4th Term Update

6th Grade: 

It is always fun to see new students who are excited to learn and I believe my new 6th grade classes fit that description. We have been hard at work identifying measurements and are now using measurements to create an air skimmer out of cardboard that will glide on a concrete or wood floor. Students at this time should be able to identify measurements to the nearest 1/16th of an inch. For some students this is a completely new skill that they are learning. One great part about teaching measurement is that this is a useful skill the students will have for the rest of their lives.

7th Grade: 

Students have been hard at work on their creature amp projects. Starting this week some students will take home their projects. We have been, for the most part, sanding and painting the past few weeks. If you look below you will see some of the completed projects.

8th Grade: 

We have started my favorite unit of the year "robotics". Students have researched how various robots have changed the way we live and are now working on a robot that will complete a challenge underwater. Yes that is right students are creating an underwater robot!!
We are using the SeaPerch platform which is sponsored by the United States Navy. If you would like more information you can always check out www.seaperch.org. Towards the end of February I will take the students down to the high school pool and they will compete against each other trying to score as many points as possible on the 2017 official SeaPerch Challenge.  The top 3 teams will have a chance to compete against middle schools across the area at the Pattonville SeaPerch competition. This will take place on Saturday February 25th.  From designing the PVC body to soldering the circuit board for the controller students are learning through creating which makes for a very interactive and hands on class.

Time to piece together the design. 

Students measuring out parts for the robot. 

The 2017 SeaPerch Challenge 

Last Post Before Winter Break

8th Grade: 

We have been exploring the world of electronics the past few weeks in 8th grade Gateway to Technology. Resistors, capacitors, transistors and more have been the topics the past few weeks. Students have learned how to use a digital multimeter to measure current, voltage, and resistance. We even explored Ohm's law and the mathematical relationship between voltage, current and resistance. The next two weeks before winter break students will learn how to use a transistor to create a simple night light. After prototyping the nightlight using Snap Circuits students will then learn how to solder real electrical components to a circuit board to create a night light they can take home. Soldering irons can be dangerous if used improperly which means we will have to go over safety precautions in detail. It would also be helpful if parents talked about safety with their student as well. After we come back from winter break students will utilize their design and electrical knowledge to create an underwater robot. I am really excited about this project. To kick this underwater robotics project off we will watch a movie called Spare Parts. This movie is rated PG-13 which means your son or daughter will come home with a permission form for this movie some time in the future. I hope your son or daughter has learned a lot through the Magic of Electrons unit. Below you will find some pictures of the different things we have completed in class.


7th Grade: 

We have explored Autodesk Inventor and went over shop safety the past few weeks. Starting today 11/9/16 students are working in the shop using various types of drills, saws and other woodworking equipment to create their creature amps. We have many great designs that I am excited to see come to life. Safety is my number one priority and I expect students to always act appropriately in the shop while tools are being used. I know at the middle school level students can be a bit goofy at times but I let them  know that being goofy in the shop can lead to injuries.
I really love to see students so excited about coming to class during our time in the shop. It is a change of pace from the "normal" type class. It is really rewarding to see students create something with their own two hands.

6th Grade: 

Students have just finished designing their mini dragsters on Autodesk Inventor. We are now getting ready to go into the shop to create the dragster that they designed. It is really fun to see students design the car in 3D computer aided design software. Some students really take an interest in this software. If you know your son or daughter is interested in 3D design their are multiple free software that can be downloaded to your home computer. One of those is called 123D design. You can find the free download at http://www.123dapp.com/design

Students learning to use a multimeter

Shop safety. Today's topic
bandsaw. 

Using Snap Circuits to discover how resistors work. 

What do all of those color bands on resistors mean? 

Notes.
Yes. We take them in Technology and Engineering. 

Winter is Coming...I Think??

What great weather we have been having lately. I know December is almost here but it sure does not feel like it today. School between Thanksgiving break and Christmas break can be interesting. Students are excited about the long Christmas break that is on the horizons. Here is just an update on the course content we will be covering in December.

6th Grade:

Students will be working with autodesk inventor to design their dragster these next few weeks. This is always a really fun project because not only do students get to learn a new software but they get to go into the shop and actually create their project. Be on the look out for a safety permission form coming home in the next few weeks right before we start using the drill press in the shop.

7th Grade:

We will be going into depth regarding shop safety in the next few weeks. Students should already have their safety permission form turned at this time. Students will be using power drills, bandsaws, the drill press, and other power tools to complete their creature amp project. The creature amp, if created correctly,  will passively amplify the speaker on a students cell phone. What is so great about this project is the ability for students to design, create and truly make something unique. I can't wait to see what types of designs the students come up with.

8th Grade:

We will continue working with electronics through the month of December. First we will explore many different types of circuits using SnapCircuit kits. This is a very hands on unit that allows students to explore the world of electronics by completing many projects. After students have mastered different types of circuits students will explore the world of soldering. Students will learn how to use circuit boards and fix small electronics by soldering. I am really excited about this unit.

New Trimester and New Students

First of all I would like to welcome all of my new students and parents to PCMS Technology and Engineering. I try to post a blog entry every other week to help keep parents informed of all the activities we are completing in class and to open a line of communication between parent, student and teacher. If any new parents have questions please feel free to e-mail me anytime.

6th Grade: 

2nd trimester students raced the dragsters they designed last week. If you haven't seen them ask your 6th grade student about the dragster races. This is always the day my 6th grade students look forward to all term. As for my new 6th grade students we are going to cover what an engineer does and measurement before students start designing their dragster on a 3D modeling software called Autodesk Inventor.

7th Grade: 

Students are doing research on types of
engineering careers. 

My 1st Trimester students did a great job on their furniture design project. Students were given a client and had to design a piece of furniture based on the clients needs and wants. I always think it is important for students to understand that when you are a designer or any type of engineer you have to meet the needs and wants of your client. I use the TV show Fixer Upper as an example. Chip and Joanna Gaines always take their clients needs into account when they design and fix the houses.

To all of my new students we will be covering the various types of engineering career possibilities the first 5 days of class. It always amazes students at the many different types of engineering careers. From biomedical to mechanical all these engineers may do different things but they all solve practical problems.

8th Grade: 

We have started a new unit called Magic of Electrons. This is the first time I am teaching this unit and I am very excited. Student interest in the subject is huge. First students learned how electricity worked and now they are creating an electromagnetic and a DC motor. Students will be taking these two projects home in the next week or so. After learning about motors and generators students will end up learning how simple circuits work using snap circuits.

Electromagnet is working!! And it is hat day. 

Another electromagnet

It's hammer time! 

Trimester is Ending Soon

8th Grade:

We are now finished with our design and modeling unit. Our final project for this unit was the Therapeutic Toy Design Challenge. All students were to document all of their work in their engineers notebook then present their product to the class. I had some great notebooks and very unique Therapeutic toys that were designed. However documentation still seems to be a struggle for many students. I try to add in real world reasoning behind keeping all of our design ideas and improvement document by explaining that a real inventor would need to prove that his/her ideas were original. Beyond proving originality inventors and engineers would also have detailed designs and  technical drawings with information for manufactures to create the designs. Many students did much of the work correctly and came up with excellent products but did not receive a good grade because very little was documented in their notebooks. I hope that in future projects students will realize the importance of documentation. 

Finished Student Prototype

Students working on design prototype

Detailed page in student design notebook

7th Grade: 

We are starting on a new design challenge in the last week and a half before the trimester ends. Students are to design a room for given client. I am really excited about this challenge because it is an interdisciplinary lesson. The tech explo students will work on part of this project in each of their tech explo classes (technology and engineering, FACS, Business) ending in a large presentation at the end of the school year. For my part students will design a unique piece of furniture (in Autodesk Inventor) that meets their clients needs and wants. If you have ever seen the HGTV show Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna you have seen them take their client's needs and wants into account when they design a house or even a piece of furniture to put into the house. My goal is to have students think like a designer/engineer and work to solve a problem based on a client's needs. I really think this will be a fun project. 

Example Client Profile 

Creating a room for the client

6th Grade: 

Students are in the middle of designing and fabricating their dragsters for the upcoming races that will take place during the last week of the trimester. I love how students are able to learn how to manipulate objects in 3D, create their own unique dragster design, and use some simple power tools to make their design become a reality. It really seems like the students are excited for this really unique opportunity. If your son or daughter really enjoys the technology and engineering section of their future pathways elective wheel they can learn more by taking the Tech Explo block of classes during 7th grade.

Projects and More Projects

8th Grade:

 In groups of three students are working on designing then creating a therapeutic toy for someone with Cerebral Palsy. This toy is supposed to help increase motor functions in a child's hand through play. Most students are in the process of 3D modeling their design. They are creating multi-view technical drawings of their toy as well. Next week students will be creating their prototypes using various supplies. I have told the students if they wish to bring in items from home to help create the prototype them may do so.
Additionally I have told students every day about double checking their scoring rubric to make sure they are fulfilling all the requirements for the project. This project is basically the final for the Design and Modeling Unit. In about a week or so we will move on to our Magic of Electrons Unit.

7th Grade:

Students were hard at work finishing their projects this week. We 3D printed their speaker covers for the creature amps. Students also finished painting and applying a top coat of spray lacquer to their projects. This allowed for some time to enjoy the weather outside while we spray lacquered the projects. I do not think we could have picked a better day than this past Thursday and Friday.  I have attached many pictures to this blog of these projects being finished. I am very proud of these students.

6th Grade: 

This week students had to use their measuring skills to follow a set of plans in order to create an air skimmer out of cardboard. They had to measure and draw out all of the pieces on their paper and they had to hot glue all of the pieces correctly in place based on an already completed model. This is a chance for students to both utilize their measurement skills and critical thinking skills. Students should be bringing home their air skimmer this this Friday 10/14. Next week will will be diving into a new computer program called Autodesk Inventor. Students will learn how to use this Computer Aided Design software to create 3D models.

8th grade student working on the 3D model of their their therapeutic toy.

7th grade creature amp in the shape of a Pokemon. 

7th grade creature amp shaped as a red panda. 

7th Grade student with a panda creature amp.

The Flash being painted. 

Projects drying after students applied a final coat of spray lacquer. 

Engineering Design...It's Not Just Building Things...It's a Process

8th Grade

Students are now finished with the puzzle cube project. Students created a 3D model of their project in a CAD program called autodesk Inventor. If students took my 7th grade course this was a review and was a relatively easy assignment. If students did not have my course during 7th grade learning how to manipulate this computer program was a challenge. For those students who may not have finished the puzzle cube assembly on Inventor I am going to stay after school next Thursday for a Technology and Engineering after school tutoring session. I will be able to provide more one on one help during this time. 

We have also started our new engineering design challenge. Students in groups of 3 are to design a therapeutic toy for a child with cerebral palsy. This project is basically our final for the design and modeling unit. Students have a grading rubric on their google classroom that has clear expectations however I have already seen students on day one wanting to go directly to building a prototype and still not understanding that the emphasis of the project is documenting the engineering design process.

7th Grade

I am really proud at how the creature amps are turning out. Students are in the middle of painting their projects and should be able to take them home by the end of next week. It is really fun to see student become more comfortable with tools. We are also in the middle of printing off a part of their project that is 3D printed! 

6th Grade

For second term I have a brand new group of 6th graders. We are currently in our measurement unit and students are learning to use a ruler and measure accurately accurately.  Students demonstrated their knowledge of the ruler by playing a on rulergame.net. Now my 6th grade students are measuring out parts of an air skimmer that they will create using cardboard and hot glue.