Edison High School Engineering
Empowering Future Innovators Through Hands-On Engineering
Derek Gulling
Engineering Teacher
Mr. Gulling has been an educator for a decade, beginning his career at West Liberty University and Steubenville Catholic Central. He joined the Wildcats in 2018 and currently teaches math and engineering at the high school level, passionately encouraging his students to realize their potential.
In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Gulling coaches the Academic Competition Team and the eSports team. He also offers students the opportunity to earn college credits in Statistics, College Pre-Calculus, College Trigonometry, and College Calculus.
Mr. Gulling resides in Richmond with his wife, Caitlin (Edison High School Class of 2006), their daughter, Wren, and their son, Finch. Outside of teaching, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and growing Christmas trees. Mr. Gulling can be reached at derek.gulling@edisonwildcats.org
Project Lead The Way
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides transformative learning experiences for K-12 students. Through hands-on, project-based curriculum in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills, preparing them for post-secondary education and careers. PLTW programs foster a collaborative learning environment where students engage in real-world challenges, cultivating critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities essential for success in the 21st century.
Current Course Offerings
The Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) course at Edison High School offers students an in-depth exploration of the engineering design process. Using Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum, students apply math, science, and engineering standards to hands-on projects. They will work both individually and in teams to design innovative solutions to real-world problems using 3-D modeling software. Throughout the course, students will maintain an engineering notebook and an electronic portfolio to document their work.
Course Outline:
- Design and Problem Solving – Introduction to the engineering design process and modeling in engineering communication.
- Assembly Design – Focus on system design through reverse engineering and multi-component system documentation.
- Thoughtful Product Design – Exploration of universal design principles for successful product design.
- Making Things Move – Basic engineering knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems and mathematical models to inform design solutions.
Expectations and Grading:
- Active participation in hands-on projects and class activities.
- Maintaining a neat and organized engineering notebook.
- Creating and updating an electronic portfolio.
- Regular assignments, projects, and quizzes with a point-based grading system.
- Adherence to classroom procedures and safety rules.
This course prepares students for advanced studies and careers in engineering by fostering critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills essential for success in the 21st century.
The Principles of Engineering (POE) course at Edison High School engages students with a broad range of engineering topics through hands-on, problem-based learning. Using the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum, students explore mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation. This course helps students develop critical skills in problem solving, research, and design while learning effective strategies for documenting the design process, collaboration, and presentation.
Course Outline:
- Energy and Power – Unit 1 explores mechanisms and energy, focusing on how transferring energy from one form to another enables efficient engineering designs.
- Materials and Structures – Unit 2 delves into statics and materials, essential for engineers when selecting the best solutions for design problems.
- Control Systems – Unit 3 examines control systems, including computer software and fluid power, which engineers use to create innovative solutions to real-world problems.
- Statistics and Kinematics – Unit 4 builds foundational knowledge in statistics to analyze designs related to kinematics.
Expectations and Grading:
- Active participation in hands-on projects and class activities.
- Maintaining a neat and organized engineering notebook.
- Creating and updating an electronic portfolio.
- Regular assignments, projects, and quizzes with a point-based grading system.
- Adherence to classroom procedures and safety rules.
This course equips students with a comprehensive understanding of engineering principles and prepares them for advanced studies and careers in engineering by fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration skills.