Technology Education Program
Welcome to the Technology Department. We hope that this site will help you better understand our programs and course selections. For more information please contact the Department Supervisor, David Collins.
New York State Educational Learning Standards for Technology
The New York State Education Department has established learning standards for Technology denoting the skills and abilities each student should attain at various levels of his or her education – elementary, middle and high school levels.
Elementary School Level
BH-BL elementary school students are increasingly immersed in technology during the school day. The New York State Science standards have incorporated the engineering design process into science education and students are frequently involved with coding and robotics experiences through various curricular and extracurricular opportunities such as Maker Days, Days of Code and FIRST Robotics clubs.
Middle School Level
At O’Rourke Middle School we help prepare students to become the next generation of innovators, designers, and engineers. Since 2012-13 our Technology Education program at the middle school has been based on a nationally recognized STEM curriculum called Engineering by Design™. This project-based curriculum was created to help adolescents succeed and be prepared for our global society today and in the future. Seventh-grade Technology Education is a 20-week course that focuses on Invention and Innovation. During the 20-week course in 8th grade the focus is on technological systems. Students develop creativity, critical thinking, and technological literacy while using tools, machines and other resources to solve real-life problems.
High School Level
High School Technology Education courses are designed to meet the needs of all students and offer a unique opportunity to develop skills that will be of value now and in the future. Our department offers several courses in the areas of Manufacturing and Materials Processing, Engineering and other Emerging Technologies. Students have access to industry standard 21st century equipment housed in a state of the art facility renovated in 2018. Students can take a variety of courses to prepare them for collegiate study and/or career development while providing life skills beneficial to all in the future.
* See individual course descriptions in the BH-BL High School curriculum/course guide for specifications.