Foundations of Technology

1. Student Orientation
Day 1

2. What is the ActionLAB Program?
The ActionLAB program is a
technology education program
designed to teach you how to
use and manage technology

3. How does the program operate?
 Twenty-two 10-day Integrated Instructional
Units (also called units or IIUs)
 2 students work together on a unit
 Instruction is delivered on the computer
 Each unit contains audio, video, text and
pictures
 Each unit has hands-on, internet and writing
activities

4. What areas does ActionLABs cover?
Transportation
Communications
Manufacturing
Production
Bio-related

5. Here are the IIUs
we will be exploring

6. IIU Preferences
 Use the supplied worksheet to list your
5 unit preferences
 The computer system will try and give
you as many of your choices as
possible.

7. Virtual Architecture
 Identify and appropriately select tools commonly
used by architects, designers and homeowners for
designing structures.
 Determine suitable replacements for a conventional
residential exterior and use a computer program to
apply a chosen modification.
 Rate and use systems of graphic communication
and identify how CAD software fosters a common
graphic language.
 Create an original 3-D living, bed or bathroom using
the database of objects.
 Apply a variety of components of architectural 3-D
modeling, visualization and navigational tools in a
problem solving experience.
 Identify and describe the preparation and
requirements for careers related to architecture and
interior design.

8. Structural Engineering
 Identify and strength test different types of
beams and panels used in structures
 Appropriately use hand-held cutting tools and
safely operate a testing device
 Identify and classify the portion of a
structure’s frame under tension, torsion,
shear, and compression
 Demonstrate, predict, and evaluate the
behavior of loaded structural systems
 Identify, describe, and clarify the major
stresses and causes of structural failure on
spanning structures
 Describe preparation and requirements for
careers related to building structures

9. Robotics Technology
 Identify the characteristics of a variety of types and
sizes of robots
 Describe how artificial intelligence is applied to
robotic systems
 Identify, sketch and label all major parts of an
industrial robot
 Describe the basic components that allow an
operator to program robots
 Compare and contrast robotic applications in
medicine, industrial, and entertainment applications
 Set up and program an interactive robotics station

10. Research and Development
 Identify and define specifications and tolerances
and their required use in vehicle design.
 Produce a prototype following the
design/development rules
 Apply, appropriately use, and enforce safety
procedures when using tools and machines
 Define, demonstrate and use in application the laws
of aerodynamics and mass in order to maximize
vehicle performance.
 Design safety restraint and airbag systems and
destructively test for effectiveness.
 Use ‘crush zone’ engineering in a vehicular design
program and test for integrity.

11. Materials Processing
 Apply, appropriately use, and enforce safety
procedures when using tools and machines
 Determine the most suitable tool for each process in
the development of project work and problem solutions
 Identify the characteristics and select the most
appropriate materials for use in a variety of projects
 Describe the processes involved in manufacturing a
variety of products
 Apply technical vocabulary relating to a variety
material processing operations
 Design and complete the manufacture of a multi-
process and multi-material product

12. Energy and Power
 Identify and characterize the six main forms of energy
 Perform the conversion of different forms of energy into
power
 List and describe the careers relating to energy and power
 Identify and appropriately tools need to test, disassemble,
measure, and reassemble a small engine
 Describe the relationship of the main systems to the
components of a small internal combustion engine
 Determine the efficacy of alternative energy sources

13. Electricity
 Develop and describe electrical systems and their
components
 Describe the elements and concerns of electrical safety and
practices
 Use and apply electronic graphical symbols used in electrical
schematics
 Demonstrate a working knowledge of the proper use of an
electrical multi-meter
 Determine the interrelationship of electricity and magnetism
 Use Ohm's Law to calculate formulas pertaining to electrical
circuits

14. Computer Numerical Control
 Explore and identify the components of computer
numerical control systems and their application in
industry
 Use the Cartesian Coordinate and Polar Coordinate
measuring systems in application
 Write an original computer numerical control program to
manufacture a part
 Prepare a CNC machine for a manufacturing operation
 Recognize the use of, and work with the principles of
reverse engineering
 Discriminate and contrast and compare CAD and CAM
and their interrelationship

15. Computer Aided Drafting
 Define the use of CAD as a communication process
 Demonstrate the use of computer skills in the use of a
CAD software program
 Create a variety of drawings using a CAD software
program
 Identify the uses of CAD within manufacturing,
production and construction technologies
 Apply algebraic and geometric math skills to CAD
drawings
 Describe the design process for architectural and
mechanical drawing

16. Alternative Energy
 Gain an understanding of the current use of
energy and the resources now being expended
 Contrast and compare the environmental effects
of non-renewable and renewable energy sources
 Use mathematics in application to determine the
efficiency of wind powered energy sources
 Explore the science and chemistry of hydrogen
fuel cell powered vehicles
 Determine through experimentation the
efficiency of photo-voltaic energy sources
 Explore the careers associated with alternative
energy industries