Prerequisites and Enrollment Criteria
Due to the competition nature of the class, the elective must have a mix of grades 6 through 8. There are a limited number of spaces for each grade level. Students interested in enrolling in this course will be required to undergo an interview.
Fees
$85
Maximum Enrollment
5
Grade
Description
Engineering Design Lab is a hands-on elective for students in grades 6–8 who enjoy building, creating, and solving real-world problems. Students explore the engineering design process through engaging projects and apply their skills to The Tech Challenge, a team-based engineering competition offered by thetech.org, where students design and build solutions to real-world problems, culminating in a final showcase event where they present and test their designs.
Although this is a spring semester course, students are expected to begin preliminary work in the middle of the fall semester by attending one session per week. Once the challenge is announced (typically September–October), students begin researching, brainstorming, and prototyping to prepare for the full course.
Students design and present their innovative solution at The Tech Challenge in late April, and participation in the final event is MANDATORY. Along the way, they develop creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a supportive, engaging environment.
Instructor
Vani Duvuri
vduvuri@monticelloacademy.org
