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Welcome to Gateway to Technology - Magic of Electrons - Periods 3 and 7
 * Gateway to Technology - Magic of Electrons Syllabus **

**//Overview //** The Gateway To Technology (GTT) Magic of Electrons course represents the sixth of six 9-week units of the Project Lead the Way curriculum used nationwide in middle schools as part of their pre-engineering programs. The Magic of Electrons Unit introduces students to the principles of electricity and electronics. Students will learn the nature of electrons and how a combination of atomic structure and magnetism allows electrons to be put in motion. Students will investigate how electricity utilized as it is channeled through circuitry to perform useful real world applications. Safety will be emphasized along with an awareness of how related electronic developments affect our way of life. Emphasis will be placed on students investigating content and activities from the following Big Ideas areas. Standards and additional information can be found on the back of this syllabus or online on the D11 web site at []

**//Big Ideas and Activities for GTT Magic of Electrons in 2011-2012 //** Lesson 1 - Science of Electricity Students will investigate electricity as a form of energy as they collect, compare, and classify data with respect to the electrical conductivity properties of a variety of materials. Lesson 2 - Electromotive Force Students sill investigate electricity’s capacity to do work, as well as how various products and systems use electricity. They will explore troubleshooting as a problem solving strategy to identify causal malfunctions in products or systems. Students will experiment with the tools and techniques necessary to work with electricity and electrical motors and appliances safely in a variety of configurations. Lesson 3 - Circuit Design and Fabrication Students will investigate how different electrical components perform a variety of functions. As students familiarize themselves with reading electrical symbols and schematics they will model and test a variety of circuit designs. They will experiment with electricity’s capability of being generated, collected, stored, transformed, and transmitted. Lesson 4 - Digital Electronics Students will explore how digital electronics provide a means to transfer information between people and machines. They will investigate a variety of components of a communications systems including encoders, transmitters, receivers, decoders, and destinations. Students will be able to differentiate open and closed loop systems and experiment with the effect of controls as a means to change electrical systems functions.

**//Grading Policy //** Grades will be determined by participation in daily class work, activities, and occasional homework assignments, but most of the grade will be based on demonstrated mastery of the subject on daily classwork assessments. A wide variety of extra credit and enrichment activities are available giving students ample opportunities to improve grades reduced by absence/illness or merely to pursue additional optional enrichment. Homework will be assigned 1-2 times a week and due dates will be indicated on the assignment. Late work may be subject to a 15% reduction in possible points and will not be accepted within one week of progress report/report card cut-off dates.

**//Grade Percentage Distribution – 100% Total //** 50% Assessments (Individual Tests and Quizzes) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">20% Classwork (Individual Warm Ups and Activities/Assignments) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">20% Homework (Individual Take Home and Special Assignments) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">10% Participation (Group Activities and Special Assignments)

**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Letter Grades //** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A + 100 - 98% B+ 89 - 88% C+ 79 - 78% D+ 69 - 68% F 59% or below <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A 97 - 94% B 87 - 84% C 77 - 74% D 67 - 64% <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A- 93 - 90% B- 83 - 80% C- 73 - 70% D- 63 - 60%

**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Supplies (Required Daily) //** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Supplied by Student: Pencils, Agenda/planner, PRIDE card, Writer’s notebook, 1 sheet lined paper (40 sheets for quarter).

**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Class Rules/Behavioral Expectations //** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Demonstrate West Warrior PRIDE – Observe Classroom and Shop Safety Rules – Come Prepared to Learn <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Have some fun learning something new and building something you can be proud of!