Engineering and Technology
Jimmie Fouts, Instructor
What do students learn in an engineering and technology class?
In a word, it is about INNOVATION! It is about how people think! It is how to apply technology in the solutions of problems facing society. The aim is to solve problems and create opportunities within a student's everyday environment and progressively move into more global issues.
Examples of technology problems and learning situations could be the cleaning of a stream that has become polluted, the creation and fabrication of an invention to solve a household problem, or designing and building a habitat for a unique situation, such as the Moon!. The thinking process is closely related to that of an engineer, hi-tech worker, designer, or an architect.
Students use their ingenuity with tools, materials, processes, and resources to create solutions and opportunities for themselves and others. The nature of learning goes from the very early years of just "knowing" to more developed applications that relate to medical, agricultural, energy and power, information and communication, transportation, manufacturing, and construction technologies. It is a dynamic subject area that is as fast moving and as up-to-date as the thinking of technology in our society! It is future workforce thinking!
Engineering & Technology combines hands-on projects with a rigorous curriculum to prepare students for the most challenging postsecondary engineering and technology programs. You will build solid writing, comprehension, calculation, problem-solving, and technical skills. You will be encouraged to take relevant math and science courses, such as advanced algebra, chemistry, calculus, geometry, trigonometry, physics, design, and engineering concepts. In addition to classroom and laboratory experiences, Engineering & Technology students participate in the Technology Student Association (TSA). Activities in TSA promote leadership skills, high standards of craft quality, scholarship, and safety. Through TSA, you’ll have the opportunity to explore your community’s industrial and technological resources, practice parliamentary procedures and democratic decision-making, and earn recognition for exemplary performance.
Engineering Today’s professionals in the engineering and technology field continue to revolutionize the way we live. They design, produce, operate, and maintain a variety of equipment and services we use in our everyday lives. The rapidly changing engineering and technology field requires a broad educational background and a lifelong commitment to learning new and specialized information.
Engineers may work in design and development, testing, production or maintenance. Almost all entry-level engineering jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, and most engineers specialize in a certain field. Those interested in an occupation in the engineering field should be creative, inquisitive, analytical and detail-oriented. They should also have excellent communication skills because working as part of a team and working with others outside the engineering field is often required. Engineering is considered a nontraditional field for women; therefore, it is important that female students investigate different engineering opportunities where salaries are higher than in many traditional occupations for females.
Manufacturing Manufacturers produce numerous products in daily demand by customers. People employed in manufacturing deal with such areas as planning, managing and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products. They also deal with related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control, maintenance, and manufacturing/process engineering. Manufacturing has had an unfavorable image of dangerous, assembly line jobs in unsanitary environments. With the advances in technology and robotics, there are fewer production positions available, but there are more job opportunities requiring advanced technical skills and higher levels of education. Employers want workers with good communication and problem solving skills since new manufacturing processes, such as lean manufacturing; require workers to be able to perform many different tasks depending on where they are most needed.
Electronics The electronics industry is a fast growing industry with job opportunities in many fields, including biomedical engineering, informatics and engineering, software engineering, mechatronics and robotics, electronics and micro-engineering, computer systems engineering, electrical and electronic engineering and information technology, and telecommunications. Job duties in the electronics industry are many and varied. A professional engineer may develop concepts and systems, implement and manage projects or design and manage production. An engineering associate may create and test prototypes, manage and maintain systems, or test, install and maintain equipment. An operator may manufacture equipment. Skills and knowledge required for those in the electronics field include science and math, languages, speaking and presentation skills, imagination, creativity, problem solving and teamwork skills. The electronics industry offers challenging, interesting and lifelong careers in a growth industry. The industry also offers excellent salary and working conditions. Global opportunities in the industry exist.
