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Middle School Engineering- Succeeding through Failure

This presentation explores the importance of engineering in middle school, encouraging risk-taking and embracing failure as opportunities for learning. Through hands-on design projects, students learn the principles of engineering design and the iterative design process.

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Middle School Engineering- Succeeding through Failure

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  1. Middle School Engineering- Succeeding through Failure Jonathan Dietz Weston Middle School Weston, Massachusetts

  2. Presentation based upon • Grade 7 Design-Construction- A 35-period course taken by most students, as part of arts rotation. • Theme: Engineering Design and technology focusing on structural engineering. • Web Site: http://www.weston.org/schools/ms/MCAS/DesCon7.htm

  3. Questions to think about: • How do we encourage students to take risks? • Why is it important that middle-school students study engineering? • How do engineering skills apply outside of engineering?

  4. KEY IDEAS • What is engineering?

  5. Pizza Party Engineering • Example: You are inviting 10 friends for a pizza party. How many pizzas do you order? • Model: Kids eat two slices each, but some eat three. There are 8 slices per pizza. • Engineering calculation: • (10 kids x 2 slices/kid)/ (1 pizza/8 slices)= 2.5 pizzas. So buy 3 pizzas.

  6. What is Engineering? • Engineering is solving design problems based upon a ( mathematical) model of materials or processes. • A design should meet the needed requirements for performance plus a safety margin.

  7. Trade-offs • Design in the real world always involves trade-offs- cost vs performance, speed vs torque. • You always have to compromise- there is no perfect solution. • Examples: Big Dig too expensive- so money was saved by deleting inner tunnel box, not testing ceiling bolts, etc.

  8. Technology is the knowledge of how to make things.

  9. Technology: the art of making things • How do you make a cake? • How do you make paper? • How do you build a house? • How do you make an Ipod?

  10. How do you install a bolt in concrete?

  11. Elegance • An elegant design solution is the simplest design which performs as needed. • Designs should always strive for elegance. • Ganter Bridge by Christian Menn

  12. Zakim Bridge designed by Christian Menn

  13. Failure • Failure- properly analyzed- is critical to engineering design • Engineering design depends upon knowing the point at which a material or design fails and how it failed.

  14. Failure • Embracing failure is a new concept for most students. • Surviving failure is difficult for all but the best students. • In most classes, failure is penalized.

  15. How do we create a classroom environment that encourages student risk-taking, that embraces failure as an opportunity for learning? • Emphasize that students will not be penalized for coming up designs that do not work. • Have kids phrase answers, “ I’m only guessing now, so . . . “

  16. Competition and Failure • High-stakes competitions create few winners, many losers, without an opportunity to re-design. • Middle-school engineering should NOT involve high-stakes contests. • Measurement should be against a stated criterion for performance, NOT against each other.

  17. Multiple Iterations • Designs should incorporate students creating multiple versions of designs, incorporating failure data from each trial into the next version. • Prototypes should be easily revisable, using cheap components such as paper, straws and pins, or reusable materials such as Legos.

  18. Bridge Decks- Multiple Versions, easily made

  19. Grade 7 Design-Construction • Course alternates material from videos, discussion, and computer simulations with hands-on design-challenge projects.

  20. Introductory Challenge- 1st iteration • Using 5 sheets of paper and 12” of tape, build the tallest free-standing tower you can. • Tower must stand for 30 seconds.

  21. Introductory Challenge- 2nd iteration • Introduce the concept of rolling paper into tight sticks using a dowel as a jig- a specially-built tool. • Share ideas and concepts from first version.

  22. Introductory Challenge- 3rd iteration • Introduce technology of cables( cotton string) • Demonstrate use of guy wires. • Rebuild using cables. • Minimum acceptable= 36” tall.

  23. Direct Instruction- Tension and Compression • Review forces acting on towers- tension and compression • Do Mini-Activities from Building Big website • Build Concrete-block arch • Determine tensile strength of cotton string • Bill Nye the Science Guy: Structures.

  24. Design Challenge #2- Straw and Paper Bridges • Challenge: Using paper, straws, pins, and glue, build a bridge which spans a 20” gap and supports at least 8- 250cc water bottles.

  25. Part 1: Building the Deck • Students are asked to build a model beam-bridge deck, using pins and straws and/or paper cardstock.

  26. Messing Around • Without prior instruction, students are asked to build 2 or 3 versions of a model bridge deck.

  27. Test efficiency of bridge • Efficiency= carrying capacity ( live load)/ weight of bridge (dead load)

  28. Revised Version: I-beams

  29. Third Revision: Trusses

  30. Students add Warren-type trusses to the bridges, and re-test the efficiency.

  31. Testing and Modification • Bridges are tested to near failure. Failure modes are observed, and the bridges modified and re-tested. • Students are asked to describe in detail how the bridge failed, and how it can be strengthened.

  32. Video: Building Big: BridgesEmphasizes how bridges failed, and how subsequent bridges were modified in response.

  33. Challenge #3-West Point Bridge Designer • Part 1: Optimize a sample design.

  34. West Point Bridge Designer • Part 2: Design a standard bridge, and optimize cost. • Part 3: Original Design

  35. Part II- Construction Technology Construction technology is taught using a project-based approach

  36. Activities vs Projects • Projects typically: • Last 3 weeks or more • Use non-disposable materials • Emphasize technology rather than engineering • Difficult to modify • Pride of ownership and craftsmanship

  37. Architect: Frank Gehry

  38. Model House Project • Week 1: Design house on computer using CAD home-design software

  39. House Construction Project • Week 2: • Build model foundation (plaster) • Build sill beam • Frame walls

  40. House Project • Week 3: • Finish framing • Frame roof • Add sample stairs, floors, roofing, sheathing, and insulation

  41. Winding it all Up • MCAS Review of Construction Technology

  42. Why study engineering? • To encourage more young men and women to consider engineering as a career, through participating in meaningful design challenges. • To enable our students to be active creators of knowledge, including technology, not passive consumers. • To learn how to understand complex systems. • To enable students to cope successfully with failure, by seeing it, not as personal rejection, but rather an opportunity for improvement .

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