This project introduces EtF students to the field of engineering, the engineering design process, and careers in engineering and technology. Students view a video of an engineering design team in action, then individually do a quick design and mock-up of a cell phone, iPod or PDA holder.
Next students work in teams to conduct marketing surveys, finding out what kinds of organizers a target audience would like to purchase. Student teams design, draw, and construct scale models or mock-ups of their organizer concepts, then consider redesign of their organizers for manufacturing.  Finally, they build a prototype for testing with the intended audience, and communicate results.

As an OTPD participant you will experience the project in condensed form by viewing selected classroom materials and rubrics, short videos of student activities, photos of sample student artifacts, and notes and feedback from Field Test teachers.

Develop a plan for forming EtF teams in your classroom and upload a scaled diagram of your proposed classroom physical space arrangement. Discuss posted team formation plans in the discussion forum. Design and make a cell phone holder mock-up and upload a photo of your work to the discussion board. Post questions and responses related to EtF classroom safety or content concepts.

In this project EtF students view a demo of a patented toy "putt-putt boat" that is powered by a simple heat engine. Their challenge is to apply fundamental concepts of fluid and thermal power to fabricate a working boat, discover how it operates, and gain insights for design improvements. Student teams work together through a sequence of research and development. Project tasks encompass press-form and brake-press manufacturing, fluid behavior, hydraulics, pneumatics, propulsion, engine cycles, and resistance in pipes. As students build knowledge of the science and technology of putt-putt boat operation, they take on the role of working engineers iteratively redesigning and testing. Ultimately they make choices based on their goals and findings and produce a prototype and a patent application through which they communicate their design improvement ideas.

OTPD participants view the patented Putt-Putt boat demo as a video clip, then answer the question “How does the boat work?”

Plan ahead: Obtain and empty a 1/2-gallon milk or juice carton, and gather two flex-bend drink straws, an empty soda can and some epoxy glue in order to make your own Putt-Putt boat. This will afford you the best appreciation for the time, materials, science content, quality control, teaming, and safety issues that your EtF students will experience.

Participants in the OTPD learning community share ideas about boat operation and managing the boat-building process by posting to the Discussion Board.

PROJECT 4: POWER TO INNOVATE (Week 3 continued)

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Syllabus Item Materials Completion Tracking INTRO TO ETF: TEACHING MODEL (Week 1) The Engineering Design Process is a cycle that enables multi-disciplinary teams to accomplish projects within time and materials constraints. Benefits of Project Based Learning (PBL), which involves students in inquiry, discovery and hands-on learning, include enthusiasm and relevance. Considerations such as team formation, time management, safety, and assessment differ for PBL versus lecture. Self-assessment survey - Self-assess your PD expectations, strengths and needs for this course. (63 views) Intro to EtF - View a .pdf file of 2008 EtF Intro (for .ppt file to Resources page) (220 views) EtF Teachers Guide Intro 07-08 - Read this intro to the 2007-08 EtF Teachers Guide (110 views) Project Based Learning - Review this introduction to Project Based Learning by the Buck Institute for Education (69 views) ASSIGNMENT 1a - Upload a one paragraph proposal for how you would organize students into an EtF project team. (89 views) Discuss - Intro thoughts and questions - Visit the Discussion Board to discuss any starting questions or share ideas! ASSIGNMENT 1b - For the team formed by your chosen method in 1a, list a set of team member roles. (67 views) Quiz - Getting started (Take Quiz) PROJECT 1: DESIGN THE WORLD’S BEST ORGANIZER (Week 1 continued) This project introduces EtF students to the field of engineering, the engineering design process, and careers in engineering and technology. Students view a video of an engineering design team in action, then individually do a quick design and mock-up of a cell phone, iPod or PDA holder. Next students work in teams to conduct marketing surveys, finding out what kinds of organizers a target audience would like to purchase. Student teams design, draw, and construct scale models or mock-ups of their organizer concepts, then consider redesign of their organizers for manufacturing.  Finally, they build a prototype for testing with the intended audience, and communicate results. As an OTPD participant you will experience the project in condensed form by viewing selected classroom materials and rubrics, short videos of student activities, photos of sample student artifacts, and notes and feedback from Field Test teachers. Develop a plan for forming EtF teams in your classroom and upload a scaled diagram of your proposed classroom physical space arrangement. Discuss posted team formation plans in the discussion forum. Design and make a cell phone holder mock-up and upload a photo of your work to the discussion board. Post questions and responses related to EtF classroom safety or content concepts. MA DoE Engineering Design Process - Review the cycle that guides engineering projects (117 views) EtF EDP icons for your classroom - Printable PDF file, 9 pages, 1.7MB (64 views) Proj 1 Overview - View the Summer Institute PowerPoint and the video overview for Project 1. (136 views) Proj 1 schedule - View the Gantt chart for Project 1, the organizer design project. (72 views) Proj 1 orientation surveys - Review Proj 1 student pre-/post-learning questions (119 views) Project 1 Notes from the Field - Review posts to the Discussion Board from last year's Field Test teachers (Look at the Category column on the right of the DB page for Project 1 posts or use the search by category function). Nightline video "Deep Dive" at IDEO - Only an introductory clip is available online. We highly recommend you show students the full video to set the tone for innovation and teamwork in your classroom. (86 views) Make a cell phone holder.mov - View the video clip, then make a sketch model. (108 views) ASSIGNMENT 2 - Upload to the Discussion Board a drawing, photo, or description of your cell phone holder mock-up, with an explanation of its features (65 views) Sample EtF curriculum materials - View/download Project 1 Engineer's Notebook, student textbook chapters, and Teachers Guide (183 views) ASSIGNMENT 3 - Post to the Discussion Board a proposed list of criteria and constraints for an organizer project in your classroom. (68 views) Samples of EtF student work - View photos and a PowerPoint presentation of student work for Project 1, and listen to a podcast by EtF teachers (66 views) Sample Rubric - Proj 1 - Review the sample rubric for Project 1 (62 views) EtF materials and supplies lists - Check the 2007-08 materials and supplies lists. E-mail any questions about EtF materials to Lee. (85 views) Classroom management: safety issues - Review classroom safety issues for Project 1 (41 views) Background content - Proj 1 - Review orthographic and isometric drawing, CAD, density, mfg processes, and cost of goods (89 views) ASSIGNMENT 4 - Click to view the EtF Quick Tip video on "Scale" and post your answer to the question on the Assignment #4 Discussion Board thread (109 views) ASSIGNMENT 5 - Self-check: Take Proj 1 oTPD Quiz (39 views) Proj 1 Quiz (Take Quiz) PROJECT 2: DESIGN A BUILDING OF THE FUTURE (Week 2) This project introduces EtF students to the problems of today’s sprawling urban centers. Students work with estimating area and scale, doing simple calculations of loads experienced by structures, testing and choosing appropriate materials for construction, and describing failure of structures with an analysis of materials and forces. EtF students are also introduced to the concept of energy transfer and simple design considerations for energy efficiency. In the culminating activity the students present a model and a plan for a multi-use building. View the Project 2 materials: selected pages from the EtF Teachers Guide, Engineer’s Notebook, and Text. Examine the rubrics, short videos of student activities, photos of sample student artifacts, and feedback from Field Test teachers. Consider how your teaming plan for Project 2 might differ from that for Project 1.  Determine practical time, materials and supplies constraints for Project 2 based on your learning goals and resources. Use the discussion forum to brainstorm plans you could employ for student presentations.   Proj 2 Overview - View the Summer 2006 workshop presentation (67 views) Proj 2 schedule - View the project Gantt chart for Project 2, design a building of the future. (48 views) Proj 2 employee surveys - Review 2006 Beta Test pre-/post-learning questions and answer key (88 views) Samples of EtF student work - View photos of work students have done for Project 2 (62 views) Make and test concrete samples - Use failure analysis as a learning tool (58 views) Project 2 Notes from the field - Review posts to the Discussion Board by Field Test teachers and workshop participants (Click the link, use the DB Category Search function, or look in the DB Category column for Project 2 posts). Sample EtF curriculum materials - View the Project 2 Engineer's Notebook and Teachers Guide (126 views) Sample Rubric - Proj 2 - Review the sample rubric for Project 2 (40 views) Classroom management: materials and supplies - Check the spreadsheet listing of materials and supplies for Project 2 and ask questions (33 views) ASSIGNMENT 6 - Upload practical time, materials and/or supplies constraints you would set for the Proj 2 task most challenging to your resources (52 views) Background content - Proj 2 - Review dimensional analysis, live and dead load, and forces impacting structures (64 views) ASSIGNMENT 7 - Research and post 2 resources/links depicting structural failure (44 views) Classroom management: safety issues - Consider classroom safety issues for Project 2 (21 views) EtF Course-wide energy model intro - View and read overviews of the EtF Energy Model applicable to projects 2, 3, and 4. (46 views) EtF Thermal Energy Model - View and read how EtF models energy flow in thermal systems. (43 views) ASSIGNMENT 8 - Describe a thermal energy difference of choice and post to DB thread. (55 views) ASSIGNMENT 9 - Post an alternative Task 2.9 challenge you might employ to enhance project relevance for your students. (42 views) ASSIGNMENT 10 - Self-check: Take Proj 2 OTPD Quiz (23 views) Proj 2 Quiz (Take Quiz) PROJECT 3: IMPROVE A PATENTED BOAT DESIGN (Week 2 continued) In this project EtF students view a demo of a patented toy "putt-putt boat" that is powered by a simple heat engine. Their challenge is to apply fundamental concepts of fluid and thermal power to fabricate a working boat, discover how it operates, and gain insights for design improvements. Student teams work together through a sequence of research and development. Project tasks encompass press-form and brake-press manufacturing, fluid behavior, hydraulics, pneumatics, propulsion, engine cycles, and resistance in pipes. As students build knowledge of the science and technology of putt-putt boat operation, they take on the role of working engineers iteratively redesigning and testing. Ultimately they make choices based on their goals and findings and produce a prototype and a patent application through which they communicate their design improvement ideas. OTPD participants view the patented Putt-Putt boat demo as a video clip, then answer the question “How does the boat work?” Plan ahead: Obtain and empty a 1/2-gallon milk or juice carton, and gather two flex-bend drink straws, an empty soda can and some epoxy glue in order to make your own Putt-Putt boat. This will afford you the best appreciation for the time, materials, science content, quality control, teaming, and safety issues that your EtF students will experience. Participants in the OTPD learning community share ideas about boat operation and managing the boat-building process by posting to the Discussion Board. Putt-Putt boat demo.mov - View the demo clip (78 views) How does the putt-putt boat work? - Write down your own answer and save (56 views) ASSIGNMENT 11 - Post a question and follow-up experiment to test how the boat works. (55 views) Proj 3 schedule - View the 2007-08 Gantt chart suggested schedule for Project 3. (31 views) Proj 3 employee survey - Review 2006-2007 pre- and post-learning questions, with answer key (53 views) View samples of Putt-Putt boat redesigns - Check out the putt putt boats, press-formed hull designs, and student presentations at Duxbury and Foxboro High Schools. (29 views) EtF Fluids Energy Model - Read this short paper that addresses how the energy model applies to fluid systems, particularly the putt putt boat (30 views) Putt Putt Hull .mp3 podcast - Listen to a podcast about making the wooden die for putt putt boat hulls. It's from Chris Connors at Duxbury High School. (56 views) Movie Time: Pressing a Boat Hull - Hydraulic pressing with a two-part die (46 views) Project 3 notes from the field - Review Proj 3 posts to the Discussion Board from Field Test teachers and workshop participants. Sample EtF curriculum materials - View the 2007-08 version of the Engineer's Notebook and 2006-07Teachers Guide plus the 2006 Summer Workshop PowerPoint (96 views) Sample Rubrics - Proj 3 - Review the sample rubric for the Project 3 putt putt boat redesign and pattent application/final report (34 views) ASSIGNMENT 12 - Post your thoughts on the pre-, mid- and post-learning rubric for scoring student answers to "How the boat works" (30 views) Classroom management: materials and supplies - Check the spreadsheet listing of materials and supplies for Project 3 and ask questions (20 views) ASSIGNMENT 13 - View video clips for hull and boiler making. Make and test a boat. Upload a photo or report of your boat to the Discussion Board Project 3 thread (86 views) Classroom management: safety issues - Review classroom safety issues for Project 3 (21 views) ASSIGNMENT 14 - Post ideas to the Classroom Safety brainstorming thread for handling fire, water, cutters, and/or adhesives in your EtF class (25 views) Proj 3 Quiz (Take Quiz) PROJECT 3 - continued (Week 3) Background content - Proj 3 - Differences driving change, patents, press- and brake-formed manufacturing, hydraulics, heat engines, Putt-Putt articles (53 views) ASSIGNMENT 15 - Contribute questions or answers to any of the discussion threads about the EtF Energy Model or Proj 3 Background content (20 views) ASSIGNMENT 16 - Self-check: Take Proj 3 oTPD Quiz (16 views) Proj 3 Quiz (Take Quiz) PROJECT 4: POWER TO INNOVATE (Week 3 continued) Most people have a poor understanding of electricity, even after studying it. Yet we all use electricity, and will likely use more in the coming years. EtF students first get a qualitative understanding of circuits using Snap Circuits to build, operate and test specified circuits. They can configure and reconfigure various circuits quickly since Snap Circuits components are mounted on plastic bases with metal snaps that link them together. Students sequentially arrive at a model of current flowing through an electrical circuit. They build simple series and parallel circuits and use a multimeter to discover the basics of charge flow. Students practice quantifying circuit parameters with Ohm’s law and learn about the function of solar cells, other power generators, and combining circuits into communication systems. OTPD students review project materials and student work via video clips, photos, PowerPoints, readings, a podcast, interactive flash module, and color code worksheets. The  Discussion Board provides an archive of professional practice on EtF classroom management and background content issues for Project 4.   Snap Circuit Communication Systems - Snap Circuits are fun, easy, quick, and eliminate obstacles to learning such as breadboarding and soldering (51 views) Communication circuits - View diagrams of the communication circuits you can build using the teacher and student Snap Circuits kits. These diagrams can also be used to see HOW to build the circuits. (47 views) Classroom management: materials and supplies - Check the list of materials and supplies for Project 4 and ask questions (47 views) Proj 4 schedule - View the project Gantt chart for Project 4, designing electrical circuits. (35 views) Proj 4 Overview - View the Summer Institute PowerPoint for Proj 4 (48 views) Proj 4 Pre and Post-Learning Surveys - Review student pre-/post-learning questions on electricity and communications (57 views) EtF Electrical Energy Model - Read this short paper describing the energy model for electrical systems. (45 views) Samples of EtF student work - View photos and listen to a podcast (32 views) Project 4 Notes from the Field - Read posts to the bulletin board from Field Test teachers and workshop participants. ASSIGNMENT 17 - Upload classroom rules you might propose to manage parts for snap circuit kits (35 views) Sample EtF curriculum materials - View the latest revision of the Engineer's Notebook and last year's Teachers Guide for Project 4 (86 views) Background content: EtF's Flash Module & Quick Tips - Review circuit basics, hula hoop analogy, and multimeter. (54 views) Color coding circuits worksheets - Color code circuit schematics for voltage differences (55 views) Sample Rubric - Proj 4 - Review one sample rubric for Project 4 (32 views) ASSIGNMENT 18 - Post a one-paragraph proposal providing a strategy for using electrical power concepts with students. (39 views) ASSIGNMENT 19 - Complete the sample circuits color coding worksheet.doc (73 views) ASSIGNMENT 20 - Self-check: Take Proj 4 oTPD Quiz (19 views) Proj 4 Quiz (Take Quiz) FEEDBACK/COURSE EVALUATION Discuss this assignment - Need help? What to share your ideas? Discuss this assignment. ASSIGNMENT 21 - - Feedback/evaluation Survey: Please give us feedback on your EtF oTPD experience (38 views) (Mark Complete)

Most people have a poor understanding of electricity, even after studying it. Yet we all use electricity, and will likely use more in the coming years. EtF students first get a qualitative understanding of circuits using Snap Circuits to build, operate and test specified circuits. They can configure and reconfigure various circuits quickly since Snap Circuits components are mounted on plastic bases with metal snaps that link them together.
Students sequentially arrive at a model of current flowing through an electrical circuit. They build simple series and parallel circuits and use a multimeter to discover the basics of charge flow. Students practice quantifying circuit parameters with Ohm’s law and learn about the function of solar cells, other power generators, and combining circuits into communication systems.

OTPD students review project materials and student work via video clips, photos, PowerPoints, readings, a podcast, interactive flash module, and color code worksheets. The  Discussion Board provides an archive of professional practice on EtF classroom management and background content issues for Project 4.