Quick Post: Bed Frame Idea for IED

As a general idea for the Project Lead the Way, Intro to Engineering and Design class, students could utilize the design process for creating a collapsible bed frame using design requirements specified by the teacher.

Simple Machines Project Idea

After reconsidering a change for the current simple machines project in place for Principles of Engineering, I stumbled across a website Automata by Stuart Chalmers. After viewing the site, I felt that the mechanisms shown could potentially be worked into a pre-engineering curriculum in the simple machines/gears and pulleys unit. Instead of spending time creating an SMET (Simple Machines Energy Transfer device (a.k.a. Rube Goldberg), the students could design a mechanism using the six simple machines to create a moving mechanism designed for a specific task.

Home Repair

This past week I worked on repairs to my newly acquired home. During the repair process I came across a few structural issues and uncommon problems that needed to be addressed. As I thought about solutions to the problems I also thought about ways to incorporate them into daily lessons and/or projects for my technology students. The first problem occurred when I was doing the planning for installation of a new basement window. The original window was rotted and a new header was required, also the new window was smaller in height my 2 inches. It was my goal to replace the window, header, scrape away any rotted wood, insulate, and seal using waterproof materials. If I were to give this project to my students I would provide them similar dimensions, visible issues, tools available for use, and a monetary budget. The students would have to research building materials, develop a systematic approach that would solve the problem quickly, efficiently, and under budget.