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Introduction To Engineering is a curriculum that introduces engineering (creative problem solving) via 10 projects - which take about 40 hours to complete.
The list of projects (see below) cover algorithms, engineering design & construction, water storage, animation, encryption, and roller coasters!
Two of the projects (artificial intelligence and "smart" buildings) take slight detours from engineering - to apply the engineering design process to problems of our existing state ...
It's Elementary (Artificial Intelligence)
This podcast lesson introduces students to Artificial Intelligence by showing how Boolean Algebra (a system of symbolic logic) can be used to represent “rules” in a virtual world (a video game or simulation).
Teams of 3-4 students will then build and present a virtual world by using Boolean Algebra to create a consistent set of “rules” based on propositions (statements that affirm or deny something) and implications (logical judgements based on evidence and prior observation).
The 'virtual world' that I create in the lesson is one where equality is predicated on both opportunity and circumstance.
Imagine that.
Smart Schools (Internet Of Things)
‘Smart’ buildings merge environmentally responsible design with embedded (“hidden”) computing technology (powered by lots of sensors).
This podcast lesson introduces ‘smart’ buildings that rely on ‘The Internet Of Things’ (a massive Web of ‘connected’ personal devices and appliances).
It concludes by asking student teams to ‘unplug’ and use only their “Spidey senses” (an innate ability to sense problems, but an even stronger sense of how to solve them) to apply these ‘smart’ concepts to improving their schools’ culture, climate, and community.
This is some of my best work - because it's not all about engineering with me.
Love,
Daddy
Derrick Brown & KnowledgeBase Present ...
"Introduction To Engineering"
(A STEM STEAM Joint)
(A STEM STEAM Joint)
Support Our Work - Buy This Podcast Series (SEE BELOW)!
(The "Follow The Leader (changED - Volume 2)" Audio and Video Album / Mixtape is also available at TeachersPayTeachers.com)
(The "changED (Volume 1)" Audio and Video Album / Mixtape is also available at TeachersPayTeachers.com)
Audio Download (All 10 MP3s + Project Documents) (226 MB Download)
(The "Follow The Leader (changED - Volume 2)" Audio and Video Album / Mixtape is also available at TeachersPayTeachers.com)
(The "changED (Volume 1)" Audio and Video Album / Mixtape is also available at TeachersPayTeachers.com)
Audio Download (All 10 MP3s + Project Documents) (226 MB Download)
Video Download (All 10 MP4s + Project Documents) (1.5 GB Download)
Project Catalog
Lesson / Project Title
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Video Project Guide
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Lesson / Project Summary
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Lesson / Project Duration
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This lesson introduces Computer Science and algorithms
(“recipes” for completing tasks) by teaching and playing a game that requires
someone to “guess” the number that someone else is thinking. The “guesser” is
allowed to ask a limited number of questions to help them guess correctly. Teams
of 3-4 students will then study and play the game in multiple scenarios. The
teams will then create presentations that teach the game to audiences of
middle and high school students.
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2-3 Hours
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Working in teams of 2-3 students, our group will design and
create bridges using plastic drinking straws and tape.
Their goal is to design and build the strongest bridge that … 1. Uses a truss pattern that they design. 2. Meets the design criteria and constraints. Students can experiment with different geometric shapes to learn how shapes affect the strength of materials. |
3-4 Hours
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Students work in teams of 3-4 to develop the tallest tower they
can build with limited materials (straws, paper clips, and pipe cleaners)
that can support the weight of a golf ball for two minutes.
They develop a design on paper, build their tower, present and test their tower to the class, and document and evaluate their results and those of their teammates. |
3-4 Hours
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Working in teams of 2 students, our group will explore the
engineering design process by designing and creating tables using
construction paper and masking tape.
Their goal is to design and build the strongest table that can support one (and possibly multiple) books. Students will brainstorm, test, evaluate, and redesign their tables to support more weight - and figure out how to keep the table legs from buckling. |
2-3 Hours
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This lesson focuses on understanding water storage - and how
engineering helps communities preserve and supply water to populations.
Teams of 3-4 students then design and build a model water tower using the same materials. The teams will then create presentations that explain how water towers work to audiences of younger students (grades K-2). |
3-4 Hours
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This lesson shows how an object made of connected parts can be
animated by displaying it as a series of graphic images. Students will work
individually (or in teams of 2) to build their animations. This lesson can be
done entirely without a computer by building a traditional “flip book” (using
a PostIt note pad), or entirely on a computer using traditional slide
production software (PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Drive Slides) - or a few
alternative online tools. Or, you can combine these tools for a very rich
experience.
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2-3 Hours
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This lesson introduces students to Artificial Intelligence by
showing how Boolean Algebra (a system of symbolic logic) can be used to
represent “rules” in a virtual world (a video game or simulation). Teams of
3-4 students will then build and present a virtual world by using Boolean
Algebra to create a consistent set of “rules” based on propositions
(statements that affirm or deny something) and implications (logical
judgements based on evidence and prior observation).
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2-3 hours
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This lesson introduces two important Internet Security concepts:
public-key encryption (via applied math) and one-way functions (math
operations that are easy to generate, but hard to “crack” (reverse)). Student
teams will appreciate that any lock can be broken, and that computer
scientists study ‘hard’ problems to lengthen the time it will take to break a
lock.
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2-3 Hours
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‘Smart’ buildings merge environmentally responsible design with
embedded (“hidden”) computing technology (powered by lots of sensors). This
lesson introduces ‘smart’ buildings that rely on ‘The Internet Of Things’ (a
massive Web of ‘connected’ personal devices and appliances). It concludes by
asking student teams to ‘unplug’ and use only their “Spidey senses” (an
innate ability to sense problems, but a stronger sense of how to solve them)
to apply these ‘smart’ concepts to improving their schools’ culture, climate,
and community.
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2-3 Hours
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Teams of 2-10 students learn about energy and energy
transformation, then design and build a roller coaster model either using a
purchased roller coaster model kit, or an equivalent-price “do-it-yourself”
roller coaster model built from pipe insulation, toothpicks, masking tape and
marbles.
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4-6 Hours (NOTE: This Project May Require 2 Camp Days To
Complete!)
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About Derrick Brown (Standup Storyteller)
I am Keisha's husband, and Hannah's father.
I am a “standup storyteller.”
I fuse rap, spoken word (poetry), oration (traditional public speaking), singing, and teaching into messages of hope, healing, and change that I write, direct, and produce to help people who help people.
Everything must change - and stay changED.
Tradition begins and ends with change.
Change begins with me and the renewing of my mind ... then continues through efforts to effect small-group discipleship (equipping others to equip others) with audiences that respect and embrace mentoring, mediation, and problem solving as tools of change.
I am the product of my mentoring relationships, peacemaking (and peacekeeping), and problem-solving ability.
My education began when I finished school.
After school, I enrolled in a lifelong curriculum that includes classes in ministry, entrepreneurship, stewardship, literacy, numeracy, language, self-identity, self-expression, and analysis / synthesis.
My projects execute a ministry that has evolved from wisdom earned through lessons learned.
I want to share this wisdom to build teams of "triple threat" fellows - mentors, mediators, and problem solvers.
We will collaborate in simple, powerful ways that allow us to help people who help people.
I now know that power is work done efficiently (with wise and skillful use of resources, interests, communication, and expertise).
I am a “standup storyteller.”
I fuse rap, spoken word (poetry), oration (traditional public speaking), singing, and teaching into messages of hope, healing, and change that I write, direct, and produce to help people who help people.
Everything must change - and stay changED.
Tradition begins and ends with change.
Change begins with me and the renewing of my mind ... then continues through efforts to effect small-group discipleship (equipping others to equip others) with audiences that respect and embrace mentoring, mediation, and problem solving as tools of change.
I am the product of my mentoring relationships, peacemaking (and peacekeeping), and problem-solving ability.
My education began when I finished school.
After school, I enrolled in a lifelong curriculum that includes classes in ministry, entrepreneurship, stewardship, literacy, numeracy, language, self-identity, self-expression, and analysis / synthesis.
My projects execute a ministry that has evolved from wisdom earned through lessons learned.
I want to share this wisdom to build teams of "triple threat" fellows - mentors, mediators, and problem solvers.
We will collaborate in simple, powerful ways that allow us to help people who help people.
I now know that power is work done efficiently (with wise and skillful use of resources, interests, communication, and expertise).
Copyright © 2019 Derrick Brown. All Rights Reserved.
