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Incorporating Incorporating Engineering into a K-12 Engineering into a K-12 curriculumcurriculum
Angel BrownEmily Christianson
Problems in the ClassroomProblems in the ClassroomStudents not remembering a majority of
the content being taught.A decrease in the amount of
engagement in the learning process.A decrease in the number of students
interested in continuing their education beyond middle school and high school.
A decrease in the number of students passing standardized tests.
District DynamicsDistrict Dynamics
72% of the student body living in poverty
70% minority population
High percentage of ELL and Special Education students
District Dynamics District Dynamics
Columbia Heights also has a strong Advanced Placement program.
Students reading at an 11th and 12th grade level
8th graders taking a 10th grade math course
Questions RemainQuestions RemainWhy do so many kids begin to
underperform once they hit middle school?
Why are the high school teachers finding the students unprepared in the skills of math, reading, and science?
If I know that teachers are hitting the basic content, why aren’t the students carrying the information over to the next school year?
What can I do?What can I do?
2007-2009: MN Science Museum2009-2010: University of Minnesota
There is no absolute method for teaching engineering in a K - 12 classroom.
CMS Engineering Method
CMS Engineering MethodCMS Engineering Method
The ChallengeThe Challenge Using an Existing Unit: write a summary of the
unit, phrasing it as a problem to be solved. Example: Heights Storage released two workers
last week due to downsizing. Angry, the workers tore the labels off several containers before leaving the building. The containers held a variety of powders ranging from sugar and salt to lithopone which is used in paints and enamels. Before the company can ship out the merchandise they must be able to re-label the containers. Heights Storage is willing to pay $750 to cover lab expenses, but they must have the results of your work by Monday, July 19th. Work completed after that day will receive a decrease in pay of 10% off the original number.
Challenge Should Challenge Should Address…Address…State standards
Current events and/or links to another class
Student interests
Client Parent/student Real engineers Company reps Other teachers/spouses Written
The ChallengeThe ChallengeConstraints
Time – create a work timeline Materials or budget
The challenge gives the students practice with reading comprehension as well as an understanding that what they are reading is important.
Example ChallengeExample Challenge
ResearchResearch
Books Other Classes
Where the major content lessons can be initially taught◦ Math
◦ Science
◦ Content Readings
◦ How to take notes
◦ Research Methods
◦ How to cite reference
ResearchResearch
Computers Professionals
Tell the students to focus on what they believe they will need to help them to solve the problem. This will encourage the students to begin to assimilate what is being taught into possible solutions as well as encourage a sense of independence.
ResearchResearch
Peers Teachers
After the content lessons have been taught, have the class brainstorm additional topics they should research in order to have enough knowledge to begin the design process.
ResearchResearch
The research section will yield a lot of information and will overwhelm many students. If you have them layout their work on a single page it will be easier for them to see what they know and what they still need to find.
Research Picture Reference
1 ____________________________________________________
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Design: Design: synthesize info from researchsynthesize info from research
Thumbnail Sketches: The students pull the research together in a variety of ways looking for possible solutions to the problem.◦ Discuss the definition
of plagiarism.
◦ High School = 10-15 thumbnail sketches
◦ Middle School = 3-5 sketches
◦ Elementary = 3 sketches
Idea 1
Materials Product Strengths Product
Weaknesses
DesignDesignDetail Drawing:
◦ What is already known as well as elements not known.
◦ Engineering Field: if changes are made to the detail design during the building phase, the engineer must circle the change on the detail drawing, provide the date of the change, and the reason for making the change.
Building Instructions What do I know? What do I need to
find out?
Engineering Teams JobsEngineering Teams Jobs Designer: To draw the sloppy copy of the detail
design for the team to use as they build. To draw the final copy of the detail drawing to turn in to the teacher.
Accountant: To keep a running total of the money spent, calculate taxes, and shop for supplies.
Assembler: To work with the builder to keep the building process moving. Find out what needs to be done, and get it done
Builder: To take charge of the building process by determining what needs to be done each day. Daily jobs include: testing materials for strength, flexibility; building sections of the design, talk to accountant about needed supplies, etc
Build – Test - RedesignBuild – Test - Redesign
Content◦ Scale Drawings◦ Templates◦ Blueprints◦ Prototypes –
Redesign as needed◦ Review challenge to
make sure all of the client needs are being addressed.
◦ Building time◦ Mini content lessons◦ Gallery walks
Build – Test - RedesignBuild – Test - Redesign
Prototype Template
Build – Test - RedesignBuild – Test - Redesign
Time Management
For a 6 week unit, the challenge through the design will take up to 4 ½ weeks. After the initial work has been completed, the students will need about one week of building time. The last 3-4 days are dedicated to communicating the finished product to the client.
Time Line
Mon Tues
Wed Thur
Fri
Build – Test - RedesignBuild – Test - Redesign
Store: have a cart or a backroom set up to hold a variety of supplies that the students can purchase. This forces the students to manage a budget, calculate tax, and consider the physical properties of the materials they are purchasing. Also, you will see a decrease in the amount of waste.
Team Budget SheetTeam Budget SheetMaterial/Item Amt. Price
Per Item
Subtotal
Amount of Tax
(6.875%)
Total Price
Amount of
Money Left
EXAMPLE: masking tape 2 meters $10 per meter $20 $20 x 0.0725 = $1.45
$20 + $1.45 = $21.45
$200 - $21.45 = $178.55
Alex Ha HardwareAlex Ha Hardware
BudgetsBudgetsWhen determining a budget think about
the kinds and amounts of materials needed, tools that will need to be rented, and pad the budget a bit in order to allow for testing of materials and mistakes.
You do want the budget to be tight
enough to force students to consider their purchases thoughtfully. This will lend authenticity to the design process.
Too Small / Too BigToo Small / Too Big For budgets that are too large,
challenge the students to come in under budget by a certain percentage in order to earn bonus points.
For budget too small, encourage the
students to bring in supplies from home to donate to the store, then barter with them. This will help them to see the value in materials.
When is the unit over?When is the unit over?
Am I Done Yet?◦ Product Fair◦ Panel
Presentation◦ Project Runway
for Prosthetics◦ Competitions
Suspension Bridge Product Fair
MarketingMarketing
Crane Competition
6th Grade
KARE-11 Chair-ity
$100 $100
Portfolio
Panel Presentation
Recycling Unit
Panel Presentation
Project Runway for Project Runway for ProstheticsProsthetics
Assessment StrategiesAssessment Strategies◦Rubrics Product Presentation Pay Check
◦Research grade◦Design Grade◦Pay Check Grade / CEO checks◦Budget Grade◦Client Grade◦Teacher Grade
Sample UnitSample UnitState Standards
Math6.1.1.4 Determine equivalences among fractions, decimals and
percents; select among these representations to solve problems.
6.1.2.3 Determine the rate for ratios of quantities with different units.
Science6.2.2.2.1 Recognize that when the forces acting on an object are
balanced.6.2.2.2.2 Identify the forces acting on an object and describe how
the sum of the forces affects the motion of the object.
Engineering6.1.2.2.1 Apply and document an engineering design process that
includes identifying criteria and constraints, making representations, testing and evaluation, and refining the design as needed to construct a product or system that solves a problem.
Challenge PracticeChallenge Practice ROLLER COASTER CHALLENGE
Unfortunately for Minnesota’s Mall of America, their primary child attraction, Nickelodeon Universe, has failed to attract the same large crowds that Camp Snoopy used to generate. Mall organizers would like to hire your company to redesign the theme of the park to attract more elementary and middle school age children. They also want you to redesign the roller coaster to make it more exciting.
You will be given seven class days to research, design, and build a prototype of the roller coaster as well as a sign with the new park’s name. Mall owners are looking for a coaster with exciting hills, valleys, loops, and spirals that will pull older children into the park. The speed of the coaster is also important. Organizers want the ride to be fun, but they don’t want it to be too long. They feel that if the riders have to wait too long to get onto the ride, they will opt to leave to go shopping or dining.
Each team will be given a budget of $500.00 to build the coaster and park sign. You need to make sure that your model will fit into the seven acre (292,000 sq. ft.) park and that the design leaves room for shoppers to walk below the ride. The Mall of America is a four story building, roughly 20 feet per story, therefore, the ride may not rise higher than 75 feet, leaving 5 feet of headroom.