Empowering students with language-based learning differences
Engineering
High School Engineering
In Engineering classes at Siena's Silver Spring campus, students learn how to turn simple ideas into functional products through regular collaboration, planning, testing, and modification. Siena Engineering students follow the typical Engineering Design Process: (1) Understand the problem, (2) Brainstorm possible solutions, (3) Create a design, (4) Construct a model, (5) Test the model, and (6) Modify the model and communicate the results. They perform background research to gain a better understanding of the issue(s) at hand and what solutions have already been engineered to solve it.
Siena Silver Spring students hone their technical writing skills to communicate daily and weekly progress, reflect on any obstacles that arise, and provide detailed insight into their decisions. Students also learn how to create orthographic drawings and work in teams to begin turning an idea into a prototype. Along the way, they exercise planning, collaboration, communication, and project management skills. They also practice workshop safety and techniques, including woodworking and how to use power tools.