Business

Keyboarding

Number: 46504       Grade: 9-12         Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

This course is designed for students who want to gain proficiency applying keyboarding skills quickly and accurately. The course introduces the touch-system of typing to gain speed and accuracy in using the keyboard. This class will help correct bad habits formed by students who have been using the computer with the “hunt and peck” typing method. The student will become proficient in correct formatting and proofreading skills. Topics covered include the alphabetical keys, numeric keys, special usage keys, personal business letters, simple tabulations, and academic reports.

Business

Number: 46524       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

The Business course will explore the world of modern business. The course will guide students through the essential activities of an enterprise, including finance and accounting, human resources, operations, and marketing. Students will become critical thinkers, discussing and solving case problems and investigating the challenges of real businesses. The course will give students opportunities to improve their written and oral communication skills in the completion of business-related projects. Students will also participate in the world of investing by competing in a virtual stock market game.

Accounting

Number: 46530       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

Basic Accounting stresses the systematic recording and interpretation of business transactions based on the principles of accounting. The course includes the theory of basic bookkeeping, the use of journals and ledgers, the preparation of financial statements, taxes, and payrolls. The course provides data for personal use, as well as preparation for continuing accounting courses.

Personal Finance

Number: 46531       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

Continuous changes in the financial environment, along with changes in our own lives - family, health, job - make personal financial planning both necessary and challenging. This course will take a life-cycle approach to financial planning which will help students navigate financial decisions so they can enjoy today while being financially secure tomorrow. Topics will include basic money management (savings, credit, taxes), transportation and housing decisions, insurance protection, investment options, and retirement planning.

Law

Number: 46503       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

This course is designed primarily for those students interested in the impact of law in their society. The approach is to provide students with practical information and problem-solving opportunities that develop the knowledge and skills necessary for survival in our law-saturated society. Topics covered include sources of law, the court-system (including a visit to the Singapore Supreme Court), tort law, criminal law, contracts, consumer, and family issues. Students will also participate in debates, mock trials, and realistic negotiation simulations. This course was previously named “Business and Consumer Law.”

Entrepreneurship

Number: 46525       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

Prerequisite: Business or Economics

This course is centered on the creation of a new business. Students will explore their own potential as entrepreneurs. The course challenges students to synthesize all of their business knowledge acquired in the prerequisite business course with their liberal arts interests and aptitudes as they develop concepts for their own businesses. In teams, students will generate ideas for a new business, test its feasibility, develop the marketing strategy, design the operational processes, and calculate the financial potential for the concept. The ultimate goal is the creation of a professional business plan and presentation to be reviewed by current entrepreneurs and investors from the SAS community.

Technology

The Technology Program provides students with an introduction to the development of our human-built world. Courses are offered in all four major technology areas: transportation, communications, manufacturing/construction and energy/electronics. Students acquire problem-solving skills and gain experience with tools, machines, materials, and systems, while manipulating the different technologies. The impact of technology on social and environmental issues is explored in relation to the past, present and future, giving students a knowledge base from which to make responsible worldwide technology decisions. The entry-level classes will provide fundamental knowledge and experiences useful in assessing, using, managing and applying hands-on applications with a wide range of technologies. Students who have an interest in, or are preparing for, careers in engineering, manufacturing, biotechnology, communications, business, or the technical trades, should explore many of the available technology courses.

Electronics Engineering

Number: 46550       Grade: 9-12         Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

This course is designed to provide students with an awareness of electronics with hands-on, real life, understanding of electrical and electronic applications. The main focus revolves around the understanding of critical issues in assembling electronics while using an array of electronic equipment to develop an appreciation and knowledge into circuit analysis and design. Students will receive an extensive foundation in lasers, fiber optics, gates, semiconductors, binary code, ohms law, soldering, alternative energies and components. Projects include; laser simulators, robots, FM transmitters, solar powered machines, continuity tester, blinking neon lights, LED amplifier, and more. The final project in the course covers frequency transmitting and receiving, federal communications guidelines to transmission, and frequency changes from analog to digital while building a heterodyning AM/FM radio. Problem solving, design processes and safety are very important concepts stressed in this course.

Robotics: Designing, Programming and Building Robots

Number: 46520       Grade: 9-12         Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

Artificial intelligence is all around us, and robots will be an important part of our lives in the 21st century. This is an engineering and science-based course intended for students who are considering a degree in design, engineering, scientific or technical fields, as well as those who are just curious about how robotics will affect our lives in the future. The course covers the basic electronics and programming skills that are needed to design and create robots. Students will work with many different sensors involving inputs and outputs within the course, including proximity sensors, line tracking, digital compasses, and electronic components used every day: light emitting diodes (LED’s), photo sensors, buzzers, speakers, switches, and timers. Students will learn to read electronic symbols and schematic drawings; the basic programming language for microcontrollers; experiment with different materials used to build a robot; and gain the technical and safety skills needed to properly use equipment and tools. Students will develop logical thinking, analytic and creative problem solving skills, while working with algorithms and algebraic reasoning. The focus then shifts to programming the behaviors for their robot and analyzing the actions through simulation as well as learning and implementing debugging processes.

Mechatronics Engineering

Number: 46551       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit Are: Business/Technology

Prerequisite: Robotics, an AP Science course, AP Computer Science, or teacher recommendation.

Humanoids and Androids are currently being developed as servants, medical applications and for helping the elderly such as Kismet, Asimo, Fresco, Robotdoc and the new baby-bot; Pink Tentacle. This course will give students an enduring understanding of the history, development and future of humanoids through the building and programming of various body parts. Robotic heads will be designed, fabricated and skillfully manipulated with jaw motions, camera implants, eye movements, speech and artificial skin; hands and toes will be built in the lab with small manufactured joints replicating real arm and leg movements. This class will provide students with a stimulating and motivating engineering design project of their choice with a window into the biological and engineering incarnation for future robotics.  Students will analyze and individually choose the project they would like to complete with the information learned in the anatomy and biosensor units in the course. This will be an ideal experience for the student who would like to gain lab experience within core areas involving science, engineering, medicine and technology as well as understanding the societal impact humanoids will create within the next decade.

Technical Design - AutoCAD

Number: 46548       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit Are: Business/Technology

This course provides students with the resources and skills needed to interact and communicate on a global scale in business, architecture, interior/fashion design, and engineering areas. Different forms of drawings will be identified (Isometric, Orthographic and Oblique), and sketching, dimensioning, pattern development and lettering will be explored. The industry standard, AutoCAD 2009 will be used to create real life, architectural, and three dimensional drawings using Inventor and 3D Max as interfaces. Students will work through problem solving strategies in developing colorful landscapes, homes and technical devices. The final project of the semester will consist of a three dimensional rendering drawing that will be inserted into 3D Max, which wraps the rendering with solid layering, introduces sky forms, and provides fly threw camera images. An electronic portfolio will be created by each student as a representation of all work and evidence of achievement. This course strives to meet the ever-changing demands of the design and drafting profession by providing an instructional program that nurtures a student’s artistic passion.

Architectural Design

Number: 46539       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

Prerequisite: Technical Design

Students in this course are exposed to current practices in accepted home and commercial design, through reading and practical drawing assignments. Students will gain insight into the how’s and why’s of design and standards. Topics covered will include floor plans, foundation plans, plot plans, and schedules. Various materials will be used to develop modeling practices and drawings will be completed with instruments through the use of SketchUp and AutoCAD 2009. Students will be aware of cultural differences when developing plans, styles and personal preferences. Developing areas within Singapore will be highlighted and an examination of professional plans such as Orchard Turn, Sentosa and current projects will be researched and synthesized within the class.

Stagecraft

Number: 46544       Grade: 9-12         Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology or Art

Stagecraft covers the technical aspects of theater productions. Student assignments and projects will involve three topic areas: set design and construction, stage lighting, and theater sound systems. Projects in each of these areas will provide students with knowledge and hands on experience with technical equipment used in theaters. All student work that involves construction and work with electrical equipment will include proper safety instruction. All students must follow safety guidelines.

Music Performance & Recording Technology

Number: 46545       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology or Arts

Prerequisite: Instructor approval

In this course students will learn to create, record and distribute music. It will focus on teaching students to become better performing artists and recording engineers and to support them in the pursuit of their own musical interests. Student projects can include work on student audition recordings, live concert recordings, and independent projects. Recording topics will cover basic functions of microphones, mixing desks, digital recording, and music editing software such as Sound Forge and Pro Tools. Creating topics will include writing new music or working on existing songs with programs such as Garageband. Course topics for distributing music will cover creating CDs, podcasts and videos.

Broadcast Journalism

Number: 46403       Grade: 9-12         Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology or Arts

Prerequisite: Ninth graders enrolling must have completed a Middle School video production course to be eligible to take this course.

The emphasis on this course is the art and craft of broadcast newsgathering. The course’s principal focus is the production of news packages, public service announcements and promos for the daily, school-wide broadcast of the Morning Show on our closed circuit TV system. Practical exercises and projects will demonstrate the students’ mastery of the techniques and skills required for the production of a news and current affairs program. Students will practice broadcast-style reporting and newswriting. Using the Morning Show studio, they will practice studio production skills working as camerapersons, floor managers, audio operators, technical directors, character generator operators, producers and on-air talent. They will learn how to use the teleprompter in exercises on the other side of the camera. They will work with Apple’s iMovie and Final Cut Express nonlinear editing programs in the Publications and Video lab. Students completing this course are candidates for the Morning Show crew. This course may be repeated for credit as Advanced Broadcast Journalism (Number 46405). Students will be required to complete some work outside of regularly scheduled class meetings.

Digital Photography

Number: 46519       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology or Arts

Prerequisite: Any of the following: Photography, Web Page Design, Yearbook, Studio Art, or permission from the instructor, and access to a digital camera

This course will introduce students to the limitless possibilities of image making in the digital age. Students will be expected to learn the fundamental concepts and skills related to digital photography and graphic design. This is a project-based course that will require students to integrate the concepts of art and design into a series of assignments that they will create on the computer using Adobe Photoshop software. Students will also learn to use digital cameras, flat bed and negative scanners as image input devices and laser and color ink jet printers as output devices. Topics will include: digital vs. traditional photography, basic digital image adjustment, advanced digital image manipulation, type and text, composite and photomontage, methods of printing and presentation of digital images. Students will be required to submit prints for exhibition as well as prepare and present a final portfolio of their work at the end of the semester.

Advanced Digital Photography

Number: 46521       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology or Arts

Prerequisite: Digital Photography and access to a digital camera

Advanced Digital Photography is designed as a continuation of the current semester long Digital Photography course. The purpose of this second course is to provide motivated students with the opportunity to expand on the knowledge and skills they acquired in Digital Photography. This is a project-based course, which seeks to challenge the student’s creative and technical skills through the creation of both “straight” and manipulated digital images. Topics to be covered will include advanced digital camera skills using a DSLR camera, advanced Photoshop skills as well as the use of several other digital image and multimedia software. Students will be expected to design a final creative project in a direction and area of their interest. Throughout the course, students will be required to submit prints for exhibition as well as prepare and present a multimedia final portfolio of their work at the end of the semester.

Photography

Number: 46517       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology or Arts

Requirement: A 35mm single lens reflex film camera with the capability of manually adjustable f stop and shutter speeds.

Photography is an introductory course in traditional black and white film photography. It is imperative that students confirm that they have access to an adjustable 35mm SLR film camera before they sign up for this course. Students will learn how to use a 35mm single lens reflex camera through a series of creative assignments. They will also learn the essential concepts and skills necessary to develop and print black and white photographs. Topics will include the care and use of basic camera equipment, the history of photography, photography as a fine art and visual communication medium, how film and photo papers work, photographic design and composition, dry mounting, and display of photographs. Scanning of negatives and prints as well as some basic skills in digital photography will also be available for students to explore as creative alternatives to the traditional darkroom. Students will be expected to prepare a photographic portfolio as part of a final class presentation at the end of the semester.

Advanced Photography

Number: 46518       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology or Arts

Prerequisite: Photography course and a 35mm single lens reflex film camera with the capability of manually adjustable f stop and shutter speeds.

Advanced Photography students will be expected to move from knowledge of the basic skills acquired during their first Photography course towards a higher level of technical and aesthetic expertise. It is imperative that students confirm that they have access to an adjustable 35mm SLR film camera before they sign up for this course. After a review of fundamental concepts and skills, students will commit to a series of advanced camera and darkroom assignments. Topics will include photographic lighting, documentary photography, multiple image techniques, toning and hand coloring of black and white prints. Scanning of negatives and prints as well as some basic skills in digital photography will also be available for students to explore as creative alternatives to the traditional darkroom. Students will be required to submit prints for exhibition as well as prepare and present a final portfolio of their work at the end of the semester.

Independent Living

Number: 46510       Grade: 11-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Business/Technology

This course is designed to provide students with the social and practical skills that will make the transition from home to college and/or work smoother. The course will include such topics as self-esteem, simple cooking, and financial responsibilities, as well as basic home and automobile maintenance. Students will have the opportunity to explore the uses of personal technology in their daily lives.