Perspective

Chris in 3rd Period has drawn the best Perspective Sketch I've seen in my now third year of doing this activity. Nice job!

Watch Out Now!

A few of our Engineers from the projects class nearly took out Mrs. Edingfield!:

Finals - Engineering Projects

The Engineering Projects course presented their work during our finals week.

Here we have our Minecraft crew describing what they worked on. I think they just said something funny!:


Marco and Hunter made a "bubble wrap" style mobile game called Tiki Smasher. Awesome!:


Cody and Gustavo designed and implemented some neat Portal 2 levels using Valve's Hammer Editor:


Kacie treated us to some awesome Pancakes... yum!:

Arduino

We're going to get going with some Arduino Projects in our Principles of Engineering Courses (2nd and 4th Period) and in our Engineering Projects Class (3rd Period). I had ordered a batch for the students that had chipped in on the Engineering Fund. If you didn't contribute, and would like to get some hardware for yourself, here are some links to the products on Amazon:

The Arduino Uno on Amazon. When I posted this, the board was listed at $20, a very competitive price (The best price I could find when I ordered them for the class was closer to $30 :( )

The Uno Starter Pack on Amazon. This kit provides some basic goodies to get going with Arduino projects.

A USB A to B Cable is needed to interface the Arduino with a computer (Mac or PC). Programing is done in the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (free to download at Arduino.cc). An A to B USB cable is the type of cable that is typically used to connect a printer to a computer. You may be able to use an existing/left over one so only order if you do not have something on hand that is usable.


Optional Texts:
There is a plethora of information on Arduino on the web. If you prefer having a physical reference, here are a few to consider.

We have one or two copies of this in class. You may like to have your own:
Getting Started with Arduino

This book appears similar to Getting Started with Arduino but focusses on the programming aspect of the process:
Programming Arduino

Making Things Talk (as in electronic communications between objects) is an incredible text that a person could make a full college course out of. We will attempt a few of the projects in this book. At $20, this is an incredible value (even more so compared to the $100+ that you'll be paying for texts in college).

"Asking the Right Questions": The Cornerstone of Problem Solving

The goal of the Engineering Projects class (3rd Period) is to give our students the experience and tools for a great start on the path of technical leadership.

For the 2nd Semester, students will team up and select a topic to present on that will help us all gain insight on how to attack problems worth solving.

Here are the slides from our discussion this morning. If you're looking for a good read over break, consider one of the books listed below. The core concepts of these books will help improve your understanding of how to choose problems worth tackling and techniques you can use to enhance direction, alignment and commitment from those you collaborate with:

3rd Period - I'm Out Today!

Hi 3rd Period,

It looks like I'm going to miss our class as well today. Dane's Nanny called in sick this morning so I'm stuck at home! I love my time with Dane but I wasn't expecting this change of plan today.

Please continue working today on the Scrum tasks you've comitted to.

We will have a scrum meeting on Thursday and review:

1) What you've done
2) What you plan on doing
3) Any roadblocks you've encountered

Thanks,

Mr. Olson

West Point Bridge Designer (WPBD) Challenge

This is a department wide challenge available for any Engineering student to participate in. Rather than devoting specific in class time for this event, it's an ongoing game that is an approved activity whenever you've completed your current coursework. Engage with this in place of non-engineering related activities.

The Challenge:
Build the cheapest bridge possible that successfully spans the gap (Your bridge must not only stand under its own weight, it must also support the weight of the test vehicle).

How To Get Started:
Click on the West Point Bridge Designer icon on your desktop to get the software going (If you are unable to find the icon, search for the software the traditional way using start>program files):




Proceed through each setup step to reach the bridge editor:




Build and test your bridge. The key way to reduce cost is by changing your bridge members to the smallest members possible. This is an "iterative" process. Fail early and fail often!

Achievements
You may earn the following Achievements. These are worth extra credit. Justification for each Achievement (screenshots and text explanation) should be compiled into a single post on your blog (remember, you can edit and update blog post to keep it current). You may be required to verify any results so keep copies of your files:

"Build it" (1pt) - Build a functional bridge. Display a screen shot and list the total cost. List one feedback item for each of our four feedback areas for this design (+, change, ?, !).

"My Best Result" (1pt) - Post your best result and your period in the comments section of this post.

"Best in Class" (1pt) - The best score posted in the comments section from each period may earn this Achievement.

"Best Bridge" (1pt) - The best score overall from any course posted in the comments section earns this Achievement.

Period 3 & 5 Final Challenge

Greetings Engineers,

Here is a final engineering design challenge to wrap the year up with a bang!

You have the next two hours to exercise your creative and technical skills on this problem.


Challenge: Many members of the CHS Senior class will be heading off to college in the fall. Once at school, bicycles will be the primary mode of transportation for most. Student housing is often cramped. How can students store their bike inside without impacting their and their roommates living space?





Design a Bicycle storage system that allows a student to keep their bike indoors without taking up major space in their living areas.

Utilize the design process we've learned this year to generate a solution to this problem.


Post the following to your online portfolio (15 points):

-Define the Problem (1pt)
-Brainstorm Solutions (2pts)
-Define Criteria and Constraints (2pts)
-Generate Sketches (2pts)
-Select an Approach: Use a Decision Matrix to justify your approach (2pts)
-Model your solution with CAD software: Post an Isometric view of your assembly and a multiview drawing. (3pts)
-Use the 4 Quadrant Feedback technique to assess your model (3pts)

3rd Period!

Here we are with all of 3rd Period. Today is the last day for our Seniors so it's great to have a photo with the whole class in it.

Congratulations Seniors!

Moons over My Hammy

Steven, George and Trenton took full advantage of the offer to bring food in for a party today.

Here they are cheffing up some great breakfast food! Nice job guys:

Design Thinking

Essential Question
Design Thinking: A tool for life?





What is a Bootleg?

This Stanford D.School Bootcamp Bootleg is an "active" toolkit to support your design thinking practice.


This document is composed of 5 "Modes" and many "Methods". The Modes are general areas a designer opperates in within the design process. The Methods are specific techniques you may employ in support of the purpose of a Mode.


Complete the following tasks:

1) As a team, select one of the 5 design thinking "Modes" to educate the class on. Study up on the Mode. Prepare and present to the class so they understand the process involved with it. The goal is that the class understands how to operate within the mode.

2) Choose a "Method" that would support the Mode you selected. Include this Method as an example of how to operate within the Mode.

3) We've been using our 12 Step Iterative Design Process. How does the Design Thinking process presented in the Bootleg differ from our 12 step process? How is it similar?

Class Assignments: Monday and Block Day

Students,

As mentioned last week, I am attending the University of California Curriculum Integration conference to participate in the design of a possible new UC approved course. So far, things are off to a great start.


The following are tasks for you to complete listed by period:


2nd Period
Please continue your deisgn efforts on the Glider Challenge. You will likely want to start assembling your Glider if you've completed your "Prototype of the Prototype" and other Design Phase requirements. Be sure you photograph your work to make it easier to create your blog write up!

Please click here to see all your Glider Challenge Deliverables.

Elmers glue is available under the projector. The "Glue All" version is more effective than the "School" version. What other glue might you use to assemble your glider? Be resourceful.

Additional tissue paper can be found in the blue IKEA bag.

If you complete the fabrication of your glider as well as your write up, please watch the Making Stuff: Stronger video.

We will "compete" with our Gliders on Thursday when I return. I'm sure you'll have some amazing flights!



3rd Period

Do the Locker Design Activity.

You have Monday and Block Day to complete this design task. If you finish your work, you may watch the Making Stuff: Stronger video.



4th Period
Please continue your efforts with the Machine Control Capstone Project. Once you complete your simple pneumatic machine, you will need to investigate how to use the photoresistor.

Investigate this sensor and also make progress on your overall design.

Be sure to capture images of your efforts (brainstorms, sketches, decision matrix, etc.) to help support your Machine Control Capstone Project Deliverables.

Click through here to find out how you will be graded on this project.



5th Period

Do the Locker Design Activity.

You have Monday and Block Day to complete this design task. If you finish your work, you may watch the Making Stuff: Stronger video.




If any student is roadblocked on their assigned tasks for any reason, please fall back on watching the Making Stuff: Stronger video.

The Deep Dive

***Update!: These three videos are more indepth than the single video previously posted. They will offer more insight on the questions below***
(Thanks Stan for helping me figure that out - extra credit awarded for your dillegence)







In this activity, you will watch a group of professionals work to solve a design problem in just five days.

Copy and paste the following questions into your blog and answer them based on what you learn from watching "The Deep Dive". Use different color text for your answers to distinguish them from the questions:


1. “From the buildings in which we live and work, to the cars we drive, or the knives and forks with which we eat, everything we use was designed to create some sort of marriage between _________________ and _________________.”



2. The folks at IDEO state that they are not experts in any given area. But, they do claim to be experts on the ____________________, which they apply to the innovation of consumer products.



3. After the team of designers is brought together, told the problem, and informed they have five days to “pull it off,” what phase of the design process do they immediately engage in?







4. Give two examples of what the team members did during this phase.

a.


b.





5. List five rules-of-thumb that IDEO employees follow when they share ideas during the brainstorming phase:

a.


b.


c.


d.


e.





6. Why should wild (and sometimes crazy) ideas be entertained during the brainstorming phase?









7. After the brainstorming phase was over, the team narrowed down the hundreds of ideas by _____________ for those ideas that were not only “cool” but also _________________ in a short period of time. What phase of the design process is this called?





8. IDEO believes that the ideas and efforts of a ______________ will always be more successful than the planning of a lone genius.



9. Once the ideas were narrowed down and divided into categories, the group was split into four smaller teams. What phase(s) of the design process was each of these groups responsible for?



10. The leaders at IDEO believe that ________________ behavior and a ______________ environment are two important reasons why their employees are able to think quickly and creatively to produce innovative results.



11. Sometimes, people come up with great solutions that work by trying their ideas first, and asking for _________________ later.



12. Design is often a process of going too far and having to take a few steps back. What phase of the design process would the critique of the four mock-ups come under?





13. Upon critique of the four teams’ models, it was obvious that none of the teams had developed an optimum solution. However, the people at IDEO believe that it is important to _____________ often in order to _____________ sooner.



14. What percentage of the entire week’s time did it take to fabricate the final prototype?





15. Instead of showering his design team with a tremendous amount of praise, what did the boss require his employees to do with their new design?





16. Of all the things that we are surrounded by every day, what has not been placed through the design process?







Conclusion

1. What did you find to be the most impressive part of the team’s effort?









2. What advantages are there to having a design team with members that have non-engineering backgrounds?









3. There was a point in the process where a self-appointed group of adults stepped up, stopped the ideas, and redirected the group to break up into teams. Why was this done?









4. At the end of the video, Dave Kelly states, “Look around. The only things that are not designed are the things we find in nature.” Can you think of anything that would contradict this statement?

The Firing Line

3rd Period ready to fly!:

Support CHS

As I understand it, the better you do on this week's STAR tests, the better off our High School. None of us loves a standardized test, but since we're taking advantage of all that CHS has to offer in these new Engineering Courses, I appreicate you doing the best you can on the tests.

Thank you for making a difference for all of us!

4 Quadrant Feedback

When you test a prototype against a customer, you can use the following format to take notes and organize your observations:



"+" - desirable outcomes
"delta" - outcomes to change
"?" - questions raised
"light bulb" - ideas generated

Mike putting the 4 Quadrant Feedback system to use:

Glider Fabrication

Some of our teams in progress on their glider builds.

Today is Mid-Term Day!!!

We're going to do our first Scantron test today:


Click through here to see the questions!

3rd Period: Claim Your TED Video!

Post a comment below to claim the TED video you want to choose! First come, first served. If someone has already claimed your video, choose another one.


A few things to keep in mind when choosing your video:

-Make sure it's something you're inspired by.

-Make sure there's some connection to our class (see me if you're not sure).

-Make sure you choose a video you think you can convince other people is important (this will help you succeed in PT II of the TED Challenge).

Engineering Class Instructions - March 4th 2011

Lazer eyez!


Mr. Olson had his right eye tuned up via laser yesterday afternoon. He's out today recovering from the proceedure.

Please continue your engineering experiences in class today.


2nd Period:
- Continue work on your Machine Control Capstone Project
- We will conduct a series of In Progress Reviews (IPRs) over the 3 week course of the project. Brainstorm techniques you feel would be beneficial for assessing student participation in this activity. We will discuss your ideas on Monday.

3rd Period:
- Reverse Engineering: Mechanical Product - Visual Analysis should be complete by now.
- Continue efforts on Reverse Engineering: Mechanical Product - Functional Analysis

4th Period:
-Minecraft Challenge!

5th Period:
- Reverse Engineering: Mechanical Product - Visual Analysis should be complete by now.
- Continue efforts on Reverse Engineering: Mechanical Product - Functional Analysis