Saturday, September 14, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Scrum!
What is "Scrum"? Let's learn more about this "agile" development practice:
Here are a few scrum related links:
scrum.org
"Learn Scrum"
Here are a few scrum related links:
scrum.org
"Learn Scrum"
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
The 4th Annual Cardboard Canoe Challenge!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to the 4th Annual CHS Cardboard Canoe Challenge. Do you have what it takes to design and build this year's winning watercraft?
(I lost all my photos from last year so imagine this is a cardboard canoe!)
Overview
Your class will break into teams to compete. You will design and build a solution to compete in the Challenge based on the bellow Criteria and Constraints. Safety is the number one priority in this event!
Safety
***Swimming is an “opt in” activity. No one has to swim if they don’t wish to. Swim only if you have the ability to do so. Appropriate attire is required for swimming. Adhere to the swimming facility rules. Safety is the top priority at all times.***
Criteria
• Build a watercraft that allows you to traverse the CHS swimming pool.
• Your "boat" must float at least one student through the course of the competition.
• Protect your workspace from damage!
Constraints
• You may only use Cardboard and Duct Tape for this event.
• All Staples or other foreign material must be removed from your cardboard. If we trash the pool, we will not be invited back for other activities during the year (yes, we have other activities in mind for 2nd semester).
• Cardboard must meet our quality standard and be approved by the instructor (more info to follow)
• Each boat must have a minimum of a 3" tall "sidewall" (no completely flat designs).
• All exposed cardboard must be covered in duct tape (this will reduce cardboard disintigration in the pool).
• Each team will be provided one "versa table" cardboard box piece and three 60yrd rolls of duct tape. Any materials beyond this (likely need more cardboard) need to be resourced by your team.
Achievments
Create a comprehensive post on your blog that justifies the Achievements you've earned for this challenge.
Make sure you claim the total number of achievements you've earned at the top of your post!
Design Achievements:
• Define the Problem and Brainstorm Solutions - State the problem you are designing a solution for. List at least 20 ideas you have regarding your solution.
• Big Brain - The individual student with the most brainstorms listed will earn a bonus achievement.
• Criteria & Constraints - List or reference the specified Criteria and Constraints you're designing for. List at least one implied criteria. List at least three implied contsraints.
• Sketch Ideas - Draw 3 different sketches for possible designs. Label at least 3 key features for each sketch. Describe the feature's functionality so a viewer understands why the called out feature is important.
• Prototype Ideas - Craft physical prototypes (models) of each of your three sketches. Use a notecard or post it note to call out at least one key feature on each model. Post the images to your blog and describe the key feature that you've pointed out on each.
• Select an Approach - Generate feedback (+, change, ?, !) and make a decision matrix regarding your sketches/prototypes. Specify the approach you've chosen and justify your selection.
• Surface area! - Calculate how much surface area you can cover with your given duct tape. How many sf can you cover with one roll? How many can you cover with all your rolls? What % efficiency do you think you can achieve with your overlap?
Build Achievements:
• Build It! - Build your watercraft. Your build must meet the standards of construction (100% covered in Duct Tape). Document it with a presentable photo.
• The Early Bird Gets the Achievement - Awarded to the team with the fastest build.
• V-Bottom - Earn this by building a non-flat bottom
Test Achievements:
• The Fastest - Awarded to the first team to reach the far side (25yds)
• The Farthest - Awarded to the team that can travel the furthest (laps)
• The Longest - Awarded to the team with the watercraft that floats the longest (multiple teams may be awarded this achievement if multiple boats remain afloat at the end of our competition period).
• Balance Master - Awarded if you can have at least one person stand for 5 seconds in the boat (you must conduct this away from the edge of the pool so that non one falls over and hits their head)
• Videographer - Take video of the challenge and post to your blog.
Reflection Achievements:
• Feedback - Generate ten items of feedback for your effort (from the design/build process and/or the actual product). Make sure you include at least one item of feedaback in each of our four feedback areas (+, change, ?, !)
• How Low Did You Go? - How low in the water did your canoe sit (roughly)? Was it suprising how little your boat went down in the water? What is the unit weight of water in pounds? How much did your pilot weigh (roughly)? Use math to help explain the depth that your boat sat in the water.
• Redesign - If we were to do another Carboard Canoe race next semester, what would you build? Draw from everything you experienced in your class and propose the most competative solution. Include a sketch with key features and dimensions labeled.
• (Make Your Own Achievement) - Make an achievement of your own design that you can award yourself for something awesome your team did. (Example "Transformer" - although our canoe sunk, our team was able to convert it into a surfboard style design and continue competeting!)
Welcome to the 4th Annual CHS Cardboard Canoe Challenge. Do you have what it takes to design and build this year's winning watercraft?
(I lost all my photos from last year so imagine this is a cardboard canoe!)
Overview
Your class will break into teams to compete. You will design and build a solution to compete in the Challenge based on the bellow Criteria and Constraints. Safety is the number one priority in this event!
Safety
***Swimming is an “opt in” activity. No one has to swim if they don’t wish to. Swim only if you have the ability to do so. Appropriate attire is required for swimming. Adhere to the swimming facility rules. Safety is the top priority at all times.***
Criteria
• Build a watercraft that allows you to traverse the CHS swimming pool.
• Your "boat" must float at least one student through the course of the competition.
• Protect your workspace from damage!
Constraints
• You may only use Cardboard and Duct Tape for this event.
• All Staples or other foreign material must be removed from your cardboard. If we trash the pool, we will not be invited back for other activities during the year (yes, we have other activities in mind for 2nd semester).
• Cardboard must meet our quality standard and be approved by the instructor (more info to follow)
• Each boat must have a minimum of a 3" tall "sidewall" (no completely flat designs).
• All exposed cardboard must be covered in duct tape (this will reduce cardboard disintigration in the pool).
• Each team will be provided one "versa table" cardboard box piece and three 60yrd rolls of duct tape. Any materials beyond this (likely need more cardboard) need to be resourced by your team.
Achievments
Create a comprehensive post on your blog that justifies the Achievements you've earned for this challenge.
Make sure you claim the total number of achievements you've earned at the top of your post!
Design Achievements:
• Define the Problem and Brainstorm Solutions - State the problem you are designing a solution for. List at least 20 ideas you have regarding your solution.
• Big Brain - The individual student with the most brainstorms listed will earn a bonus achievement.
• Criteria & Constraints - List or reference the specified Criteria and Constraints you're designing for. List at least one implied criteria. List at least three implied contsraints.
• Sketch Ideas - Draw 3 different sketches for possible designs. Label at least 3 key features for each sketch. Describe the feature's functionality so a viewer understands why the called out feature is important.
• Prototype Ideas - Craft physical prototypes (models) of each of your three sketches. Use a notecard or post it note to call out at least one key feature on each model. Post the images to your blog and describe the key feature that you've pointed out on each.
• Select an Approach - Generate feedback (+, change, ?, !) and make a decision matrix regarding your sketches/prototypes. Specify the approach you've chosen and justify your selection.
• Surface area! - Calculate how much surface area you can cover with your given duct tape. How many sf can you cover with one roll? How many can you cover with all your rolls? What % efficiency do you think you can achieve with your overlap?
Build Achievements:
• Build It! - Build your watercraft. Your build must meet the standards of construction (100% covered in Duct Tape). Document it with a presentable photo.
• The Early Bird Gets the Achievement - Awarded to the team with the fastest build.
• V-Bottom - Earn this by building a non-flat bottom
Test Achievements:
• The Fastest - Awarded to the first team to reach the far side (25yds)
• The Farthest - Awarded to the team that can travel the furthest (laps)
• The Longest - Awarded to the team with the watercraft that floats the longest (multiple teams may be awarded this achievement if multiple boats remain afloat at the end of our competition period).
• Balance Master - Awarded if you can have at least one person stand for 5 seconds in the boat (you must conduct this away from the edge of the pool so that non one falls over and hits their head)
• Videographer - Take video of the challenge and post to your blog.
Reflection Achievements:
• Feedback - Generate ten items of feedback for your effort (from the design/build process and/or the actual product). Make sure you include at least one item of feedaback in each of our four feedback areas (+, change, ?, !)
• How Low Did You Go? - How low in the water did your canoe sit (roughly)? Was it suprising how little your boat went down in the water? What is the unit weight of water in pounds? How much did your pilot weigh (roughly)? Use math to help explain the depth that your boat sat in the water.
• Redesign - If we were to do another Carboard Canoe race next semester, what would you build? Draw from everything you experienced in your class and propose the most competative solution. Include a sketch with key features and dimensions labeled.
• (Make Your Own Achievement) - Make an achievement of your own design that you can award yourself for something awesome your team did. (Example "Transformer" - although our canoe sunk, our team was able to convert it into a surfboard style design and continue competeting!)
Sunday, September 8, 2013
"For the Last 17 Years We've Been Pursuing Stuff That Other People Told Us To Do"
This piece on the NPR TED Radio Hour is at the heart of what I'm attempting to give you with the flexibility of our Engineering Projects course...
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
My First Post!
We're getting all of our 2013-2014 students set up with their blogs. These will serve as an online portfolio of your engineering experiences.
Please Complete the following to make your blog:
1) Sign in to your Google account. Create one at www.google.com if you don't already have one.
2) Create a blog through www.blogger.com
3) Name your blog. Choose any school appropriate name that you like for your online portfolio. Since this is something that we hope will serve as a reference, please choose a title/web address appropriate to include on a resume. Consider the use of words like "Engineering", "Design", "Problem Solving", your name, etc.
Assignment for your first Post:
1) Title your post "My First Blog Post!"
2) Type some text greeting people that visit your blog.
3) Insert a photo of something you're interested in (hobby, sports team, technology, etc.)
4) Include a sentance or two of text before or after the photo explaining your interest.
5) Insert a link relavent to the photo.
6) Use the spell check feature to check your spelling.
7) Make sure your post is formated in a presentable way.
8) Add a Label to the post
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