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Mind the Gap. STEM Challenge Days. Mind the Gap… Project outline. The project is based on a “Structures” Challenge. The focus is about an awareness of STEM.. All the constituent parts working together. The challenge is student focussed… working in teams to
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Mind the Gap STEM Challenge Days
Mind the Gap… Project outline • The project is based on a “Structures” Challenge. • The focus is about an awareness of STEM.. All the constituent parts working together. • The challenge is student focussed… working in teams to • Design and build a structure to span a gap. • Perform a research and investigation task. • Produce and deliver a presentation. • Not a competition… but recognition will be given for commitment, quality of work, originality, etc
Student Focussed • The Challenge is intended to be student focussed. • Students to take the lead in tackling the project… in negotiation with the teachers and ambassadors. • Teachers and ambassadors to act as mentors to the teams…. Support and guide rather than directing. • Students should work as teams…. Emphasis on PLTS
TEAMS • Each teacher/ambassador pair will mentor a group of up to four teams of five students. • Teams should organise themselves… shared responsibility! Based upon the PLTS roles. • Facilitator, • Time Keeper, • Resource Manager, • Quality Checker, • Team Rep.
Tasks – design and Build • The design and build task requires students to build a model bridge to span a 1m gap (the Clifton Gorge) • The bridge will be judged successful if it has… • Good strength to weight ratio. • Good strength to cost ratio. • Students may need to be encouraged to DESIGN before making… • Produce a specification. • investigate alternative ideas before producing a solution. • test materials and construction methods
Tasks – Research Task • The research task is selected by the teams … in negotiation with teachers/ambassadors. • The research task is intended to support the Design/Make task and will form the core of the Presentation Task. • The task needs to be… • Useful • Rigorous • As original as possible • More than Google… include hypothesis, testing, results, findings, etc.
Tasks - presentation • The presentations will be made to the other teams in the group. • Teams will have 4 minutes of actual presentation time on the second day. • Presentations need to be “professional” with all students taking part in some way. • Presentations can take any form (by negotiation) • A PowerPoint/keynote supported talk • Posters, leaflets, “publications”. • Originality to be supported (song/rap/performance)
Ambassadors – business and industry • 16 volunteers (14 from companies + 2 parents) • Companies represented • Mott MacDonald (Bristol and Cardiff) • MOD • Bristol University • Saint Gobain • EDF Energy • TSB (Clevedon) • Atkins Global? • Support also from Roland DG & 3D Systems • Main task is to assist with mentoring the teams and provide expertise in their field. • Also providing mini workshops at various times.
Ambassadors – students • Team of 5 students • Ellie Stanfield • Anna Parry • Rosie Gathercole • Lewis Smallwood • Cody Isaac • Will be responsible for running the “Bank of STEM” / Shop • Will maintain a “leader board” • Will assist with social media. (and gather content) • Will act as “gofers”… runners.
Mini workshops • These will be presented by the Ambassadors. • Attended by team reps (if required) • Take place in the Atrium and/or break out area (sports hall) • Timings • Day1 10:10 – (mini workshop 1 Top tips for quality presentations) • Day 1 11:10 (mini workshop 2 Strong structures) • Day1 12.00 (mini workshop 3 Being an engineer) • Day1 13:50 (mini workshop 4 safe structures) • Day2 09:15 (financing structures)… advice on VAT etc • Day2 10:00 (mini workshop 5 Quality presentations 2) • Other Mini workshops may take place on suggestion of Ambassadors and/or request from Teachers.
Social media • We have a Blog and Twitter… • Blog clevedonstem.wordpress.com • Twitter @ClevedonSTEMhashtags #STEM and #ClevedonSTEM. The blog to provide Resource bank Diary of the challenge Twitter provides automatic tweets from the blog Microblogging. • Who can blog/tweet? Everyone!!! … send photos/videos text to DW/Student ambassadors Ask for membership and author role (before the event!) Student ambassadors.
For the non expert- “S” opportunities • Over to Steve Davis
For the non expert- “M” Opportunities Over to Paul Jenkins
For the non expert- “TE” (D&T) opportunities • Over to Andrew Brown
Resources - Physical • Team packs containing • Student information booklet • Student work booklet (for planning) • Starter kit of building materials • The “gap” … mat and supports. • Ambassadors. • Each other…. !
Resources - electronic • Teacher toolkit • Teaching/intervention materials • Inspirational videos • Results spreadsheet • Copy of the student invoice • Timings PowerPoint • Blog and twitter feed • Extension Task…. In the unlikely event of students running out of work (design & build a high/strong structure)
construction • Planning…. Encourage students to try out and plan before “rushing into it” • Quality…. Neatness and quality of construction ensures a stronger outcome. • Do not allow students to use excessive materials… winding a bunch of straws in tape will be strong but the students will learn/achieve nothing. • Give it a go yourselves…..