback
bstoneback@qcsd.org
Biotechnical Engineering
QCSD High School – Room F206
Mr. Stoneback
2014-2015 Course Syllabus
Course Overview:
In this course students explore the diverse fields of biotechnology. Hands-on projects engage students in
engineering design problems related to biomechanics, cardiovascular engineering, genetic engineering, tissue
engineering, biomedical devices, forensics and bioethics. Students apply biological and engineering concepts to
design materials and processes that directly measure, repair, improve and extend living systems. This course
contains a heavy emphasis on the research and development of biotechnical systems and other applications. It
demands a high level of commitment to the learning and engineering process by both the teacher and the student.
Areas of Concentration
Safety and Documentation Review
Intro to Biotechnical Engineering
Biochemical Engineering
Environmental & Agricultural Engineering
Biomedical
Documentation
Lab Safety
Instrumentation Calibration
Biotechnical Engineering History and Industry
Lessons from Prometheus
CSI Forensics: Engineers Needed
Grow to Go
Biomedical Engineering
Orthopedics
Cardiovascular Devices and Imaging
Classroom Rules:
1.
BE ON TIME! – Unexcused or chronic tardiness to science is not tolerated. If you do not come to
science with a pass, you will be marked tardy unexcused and your employability grade for the day will
be negatively affected. Students who bring a pass will not be penalized unless the tardiness becomes
chronic.
2.
BE PREPARED! - You are required to have the following items with you daily:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Pen/Pencil - blue or black in only please
Notebook/Binder – in chronological order by learning target
Engineering Notebook
Paper
Netbook/Laptop & Charger
PLTW Biotechnical Engineering – Stoneback
bstoneback@qcsd.org
3.
DO YOUR OWN WORK! – Copying another students work, whether it’s homework, classwork, labs,
tests, or quizzes, is not acceptable and is considered cheating. All work should be in your own words
to the best of your ability. Cheating will result in a zero for all persons involved.
4.
ONLY ONE PERSON SPEAKS AT A TIME! – be respectful to those around you.
5.
LEAVE THE ROOM THE WAY YOU FOUND IT! – Poor cleanup will result in the loss of classroom
privileges.
6.
ONLY USE BLUE/BLACK INK OR PENCIL!
7. ALL OTHER SCHOOLWIDE RULES APPLY! – Cell phones, dress code, language, etc.
Classroom Procedures, Expectations & Other Information:
1.
AFTER SCHOOL HOURS – I will be available immediately after school until 4:00 on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays only. If you need to see me on a day other than Tuesday or Wednesday you must make
an appointment with me at least 2 days in advance. If you make an appointment and you do not
show up on time, your appointment will not be honored.
2.
ABSENTEEISM – If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed using school
website/blackboard to get all missed work. There will be no time in class to make up missed work
from absences so you will need to make arrangements to meet with me after school to make up all
missed work.
3.
FOOD – Food and drinks are permitted in the classroom (NOT THE LAB AREA). However, if you make
a mess with your food and do not clean it up (trash on floor, gum under desks, spills, etc.) all food and
drink privileges will be terminated. ALL ENERGY DRINKS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS CLASSROOM.
4.
PRACTICE & EVIDENCE (HOMEWORK) – Homework is assigned on average 3 times a week but may be
more or less depending on the chapter we are in. I try not to give homework on the weekend.
Sometimes homework is graded, sometimes it is only checked for completion. ALL homework is due
at the beginning of class and WILL NOT be accepted late.
5.
TESTS AND QUIZZES – I will give you at least one week’s notice of an upcoming test. Quizzes may be
announced or unannounced.
6.
NOTEBOOK – You are required to keep a chronological (order by date) notebook in this class. Every
paper, worksheet, homework, project, etc., MUST be placed in this notebook. Please put your name
and date at the top of every paper you get from me as this will make organizing easier. Your
notebook must be three ring in style so that you can physically attach all of your papers into the
notebook. Pocket notebooks are not acceptable. Notebooks will be checked & graded periodically
and are CRUCIAL to your success here. THIS SYLLABUS MUST BE THE FIRST PAPER IN YOUR
NOTEBOOK.
7.
ENGINEERING NOTEBOOK - Your engineering notebook is your main source of documentation for
this class. ALL notes, ideas, diagrams, sketches, observations, data, etc. should be written in this book
and dated! NO notes should go on any other paper. Pages should NEVER be ripped out of this
notebook. You are required to provide a saddle stitched, quad ruled (graph paper) notebook. You
may NOT use a spiral bound notebook for this!
PLTW Biotechnical Engineering – Stoneback
bstoneback@qcsd.org
8.
ELECTRICAL DEVICES – Cell phone and IPod use will be at the discretion of the teacher. This is a
privilege that will be earned as a class and can be lost as class. One person’s abuse will ruin it for
everyone. Your netbook/laptop and charger must be brought to class every day.
9.
GRADING:
 Grade Scale (Passing for course: 65%)
A – 100-90
B – 89-80
C – 79-70
D – 69-65
F – 64-50

Marking Period grades will be based on 3 weighted categories and each individual
assignment will be weighted by point values
o
o
o
Homework (10%): Compliance only, no credit if not complete on time or
incomplete
Formative Assessments (20%): Quizzes, minor projects, classwork
Summative Assessments (70%): Major tests, lab reports, long term projects

Graded assignments (Formative and Summative) turned in late will be assessed a 10%
deduction per day beyond the due date.

Grades cannot be changed after a marking period has ended with the exception of
incompletes.
Lowest percentage grade for a marking period is 50%.


Final Grade for the year will be based on an average of marking period percentages and a
cumulative final exam that carries a weight of 10% of the overall grade. The final exam will
be a two component exam. The first component will be based on your score on the PLTW
Biotechnical Engineering End of Course Exam. The second component will be based on your
score on a teacher designed written exam.
10. REMIND: Remind is a program that will send a text message to your mobile phone that reminds you
and your parents about upcoming assignments, tests and other important announcements. See the
handout for instructions on how to sign up for this free service.