The team has finished! In this video they show off their cable car along with the extra activity walls needed to check off their requirements (which are different than yours). Their project also easily comes apart so it can travel and makes its way to you guys!
The team says their final good-byes and recaps on what worked well in their project. The guys said teamwork is what really made their project run smoothly so make sure to watch the teamwork video if you have not done so already. We cannot wait to show you their finished project during the Middle School Challenge!
The engineering team introduces some videos that may be useful to your cable car project. The videos shows the assembly and disassembly of ski lifts, which are very much like cable cars but not identical. What are the differences you see? How can this be applied to your project? Let us know in the comments section below!
This week Alex talks to us about the engineering code of ethics. Webster’s Dictionary defines ethics as: “rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad”. This can play a role when you engineer a product that is for the masses, such as your cable car. These practices are good to keep in mind when you incorporate safety into your cable car. Take a listen to the engineering code of ethics!
Previously on the blog we showed you how to build a biodegradable battery from washers, pennies, and vinegar. A SMILE Club from Forest Grove High School shared with us the many different objects they used to try to create a battery. Success came when the club used a strawberry as their energy source, but what characteristics of strawberry make it a good battery? We think this video does a great job of explaining the science behind this concept:
Hopefully after watching this video you have a better understanding of anodes and cathodes. What else could be used in place of the strawberry or lemon? Scientist Angela Belcher is working on making batteries from viruses so that batteries can be biodegradable. In this article she expands on her research. What do you think will make a good battery?
This February was the SMILE program’s 11th annual Ocean Sciences High School Challenge event. This years event provided 120 students from 10 statewide SMILE clubs with a real world opportunity apply what they learned in their Clubs about the topic of Marine Resource Management. More than 15 Oregon State University and community partners and 20 undergraduate mentors guided students as they learned about Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) and then used their knowledge to increase community awareness of MPA’s through the creation of interpretive signs, a newscast, and a final presentation.
As part of the challenge, students worked with OSU’s Student Media Services to create newscasts about Marine Protected Areas. Here are a few examples:
The students had only two hours to work with their teams and create their final products and what they were able to come up with was impressive! We are happy to share some examples of student ingenuity!
During our SMILE Winter Teacher’s Workshop 2014, teachers learned about the WeDo Robotics software and how to create their own LEGO® Robotics! Teachers used engineering and creativity to build working, moving machines. Here is a list of some of the LEGO® robots resources that were shared by Catherine Law during this session:
The SMILE club at Forest Grove High School was nice enough to share with us their pictures of them planting their poplar samplings. We encourage you to start planting soon and we look forward to exchanging data in the future. Remember earlier in the term we shared with you a lesson plan as well as a video to help your students learn about bioenergy. Happy planting!
The mechanical engineering team wants to help you with some of your cable car requirements. First, you must have requirements that are testable. You also need to find the best test for the requirements you want to meet. The guys show you how their cable car testing was done and signed off by their professor. Just a reminder your cable car must: cross the 5-foot span of string without falling off, balance on the span without any assistance, have no more than two strings may be used for the cable car, have no human assistance can be used during the operation of the cable car, be able to move in both directions, be reliable and safe, and travel quickly. Good luck!
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