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Purpose and Curricular Connections
In this Learning Experience students will learn about ergonomics as they design a chair based on the anthropometric measurements taken of their fellow classmates. They will compile and analyze their statistical data to determine the effects on human comfort and design, and will also create a Web page.
(See Chair Design Instructions)
This Learning Experience is an engineering design activity intended for Principles of Engineering or Drawing & Design for Production students in grades 9 -12. To emphasize the inter- relationship between math, science and technology is the intention of this experience.
Building and testing prototypes will enable the students to optimize their designs given set criteria and constraints. The chair is to support a 200 pound uniformly distributed load (one person).
Corrugated cardboard is the main material used for construction of the chair. The strength of the material and structural design will be another focus of the learning experience.
Students come together in teams with a variety of backgrounds in mathematics and sciences. This diversity can be optimized by utilizing cooperative learning strategies for promoting positive interdependence, and group goals, while tuning into individual accountability, group interaction and team self- assessment.
Students participate in an extended, culminating MST project that requires students to:
- work effectively together
- gather and process information
- generate and analyze ideas
- observe common themes
- realize ideas
- present results
Standards and Performance Indicators
MST Learning Standards (Commencement)
STANDARD I - Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose question, seek answers, and develop solutions.
Scientific Inquiry
2b. conduct research using electronic information retrieval
3a. use various means of representing and organizing observations and insightfully interpret the organized data.
3c. develop a written report for public scrutiny that describes the research carried out.
Engineering Design
1a. initiate and carry out a thorough investigation of an unfamiliar situation.
1c. generate creative solutions, break ideas into significant functional elements, and explore possible refinements; predict possible outcomes using mathematical models, choose the optimal solution to the problem, clearly documenting ideas against design criteria and constraints; and explain how human understands, economics, ergonomics and environmental considerations have influenced the solution.
1d.. develop work schedules and working plans which include optimal use and cost of materials, processes and time; construct a model of the solution.
1e. devise a test of the solution according to the design criteria and perform the test; record and evaluate performance test results through quantitative, graphic and verbal means.
STANDARD II - Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies
Information Systems
1c. access, select, and analyze information obtained from electronic communication networks, including the Internet.
STANDARD III - Students will understand mathematics and become mathematically confident by communicating and reasoning mathematically, by applying mathematics in real-world settings, and by solving problems through the integrated study of number systems, geometry, algebra, data analysis, probability, and trigonometry.
Measurement
5a. derive and apply formulas to find measures such as length, area and angles in real world context.
5b. choose the appropriate tools for measurement.
5d. use statistical methods including measures of central tendency to describe and compare data.
5e. use trigonometry as a method to measure indirectly.
5f. apply proportions to scale drawings, computer-assisted design blueprints in order to compute indirect measurements.
STANDARD IV - Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.
Physical Setting
4a.observe and describe transmission of various forms of energy, i.e.: forces.
STANDARD V - Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.
Engineering Design
1a. initiate and carry out a thorough investigation of an unfamiliar situation.
1b .use a wide range of information resources including, subject experts, magazines, videotapes, and on-line services, and discuss and document through notes and sketches how findings relate to the problem.
1c. generate creative solution ideas, predict outcomes using mathematical and functional models; choose the optimal solution to the problem, clearly documenting ideas against design criteria and constraints.
1d. develop work schedules and plans which include optimal use and cost of materials, processes, time and expertise; construct a model of the solution, incorporating developmental modifications while working to a high degree of quality.
1e. devise a test of the solution, evaluate performance test results through quantitative means
2a. test, use, and describe the attributes of a range of material and information.
2b. select appropriate tools and materials and use them correctly to process materials.
3d. use computer-aided drawing and design (CADD) software to model realistic solutions to design problems
STANDARD VI - Students will understand the relationships and common themes that connect mathematics, science, and technology and apply the themes to these and other areas of learning.
Equilibrium and Stability
4a. describe specific instances of how disturbances might affect a systems equilibrium, from small disturbances that do not upset the equilibrium to larger disturbances (threshold level) that cause the system to become unstable.
STANDARD VII - Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science, and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.
Connections
1c. design solutions to real-world problems with using a technological design process that integrates scientific investigation and rigorous mathematical analysis of the problem and of the solution.
1d. explain and evaluate phenomena mathematically and scientifically
Prior Knowledge
Students will need computer skills to be able to use basic HTML and to design the Web page.
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