"A" in Robotics = Lower GPA?

[josesantos]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

Option 3: Provide an AP/Honors Robotics class that will provide a 5.0 weighted with an "A"

Is Option 3 even possible in California? The closest I can think of is AP Computer Science.

I'm not up-to-date with how 687 currently handles this, but I can share how it worked when I was in high school.

Our FRC class was not weighted, but students could concurrently enroll in an FRC-oriented Physics class at Cal State University Dominguez Hills (where the CAMS campus is located) taught by one of our mentors. We did the same thing with El Camino College for our other engineering classes.

Over the summer, 687 students also often take machining classes at El Camino.

[safiq10]

Being from a Texas High School and in the top 10% of my class I feel that I have an understanding for the students striving in this position. Being in ranked 2nd in your class is good but being ranked 2nd because I chose to opt out for Robotics over AP Psych hurts a little bit.

While I would greatly appreciate an AP robotics class I think the College Board would be better off with an AP Engineering class that encompasses many aspects of engineering. If I were making the AP class I would build it to be similar to AP 2D/3D Art. Students would submit an original work in CAD/Pictures/ETC and have to explain the engineering concepts behind the design, in addition their would be a written exam where students are tested on the basics of engineering.

This way students would be able to showcase a part of the robot that they may have designed and get to learn more about Engineering through the math/physics realms.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by safiq10

If I were making the AP class I would build it to be similar to AP 2D/3D Art. Students would submit an original work in CAD/Pictures/ETC and have to explain the engineering concepts behind the design, in addition their would be a written exam where students are tested on the basics of engineering.

This way students would be able to showcase a part of the robot that they may have designed and get to learn more about Engineering through the math/physics realms.

A PDR/CDR type of work? And a (much) lighter version of the FE Exam?

Folks, I think we've got a winner here. Real question is going to be convincing the Powers That Be that such a plan is feasible. (It also works for non-robotics students, too, as they can pick some other problem to solve.)



For those that don't understand the acronyms:
--PDR is Preliminary Design Review. "This is the problem I am trying to solve, here are some concepts that I came up with, this is the concept that I am proceeding with because X, Y, and Z factors favor it." Usually done to get approval for detailed design.
--CDR is Critical Design Review. "This is the problem, this is my solution, here's a bunch of math and cool stress pictures to back up my thinking." Usually done to get approval to build a prototype (or final product).
--FE Exam is the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam. 8 hours of test, 4 hours on general concepts and 4 hours on major specific ones, give or take a bit. For an AP type of class, though, you'd probably stick to really basic general concepts spread around any engineering discipline not already covered by an AP test.

[bam-bam]

Out of curiosity, are there any movements in the FRC-hub and outside of the hub about these "AP Engineering" classes in making engineering a part of the national curriculum?

I am not asking about PLTW (as wonderful as it is), but more in the context of this discussion of classes hurting GPA.