Course Description
Silver Spring International Middle School
301-650-6544
Technology Systems: Fishertechniks
OVERVIEW
Welcome to Fishertechniks (the new middle school technology elective course at Silver Spring
International Middle School). This curriculum is a unique problem/project based curriculum. The
learning is student-centered with the teacher acting as a facilitator. Instruction is woven around one
main problem within each unit of study, and students will be presented a request for proposals (RFP)
at the start of each unit. In this course, students will develop the ability to apply learned knowledge
and skills to solve problems involving basic medical technologies, agricultural and related
biotechnologies, energy and power technologies, information and communication technologies,
transportation technologies, manufacturing technologies, and construction technologies. Emphasis is
placed on the study of the human-designed world. Students also develop additional understanding of
the nature of technology, technology and society, design, and the abilities needed. Students will use
engineering design, troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and
experimentation in problem solving while learning to use and maintain technological systems.
UNITS OF STUDY
Unit
1
2
Title
Content Focus
Technology Systems:
Fishertechniks
This unit will introduce students to programming and robotics
assembly. The programming will be utilizing Robo Pro software and
the building of the robotics will be using Fischertechnik kits.
Sustainability
This unit will introduce students to impacts of technology on the
environment. Students will explore human impact, carbon
footprints, and climate change. Design activities will include
creating and testing sustainable materials.
Course Description
Silver Spring International Middle School
301-650-6544
Technology Elective Grading and MYP Assessment Criteria
In this technology elective class, students will be assessed according to the MYP Science Criteria. These
criteria are knowing and understanding, inquiring and designing, processing and evaluating, and
reflecting on the impacts of science. The percentage for each category is listed below.
Grading Categories
Criterion A: Knowing and Understanding
Criterion B: Inquiring and Designing
Criterion C: Processing and Evaluating
Criterion D: Reflecting on the Impacts of Science
Homework
Percent of student’s
overall science grade
45 %
10%
25%
15%
5%
Using Knowledge—Explain scientific knowledge and apply it to solve problems
 Describe scientific knowledge
 Solve problems in familiar and unfamiliar situations
 Analyze information to make scientifically supported judgments
Inquiring and Designing—Develop intellectual and practical skills through designing, analyzing, and
performing scientific investigations
 Describe a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation
 Create and explain a testable hypothesis using scientific reasoning
 Describe variables and how data will be collected
 Design scientific investigations
Processing and Evaluating—Collect qualitative and quantitative data and explain appropriately
reached conclusions
 Present collected data
 Interpret data and describe results using scientific reasoning
 Discuss the validity of a hypothesis and the methods used in the investigation
 Explain improvements to the methods used to collect data
Reflecting and Evaluating—Gain a global understanding of science
 Describe the ways science is applied and used to address a specific problem
 Analyze the various implementations of how science is used to a specific problem
 Apply different methods of communication
 Document the work of others and sources of information used
Homework: Homework for practice or preparation for instruction accounts for 5% of the marking
period grade.
Course Description
Silver Spring International Middle School
301-650-6544