Metalwork Syllabus

Metalwork curriculum -- an outline to follow?  (Interestingly -- from Ghana!)
I really like the aspect that the metalwork hands-on course is sold as a very integral part of preparation for Mechanical Engineering.

http://www.kosec.xtreemhost.com/syllabus/metal%20work.pdf

SolidWorks and Project Based Learning

Project-Based Learning - Making SolidWorks Meaningful to Students
by Elise Moss

A good description about how/why to do project-based learning.  Interesting idea that the students should have 80% of the skills in place in order to pick up the other 20% successfully in the project.  Wonder if it could be more like 60% of the skills?

http://www.solidworks.com/includes/swworld/presentations_/proceedings_display.cfm?sid=24555

Creating a High School Engineering Program

My oldest has just over 3 years left of high school.  Now that we've got a FIRST Robotics team going, he'll have lots of exposure to engineering (& other) topics. I'd like to give him month long unit studies of different topics that will give the theory or more formal approach to some of these topics so he gets more from the program than just the experiential.

 Topics:

• Drafting
• CAD
• Prototyping (materials/form/projects0
• Electrical
• Motors/gears/drive trains

Sample syllabii or programs:

Infinity Project:

The Infinity Project is a national award winning middle school, high school, and early college engineering curricula. This math- and science-based engineering and technology education initiative helps educators deliver a maximum of engineering exposure with a minimum of training, expense and time. Created to help students see the real value of math and science and its varied applications to high tech engineering - The Infinity Project is working with schools all across the country to bring the best of engineering to their students.

-- set up for schools and requires a 5-day 35 hour training program for teacher of course -- probably could run it through Wake Robotics but feels a bit limiting and expensive

Engineering the Future
Here's a sample syllabus (Word doc) of a year long syllabus using various projects.
This looks really great!

Definite Summer Camp in 2010?

Chemistry and Engineering of Polymers and Fibers: A Workshop for High School Students
August
http://www.tx.ncsu.edu/departments/tecs/pcc/polymercamp/

Applications being in May!

Also, Engineering Summer Programs at NCSU for highschoolers:
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/summerprograms
And a list of the workshops:
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/summerprograms/workshops.html

Engineering for High School Students

Here is a great resource for engineering topics for different grades -- and some great ideas for middle/highschool. It would be very cool to do a coop of kids to explore these topics.

http://www.engineeringk12.org

Of course, lots of their resources are expensive and only work in a public school but the idea would be great -- explore different aspects of engineering over an 8 month period.

LEGO Engineering: From Kindergarten to College

An interesting 52 minute video from Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach

LEGO Engineering: From Kindergarten to College
For the past 10 years, Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach has been working with the LEGO Group to bring engineering into every classroom as a way to teach creativity, teamwork, and systems engineering as well as math, science, and literacy. We believe that as the world becomes more technical, and more dependent on technology, it is imperative that those who vote and who make policy understand the fundamentals of science and engineering so that they will make informed decisions on policies like developing a sustainable energy plan or reducing global warming. We do this by bringing engineering into the pre-college classroom and challenging students to design and build solutions to open-ended problems. Chris Rogers will show a number of examples from around the world of how teachers have used LEGO Robots to teach everything from how to graph to how to problem-solve. From LEGO snowplows (made by 1st graders) to automated hamburger makers (made by 13 year olds) to a LEGO robot driven by a fruit fly (made by a doctoral student), students have been excited, innovative, and very enthusiastic to learn. He will conclude by explaining how you can help affect your local school and classroom. Kids (of all ages) welcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG-izyXfFHI

Summer camp options to start thinking about:

Summer camp options to start thinking about:

NCSU has a middleschool engineering camp:
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/k12outreach/RaleighCampus.html

Camp Details:

* Application Period: February 1st - March 31st

* Lunch will be provided each day;

* Camp hours are approximately 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday;

* Camp fee: $250 (a limited number of need-based scholarships are available).