POE Principal of Engineering Honor

Welcome! Principles Of Engineering (POE) is a one year Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Course in the
Engineering Pathway. It is a college prep elective class and was articulated with the two Contra Costa
County Colleges (DVC and LMC). Students (with A’s and B’s) that also took Introduction to Engineering
Design (earning an A or B) have the possibility of earning college credit. It satisfies UC/CSU “d”
requirement with a possibility of earning college credit. This credit typically changes when the teacher
changes for the course; however, I will try to ensure that students can get credit by the end of the school
year. The Engineering Pathway prepares students to enter two- or four-year college studies/careers in
engineering and technology by exposing them to the wide scope of the field.
Materials Required: school issued Chromebook, engineering notebook (grid/graph paper, not lined),
pens, pencils, colored pencils, scientific calculator, protractor and scotch tape. All assignments will be
posted in Google Classroom. In order to keep up with the class you will need access to Google
Classroom, during and after class. Please let me know If you need Chromebook or internet support.

Topics Include: Projects Include:

● Career Exploration ● Solar vehicles
● Electricity ● Elevators
● Energy Sources ● Compound gear trains
● Machine Systems ● Robots/AI
● Fluid Power Skills Include:
● Programming ● Problem Solving
● Structural design ● Research & Design
● Statics ● Documentation

● Teamwork & Collaboration

Methods of Evaluation:
1. Participation: 20%
2. Classwork/Research Projects 30%
3. Activities 40%
~Engineering Notebook
~Finished Product
~Organization of Materials
~Presentations
4. Tests & Quizzes 10%
Total: 100%

Grading Policy:
A=90 – 100 B=80 – 89 C= 70-79 D=60 – 69 F= Below 60
Participation:  Attendance will be a large portion of a student’s participation grade. All students that are in their
assigned seat when the bell rings will begin with full points for the day’s participation grade. Points will
be lost for not meeting class expectations. Since this class is a project based class, points will be lost for
not fully participating in the day’s projects/activities. Excused absences will not hurt your participation
grade.

Homework/Class Work/Activities/Projects:
In order to receive full credit for homework/class work, assignments must be readable and on time. This
requires teamwork and strong communication skills such as actively listening, reading and writing.
Engineering Notebook: All assignments will be kept in an Engineering Notebook with the table of
contents up to date. The student uses this daily, and is responsible for bringing it to school each day. It
will be checked on a regular basis.
Quizzes/Exams:

Quizzes will be given at the end of each unit and will be based on homework, class work and projects.
Since in the real world, you use available resources to complete tasks, all quizzes excluding the End of
Course national exam are open notes.
LATE WORK:
● Late work is accepted with a 20% point deduction. Late work for a topic will only be accepted until
the quiz or final project on that topic.
● Any copied work will receive NO credit. This includes copying from another student or the
internet or AI. Using AI to assist you with assignments can be a great tool. However, using an AI
Generator instead of challenging yourself and thinking through your work prevents you from
learning and is strictly prohibited. AI tools provide information based on previously published
materials (often without the original author’s consent), which is plagiarism. Use AI responsibly to
help, not hinder your learning. Parents/guardians will be contacted and a referral to the assistant
principal may occur for repeated offenses.
● If you miss a quiz or test, you may make it up for full credit within a week. See me to schedule a
time to complete the missed test. After one week missed tests cannot be taken.
KEEP IN MIND: Schoolwide Rules
● Be Safe – Since this is a project based class, students will be using equipment for construction of
their projects. Safety of yourself and others is a major concern and there is “zero” tolerance for
behaving in an unsafe manner. Due to safety concerns, only students who behave responsibly
will be permitted to participate in such activities. You will be removed from the class for the day or
longer if you are behaving in an unsafe manner and parent communication will occur. If removed
from the class, missed assignments cannot be made-up and you will receive a zero for that work.
Repeated instances of inappropriate behavior or unsafe behavior can result in being
removed from attending the class entirely.

● Be Respectful to Others, the space and materials in the classroom – I will respect you and in
return expect you to show respect for the classroom, myself and your classmates.
o Damaging or defacing class materials is unfair to the students using the materials after
your class; this year and in the years that follow.

● Be Responsible – Students should be in the class and in their seats by the time the bell rings-
working on the daily warm-up.

o Tardy: Late Students will be marked accordingly. Students should be prepared to
learn. It’s important to be in class ready to work when class begins.
o Students should arrive with their school issued computer fully charged. They should also
have their computer charger so they can continue to use their computer after the battery
has worn down.
o During class, students should be working efficiently, actively engaged in their learning.
o Students are responsible for scheduling and completing missed assignments and tests.
All assignments are posted in Google Classroom so both Aeries and Google Classroom
need to be checked for grades and missing assignments.
o Hall Passes: MINGA will be used schoolwide for out of class passes. No passes the 1st or
last 20 minutes of class and only one student out of class at a time
▪ After asking for and receiving permission to use the restroom, fill out the MINGA
pass on your Chromebook.
▪ Leave your backpack with your phone in the classroom. Take the class pass.
▪ MINGA documents your time out of class so return to class promptly.

Students who do not follow the classroom expectations will experience the following consequences in
the order listed below (depending on the severity of the situation):
1
st Warning –Verbal: Student is given a verbal reminder of classroom expectations.
2
nd Warning – Parent/Guardian contact: A parent/guardian will be contacted.
3
rd Warning – Referral: to assistant principal, OCS and parent/guardian contact.
PLEASE NOTE: If a student is causing a safety issue or severely disrupting the class, that
student may be sent to assistant principal without a first or second warning.
● Schoolwide phone policy will be implemented.
o At the beginning of each period, every student in every class will power down or silence
their cell phone and place their phone and earphones/earbuds in their closed backpack.
o After the 1st warning, the student is sent to the Principal’s office and a phone call home is
made. The phone is confiscated until the end of the day and event documented in
Assertive Discipline.
o 2nd Instance: Same as above but a parent/guardian is required to pick up the cell phone.
o Subsequent Instances: An individualized system will be established.