Partner Resource Zooming In and Out with Scale and Systems Thinking PostedOctober 20, 2018 Posted byTeach Engineering Team https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/uof-2245-zooming-scale-systems-... Student teams act as engineers and learn about systems thinking and scale by reassembling the separated pages of the engaging picture book, “Zoom,” by Istvan Banyai. The book is a series of 31 wordless pictures that start very close-up and then zoom out—from a rooster’s comb to outer space. Like a movie camera, each subsequent page pulls back to reveal the context of the previous scene as something different than what you originally thought. When the 31 un-numbered pages are jumbled, it is a surprising challenge for teams to figure out how the pictures connect. The task prompts students to pause and look closer so as to adjust to new points of view and problem solve to find a logical sequence. It requires them to step back and take a broader view. Students learn that engineers work together as teams and look at things very closely so that they see different things and come up with more than one solution when problem solving. To conclude, students go outside and practice their ... Read More Q&A0
Partner Resource Zero-Energy Housing PostedJuly 12, 2019 Posted byTeach Engineering Team https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_housing_lesson05_activity1 Students investigate passive solar building design with a focus solely on heating. They learn how insulation, window placement, thermal mass, surface colors, and site orientation play important roles in passive solar heating. They use this information to design and build their own model houses, and test them for thermal gains and losses during a simulated day and night. Teams compare designs and make suggestions for improvements. Read More Q&A0
Partner Resource You've Got to See It to Believe It! PostedMarch 20, 2017 UpdatedJune 26, 2017 Posted byTeach Engineering Team https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/cub_air_lesson02 Students develop an understanding of visible air pollutants with an incomplete combustion demonstration, a "smog in a jar" demonstration, building simple particulate matter collectors, and exploration of engineering roles related to air pollution. In an associated literacy activity, students learn basic marketing concepts and techniques, and the principles of comparative analysis, while creating an advertisement for a hybrid vehicle. Note: You may want to set up the activities for Air Pollution unit, Lessons 2 and 3, simultaneously as they require extended data collection time and can share test sites. Read More Q&A0