Appendix A – Outline for a Robophysics program in an academic track

Robophysics academic program for high school students majoring in electronics.
Preliminary outline and understanding document.
Approved by the Faculty Board of Electrical Engineering dated 15.5.19. Submitted for approval by the Technion’s management by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Nahum Shimkin.
Supported by the Ministry of Education – letter from Assaf Menuhin, Higher Education Technology Commissioner, dated 1.5.19

Background:
The Robophysics program is designed to reinforce science-technology-engineering studies for school students in ninth through twelfth grades, with an option for an additional year – thirteenth grade – to complete a practical engineering degree. The author of the program is Mr. Ofer Danino, a graduate of the faculty, and it was developed in collaboration with Dr. Yossi Shapira.
As part of this program, a unique study track will be opened for outstanding students, in collaboration with the Technion, aimed at further studies leading to a bachelor’s degree in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
At this stage, the route is intended for suitable schools that are within a distance that allows access and studies at the Technion. Later, various options for expanding the route to more areas will be explored.

The course of study:
In the middle school, in each school participating in the program, outstanding students will be reinforced with the aspiration of about 50 students, 25% of the total students in a cycle of 6 additional weekly hours in the subjects: mathematics, English, and robotics studies. ninth’.
In the last third of the ninth grade, students will take a screening test whose principles will be composed by a professional committee, under the supervision of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and about 25 most suitable students will form the Robophysics class in the Technion academic track.
In the upper-division, students in the academic track will study beyond the compulsory matriculation: mathematics 5 units, physics 5 units, English 5 units, and electronics as a major subject 10 units. A total of 25 matriculation units, which will be studied in an increased manner, so that at the same time the infrastructure for academic studies at the Technion will be enabled.
At the same time, students in the school, starting in the tenth grade, will learn the following subjects:

The subject of specialization – Robophysics final project
Note: A significant project proven in a 3-year framework, with the provision of infrastructure in the core subjects: mathematics, physics, English, logic, and software, in particular for creating internal motivation, teamwork, and developing systemic thinking skills. The protection of the project will be carried out in the twelfth grade.

Project lab
Note: Study and practice for two years, when the defense will be done in the twelfth grade.
The contents of the subjects will be coordinated with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Technion.
A grade of 80 or higher in the subject “Robophysics Final Project” will buy a credit without a grade in the faculty subject 044170 – a special project 4 points.
A grade of 80 or higher in the subject “Project Laboratory” will buy a credit without a grade in the faculty subject 044157 – Laboratory in Electrical Engineering 1a 2 pts.

In the 11th grade, students in the track will study at the Technion at one day a week level, where they will study the following subjects in the semester:
234117 – Introduction to Computer Science H – 4 pts
104016 – Algebra 1 m – 5 pts

In the twelfth grade, students in the track will study at the Technion on one day a week level, where they will learn the following subjects:
104031 – Infi 1m – 5.5 pts
044252 – Digital Numbers and Computer Structure – 5 pts

Students who successfully complete the above and are admitted to regular studies in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering will be credited with a total of up to 25.5 points, according to the details above. The subjects studied at the Technion will be transferred with the grade. , According to the latter.

To check later:
Defining transition conditions from year to year in the program, on the symbol of academic achievement at the school and the Technion.

In the thirteenth grade, the Ministry of Education and the IDF have an interest in students of this unique track continuing on to a practical training degree within the school. Students who have successfully passed the above four subjects with a grade point average of 80 or higher will continue to take courses at the Technion for one or two days a week, according to the following recommendation:
324033 – Advanced Technical English B – 3 points or exemption according to Technion rules
114071 – Physics 1 m – 3.5 pts
114075 – Physics 2 m – 5 pts
104013 – Hado’a 2 T. – 5.5 points
044268 – Introduction to Data Structures and Alge – 3 pts

Students in the continuing education program for practical engineers who will be admitted to regular studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Technion will be eligible to include these subjects, including their grades, as part of the degree accrual.

Remarks:
1. Students who successfully complete their practical training studies will be able to be admitted to the faculty on the basis of their matriculation grades and their grades in the Technion subjects, without the need for a psychometric examination. The criteria for admission in this case will be formulated later.
2. Students in the track who successfully complete their practical studies (average 80 or higher) will be entitled to the existing exemptions and reliefs for electronics practicals, in accordance with the details of the faculty’s study catalog, which will be valid upon receipt.
The current reliefs include a conditional exemption on the exam in a number of subjects, as well as credit for points (without a grade) as follows:
• Faculty choice: 5.5 points
• Free choice: 4 points
Total exemption and credit points for a student who has completed the recommended track for practical engineers: 55 points.
4. The possibility of registering and studying additional subjects in the summer semester will be examined, in coordination and with the approval of the faculty.
5. The possibility of an additional exemption in the subject 114032 Laboratory in Physics 1 H * will be examined later, after examining the curriculum in Robophysics. Also subject to the approval of the Faculty of Physics.
6. Flexibility will be approved for students in the program to waive some of the recommended subjects in the thirteenth grade, without the other accrual rights being violated.
7. The format of the program will be examined annually in light of the students’ achievements in their studies at the Technion.

Additional points for clarification – under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and the IDF:
• The intention of the education system and the IDF is to cultivate this path, in order to bring the highest quality manpower to engineering.
• The transfer and management of the program in the schools is the responsibility and funding of the Ministry of Education.
• It will be possible for students in this unique track, an option as reservists to complete a bachelor’s degree in the faculty, in cooperation with the IDF (and probably also funded). This connection is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education.
• The curricula of the Ministry of Education, which are currently in the process of change, will be coordinated for this unique track, in collaboration and coordination with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Technion.
• The payment to the Technion for registration for subjects and the paying entity will be agreed later with the Ministry of Education.
As part of this program, as part of the curriculum, significant support will be given in schools, both in the IDF and in the thirteenth grade, in the academic subjects taught at the Technion.
• The intention is to start the program at this stage with 3 schools (in the Haifa area).