Engineering Design and Development™

This is a full-year engineering research course in which students work on two major engineering projects.

Fall Semester

Student design teams work on an open-ended problem in which they research, design, construct and test a solution. Students apply principles developed in the four preceding PLTW courses, learn advanced physics and mathematical applications, and are guided by engineering mentors. Design teams must present progress reports, submit a final written report, and defend their solutions to a panel of Kansas City area engineering professionals at the end of the fall semester.

Spring Semester - Engineering Field Experience

Prerequisite: B- or better in EDD, and a B- or better in the mathematical activities as presented by the instructor throughout EDD.

The Engineering Field Experience (EFE) course is designed to provide students with those experiences that are relevant to the day-to-day working environment of professional engineers.  The AM group will travel two days per week to Lee’s Summit City Hall and Public Works Engineering Department (LSPW).  The PM group will work with LSR7 Facilities, Henderson Engineers and Gould Evans two days per week at STA.  Both groups will work on an infrastructure project provided by the client and learn from various professionals the engineering, leadership, professionalism and teamwork required to bring the project to fruition.  A final presentation of each project will be presented to an audience composed of engineering staff, city and school officials and various community members.  Watch the video above in which students share their experience in this one of a kind class!

“The experience I gained from my two years of engineering coursework at Summit Technology Academy proved paramount in preparing me for college and for the engineering work I have undertaken since. The classes provided strong foundations in principle physics and mathematics concepts necessary for success at a college level. The hands-on experience working with industry hardware and software as well as direct contact with real engineers put me a step above my peers once I began my Bachelors. Furthermore, the engineering curriculum also allowed me to develop noteworthy technical writing habits and skills. Some of my fondest memories come with the work I did both individually and with teams at STA. I can not recommend STA enough to those looking for a career in engineering!” 

~Logan Feld - Class of 2018 - Missouri S&T, Georgia Tech