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Barb.b
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| Posted: March 24 2010 at 4:23pm | IP Logged
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DS has had bio, chem, and 2 years of physics. He wants to major in engineering. I am trying to plan his senior year starting this fall. Anyone have ideas of what to do next. I have been trying to search engineering texts that also would involve hands on projects he could delve into.
Barb
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 25 2010 at 1:35am | IP Logged
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What kind of engineering is your ds interested in? If it is environmental engineering then geology, oceanography, soil science, or environmental science might be very useful.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Barb.b
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| Posted: March 25 2010 at 7:53am | IP Logged
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Probably mechanical. My last thought is simply to call it "senior project" on the transcript and let him do several hands on projects to research and create this year such as: an electric guitar, speakers, small model electric remote control. Those came to mind as things he can readily research and find the parts to in order to make them. What do you think?
Barb
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Barb.b
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| Posted: March 25 2010 at 8:06am | IP Logged
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By the way - Theresa thanks for replying! Actually, I was hoping you would! Science is something that I don't do well without a text (in high school) - I guess I am not very confident in this area. Anyway - I am trying to tell meself - he has all the required sciences that colleges would want so - why not let him figure out what he would like to make. That is where I think he really would like to go - make some cool things. I am not sure how to list this on a transcript and also how to make sure that when things get busy that the current project doesn't get pushed aside.
Just begining to think aloud I guess. I am new to this type of class and wonder what to do befor fall to "plan" - if anything?
Barb
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guitarnan
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This sounds cool, Barb! I know that in our area, robotics are big, too. I'd call it "senior electronics (or whatever general category most of the things he builds falls into) project" or something like that.
If you know some engineers, he might also be able to include a short internship or job-shadowing experience as part of this project.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Barb.b
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| Posted: March 25 2010 at 8:18am | IP Logged
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Good idea for the name - it will give colleges a better idea of what he is doing.
Barb
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guitarnan
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He sounds like just the kind of student engineering schools love!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Barb.b
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| Posted: March 25 2010 at 8:32am | IP Logged
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Well, I must admit - this kind of open ended class makes me nervous. But - maybe it is just the thing for colleges to see on his transcipt for senior year? Now to figure out what to make. . . perhaps we will take that one project at a time. But the planner is me gets nervous at that. Here it is only March and I have been planning what each child will do come the new school year in end of August!
Barb
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Teachin'Mine2
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Maybe you could let your son do some research this year about projects he'd like to complete next year. Does he read Popular Science or magazines like that? Maybe there's something that has caught his interest. He's got lots of time now to just flip through magazines and how-to electronics books and come up with some ideas. Then you can both narrow it down to a few doable projects.
I think the shadowing idea is great! Or maybe volunteer at a science museum, or something like that. Sounds like you're putting together an awesome course for his senior year! 
Maybe there's a science fair he could enter something in as well. You might also have him write up a paper about each of the projects - like a lab report for while he's working on it, and then a paper about it afterward. Or maybe combine it with public speaking and have him present it for either a science fair, or even for a home school group or scouts group, or something like that. Just some thoughts. 
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: 12th grade science help!
