Engineering Pathway
Engineering Pathway Courses
The Engineering Pathway consists of four (4) core courses, with students also strongly encouraged to take Auto Tech & Robotics. The courses are as follows:
Engineering 1
Engineering 1 introduces and develops the concepts, content, and skills needed to gain an overall understanding of what Engineering is all about and to prepare students for the decision to select ENGINEERING or DESIGN as their pathway.
Engineering 2
As a continuation of the Engineering Pathway, Engineering 2 dives deeper into physical concepts, developing more complex projects and learning to apply 21st century engineering techniques. Engineering 2 begins to teach computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting skills, along with fundamental physics and devices such as pulleys and gears. Engineering 2 also explores flight and manufacturing.
Engineering 3
Engineering 3 builds on the concepts, content and skills developed in Engineering 2 and builds on them while developing content and skills needed for Engineering 4. The major elements of the curricula include:
Measurement
Develop measurement skills in both Metric and USC systems; use of
precision measurement tools including dial caliper and micrometer. Become fluent in Engineering Notation.
SolidWorks CAD
Enhance baseline capabilities to include designing parts for projects that are either 3D printed or Laser Cut.
3D Printing / Laser Cutting
Design and fabricate components generated in CAD and are required for projects.
Electricity / Electronics
Expand understanding of basic electricity and beginning electronics including Kirchoff’s Laws and Voltage Division. Use of basic test equipment including the multimeter.
Software
Develop programming skills with Arduino microcontroller.
Hydraulics
Design/Build/Test a hydraulically operated device that can lift a specified weight for a defined time period. Develop several parts in CAD and 3D print/Laser Cut as stated above.
Engineering 4
Engineering 4 combines the concepts and skills developed in the prior courses and pushes them to a higher level. Engineering 4 is a critical component for students planning to pursue a STEM curriculum after graduation. The major topics/projects of the curricula to include:
Review
Review and enhancement of concepts / skills from ENGINEERING 1,2 & 3 including Systems Thinking, Engineering Design Process and Problem-Solving Methodology.
Precision Measurement
Enhance measurement skills in both Metric and USC systems; use of precision measurement tools including dial caliper and micrometer.
Machining & Manufacturing
Learn fundamental concepts of machine tool technology. Demonstrate ability to produce & read blueprints and fabricate a part on a CNC milling machine.
SolidWorks CAD
Expand SOLIDWORKS capability and use it for fabrication of components used in projects.
3D Printing/Laser Cutting/Machining
Design and fabricate a component using additive & subtractive manufacturing technology.
Electronics
Design/Build/Test a Continuity Tester using a single transistor and hone skills in soldering and 3D printing while learning elements of circuit design and electronic packaging. Learn the basics of oscilloscope operation.
Software/Computer Science
Enhance programming skills using Arduino microcontroller used to operate various projects including the Lunar Rover.
Semiconductors
Discover the basics of semiconductor devices – including diodes and transistors, integrated circuits.
Digital Logic
Learn the basics of digital logic circuits through labs with basic digital logic gates (AND, NAND, OR, NOR).
Optics
Students explore the fundamentals of lasers and fiber optic devices through hands-on experiments.
Lunar Rover
Students Design/Build/Test a robotic lunar rover to a specific set of requirements and expand their Arduino coding skills along with mechanical design.
Auto Tech
Auto Tech combines theory with practical hands-on experience to cover the theory and operation of the modern automobile with an emphasis on engineering. Students will explore major systems (lubrication, cooling, fuel, electrical) of the internal combustion engine and drivetrain along with the theory and operation of braking systems, suspension, and tires. Students can “get their hands dirty” on real car engines. This course is taught by Mr. Polizzi who is a formerly certified Auto Mechanic.
Robotics
Robotics exposes students to the design, build and test of robots, basic tool use and programming as they build a simple VEX claw-bot followed by custom VEX robots designed to meet specific challenges. Students will also survey the wide-reaching spectrum of robotics applications by watching videos and doing robotics research.
Engineering Instructors
The engineering instructors at Samueli Academy are highly experienced in industry with BS and MS degrees in their technical fields. They infuse their corporate background into the curriculum, exposing students to real-world knowledge, practices, and techniques that will serve students regardless of what field they pursue.
Nino Polizzi
Anthony (Nino) Polizzi is a career engineer with over 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry, having worked on a wide variety of programs including the International Space Station, the DC-X reusable rocket, the Delta rocket, and various military aircraft. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and has a CTE (Career Technical Education) credential in Engineering. As a founding teacher at Samueli academy, he developed the Engineering Pathway to provide students with realistic engineering experiences, processes, and environment.
Johnny Nguyen
Johnny T. Nguyen brings 15 years of engineering experience, primarily in aerospace & defense, to his classroom. He has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in engineering from UCLA, graduating with honors, along with multiple engineering certifications, including having held PE and CSEP licenses. His wide range of experience and knowledge, including architecting, design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, and R&D, provides a solid base for introducing a diversity of contemporary skills and concepts into his teaching.
Zachary Granoff
Zachary Granoff earned his BS in Computer Science and a Master’s in Teaching before becoming a teacher at Samueli Academy five years ago. In addition to teaching Engineering 1, Zach teaches the Computer Science and Esports Elective and advises the Coding Club and Esports team.
Lab Manager
The Lab Manager of the Samueli Academy FabLab is responsible not only for maintaining space, materials, and equipment, but supporting students in proper lab use, preparing for upcoming projects, and even developing curriculum.
Engineering 1 Project Highlights
Catapults
Students begin Engineering 1 by building a scale model catapult. They learn about simple machines, the metric system, mechanical advantage, and the proper use of tools in the fabrication lab to construct and build their working model.
Bridges
Students learn about mechanical engineering, design efficiency, drafting, and safety as they work to construct a scale model truss bridge that is designed to hold weight many times greater than itself.
Electricity
Students learn about electrical engineering, Ohm’s law, DVMs, electric motors, and soldering to construct a working model Electrically Powered Vehicle (EPV).
Computer Hardware
Students learn about the components of a computer and how they work before disassembling and reassembling a desktop computer on their own.
Arduino
Students learn introductory C++ programming and learn about the basics of breadboarding utilizing an Arduino microcontroller.
Engineering 2 Project Highlights
3D Printed Tool
After first learning CAD basics, students are challenged to develop a 3D printable tool that can help solve some problem or challenge at school or around the household. This project gives students a chance to exercise their newly developed CAD skills, while also learning about additive manufacturing.
Pulley Lifter
Students deepen their knowledge of vectors, forces, energy, and mechanical advantage while developing a button-operated, motorized pulley lifter. This project blends design, manufacturing, and coding skills, introducing students to laser cutting, while also incorporating a heavy emphasis on scheduling, time-management, and modern project management practices.
Manufacturing / Wright Flyer
This blended project introduces students to modern manufacturing practices and operations theory, introducing students to modern manufacturing concepts and practices such as lean, capacity, cycle time, takt time, and bottlenecks. Students develop tooling which they use in a simulated production line to build scale model Wright Flyers, which they then use to learn about the history of flight and forces of flight, including lift and drag. Students take real-world wind tunnel data using their scale models and perform analysis and visualization of the collected data.