ENGINEERING AT HCA
Harvest Christian Academy is home to the new Engineering and Innovation Lab and the Harvest Christian Academy of Engineering and Robotics! Through generous donations from our families in 2020, we launched a PK-12th grade initiative to bring engineering and robotics opportunities to all of our students. The Engineering and Innovation Lab provides an opportunity for students to explore hands-on engineering concepts, design processes, robotics and automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) programming. We are excited to offer our students the ability to develop and explore their talents and interests in pursuit of excellence and within the context of Christian education.
Help us build the next generation of problem solvers and engineers!
HCA Engineering is embarking upon a fundraising campaign to help us build up our robotics program. Our robotics engineering classes will enter our third season in the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition during the 2023-2024 school year. The team has improved for the past two years, and we are seeking to raise funds to continue that trajectory. To help our team become more competitive, we are looking for capital investments to grow our mechanical and software coding hardware inventory.
Our initial goal is to have two robots — one for mechanical building and testing and the other for coding development. We currently have just one set.
Additional funds would be used to purchase the hardware needed to meet the requirements for the yearly FIRST Tech Challenge as well as associated playing field competition elements.
PREKINDERGARTEN-GRADE 8
Our Engineering and Innovation Lab serves students at all levels. Middle School students in grades 5-8 will have access to engineering and robotics electives that teach coding, programming, and exploration of engineering principles. Our youngest Lions in Grades PK-4 will have hands-on modules pushed into their classroom day and provide the opportunity for exploration and developing the engineering mindset.
We use Engineer Your World curriculum, which is a “hands-on, design-based, inquiry-focused engineering course for all learners. In this course, students discover the engineering design process, make data-driven decisions, and work in multi-level teams to solve complex challenges.”
More information can be found here.
GRADES 9-12
The Academy of Engineering and Robotics at HCA offers students in Grades 9-12 the opportunity to specialize and explore concentrations of interest while completing their requirements for university or college matriculation.
This distinction program offers high school students an opportunity to experience engineering and robotics coursework that is dedicated to training a research and design mindset.
Dual Credit is available for Year 1 Intro to Engineering through the University of Texas-Austin. Year 2 in the program focuses on coding and robotics applications and college credit is available through AP Computer Science Principles. Students in Year 3 will continue to develop their robotics applications at a more advanced level and use the design process to bring a capstone project to launch.
This capstone project provides students with a great project and process to discuss in university application essays. Year 4 focuses on job exploration, engineering entrepreneurship, and the business aspects of bringing a design or product to market.
- Bible 8 semester credits
- English 8 semester credits
- Math 8 semester credits
- Science 6 semester credits
- Social Studies 6 semester credits
- Foreign Language 4 semester credits
- Technology 2 semester credits
- PE/Health 2 semester credits
- Engineering/Robotics 8 semester credits
TOTAL: 52 Semester Credits
