Technology Program

Technology is an important component of daily life and as such, Ben Lippen School strives to provide the most innovative and comprehensive course offerings to our students. We want to prepare our students not only for life after high school but for careers in specific technology fields. Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, Ben Lippen School expanded robotics into the middle school. Lego Mindstorm EV3 is part of the technology curriculum which integrates basic skills of innovation and engineering. In the near future, we hope to have a middle school team competing in FIRST® ROBOTICS COMPETITION similar to our high school robotics team. We will also have EV3’s in the High School as well as VEX and TETRIX systems. We aspire to challenge our students and motivate them to be innovative and resourceful. The curriculum goes beyond what is required for competition to cover electronics, drafting, 3-D modeling, and 3-D printing. Students learn computer networking and programming for several different platforms, including Arduino and Raspberry Pi, as they create challenging and fun projects.

Competition Robotics

Falcon Force 9121, Ben Lippen’s competition robotics team, competes in FIRST® Tech Challenge. In this cumulative annual competition, teams made up of students in grades 7 through 12 design, build, and program robots which then compete in a head-to-head challenge to accomplish specific tasks.  Each match is played with an alliance team.  Their combined scores vs the other alliances’ scores determine the winner. This year, the robotics team is the biggest to date and they have done a phenomenal job at ensuring that Ben Lippen School competes at the highest level with character and excellence. Click below to read about the successes of Ben Lippen’s robotics team during the 2019-20 school year.

Robotics Teams Earns State Championship

Follow Ben Lippen’s Robotics team on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ftc.9121/ to stay in the know!

High School Technology Offerings

The following courses are offered for the 2021-22 school year.

Robotic Fundamentals
Students will be introduced to robotics using the LEGO MINDSTORMS systems and VEX HQ systems.  While building robots and learning to program them, students will look at in-depth, multi-faceted engineering challenges. This full-year course meets the Technology graduation requirement. No prerequisite. (1.0 credit)

Advanced Robotics – Computer Hardware & Electronics
Using TETRIX ROBOT SYSTEMS, students will design, build, and program robots to a new level, applying real-world math and science concepts. Students will develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills while using technical drawing or drafting, 3-D printing, and advanced 3D modeling. This class will also compete in an FTC FIRST Tech Challenge. We will explore Raspberry Pi systems and create projects with them. This full-year course meets the Technology graduation requirement. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of Robotics Fundamentals. Prior robotics experience may be considered in lieu of Robotics Fundamentals upon faculty approval. (1.0 credit)

Computer Science Principles 
This class introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world from a Christian worldview. In this class, students will obtain basic skills like cloud computing, office apps, Basic HTML5, digital citizenship, and more. No prerequisite. (1.0 credit)

Programming Fundamentals
Students with no programming background will learn the basic fundamentals of programming.  The class will be geared to introduce students to iOS Programming and App Development (XCode/Swift). Coding, principles of design, and mobile engineering with hands-on experience will be included. This full-year course meets the Technology graduation requirement. No prerequisite. (1.0 credit)

Engineering Principles
Engineering Principles is an introductory course into the study of engineering. It is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in engineering, engineering technology, architecture, construction science, mechanics, or other related fields in college. It is also for students who are interested in learning more about applied physics and the physical world that God created. Engineering Principles is focused on two major areas: Statics, which includes structural analysis and civil engineering, and Mechanics, which includes simple mechanisms and power transfer systems. Upon completion, students will be prepared for entry-level engineering courses in college. No prerequisite. (1.0 credit)

Design and Assembly Engineering
This course is meant to build upon the Foundations of Innovation course, or to be a less technical alternative to Engineering Principles. Instead of studying specific disciplines of engineering, the focus will be on the design process loop. Students will take original ideas and bring them to life.  Major steps that will be emphasized are building prototypes, testing and data, and design refining. This is an opportunity for students who came up with ideas during the Foundations of Innovation course, or during other times, to make their ideas into actual products. No prerequisite. (1.0 credit)

AP Computer Science A – Java
In this computer science course, you will learn the basics of programming in the Java language, and cover topics relevant to the AP Computer Science A course and exam. This course includes a broad view of computer operations, the global impact of computing, and then introduces Java programming concepts including variables, selection, and object-oriented design.  Prerequisites: Programming Fundamentals (1.0 credit)