Course Descriptions

PLTW Engineering is more than just another high school engineering program. It is about applying engineering, science, math, and technology to solve complex, open-ended problems in a real-world context. Students focus on the process of defining and solving a problem, not on getting the "right" answer. They learn how to apply STEM knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to make the world a better place through innovation.    (Description taken from PLTW's Official website:  https://www.pltw.org/pltw-engineering-curriculum​)

9th Grade Year

Introduction to Engineering Design
Students dig deep into the engineering design process, applying math, science, and engineering standards to hands-on projects. They work both individually and in teams to design solutions to a variety of problems using 3D modeling software, and use an engineering notebook to document their work.  (Description taken from PLTW's Official website:  https://www.pltw.org/pltw-engineering-curriculum​)
  • Students have an opportunity to gain 4 hours of college credit in this course through dual enrollment with OCTC​
  • ​At Apollo High School this course counts as both your Technology and Performing Arts required courses
Aerospace Engineering
This course propels students’ learning in the fundamentals of atmospheric and space flight. As they explore the physics of flight, students bring the concepts to life by designing an airfoil, propulsion system, and rockets. They learn basic orbital mechanics using industry-standard software. They also explore robot systems through projects such as remotely operated vehicles.    (Description taken from PLTW's Official website:  https://www.pltw.org/pltw-engineering-curriculum​)
  • Students have an opportunity to gain 4 hours of college credit in this course through dual enrollment with OCTC

10th Grade Year (Suggested path)

Principles of Engineering
Through problems that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. Students develop skills in problem solving, research, and design while learning strategies for design process documentation, collaboration, and presentation.   (Description taken from PLTW's Official website:  https://www.pltw.org/pltw-engineering-curriculum​)
  • Students have an opportunity to gain 4 hours of college credit in this course through dual enrollment with OCTC
  • At Apollo High School this course counts as a full math elective credit if the student has already completed Algebra 2

11th Grade Year (Suggested path)

Intro to Programming
This is an introductory course to programming which requires no previous knowledge of programming at all.  Throughout this course, students will learn basic top-down programming and a small amount of modular programming in the Visual Basic environment.  Students will learn programming concepts ranging from event procedures and simple logic to string manipulation and the use of loops.  At the conclusion of this introductory course, students will create a project of their own design and concept and present it to the class.  
  • Students have an opportunity to gain 3 hours of college credit in this course through dual enrollment with OCTC
AP Computer Science
The AP Computer Science A course is equivalent to a first-semester, college-level course in computer science. The course introduces students to computer science with fundamental topics that include problem solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing data (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing. The course emphasizes object-oriented and imperative problem solving and design using the Java language. These techniques represent proven approaches for developing solutions that can scale up from small, simple problems to large, complex problems.  (Description taken from AP College Board official website:  http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/4483.html)
  • Students have an opportunity to gain 3 hours of college credit in this course through dual enrollment with OCTC
  • At Apollo High School this course counts as a full math elective credit 

12th Grade Year

Engineering Design and Development
The knowledge and skills students acquire throughout PLTW Engineering come together in EDD as they identify an issue and then research, design, and test a solution, ultimately presenting their solution to a panel of engineers. Students apply the professional skills they have developed to document a design process to standards, completing EDD ready to take on any post-secondary program or career.  (Description taken from PLTW's Official website:  https://www.pltw.org/pltw-engineering-curriculum​)
  • ​Students have an opportunity to gain 4 hours of college credit in this course through official enrollment with OCTC
Project Based Programming
This class will be offered for the first time in the 2018-2019 year and is a coordination with Interapt and KDE.  This class is intended to train students on the software development life cycle and prepare students for an industry certification and an internship with Interapt.
  • ​This course does not currently offer college credit through OCTC but is instead an industry certification course.