Have you ever met a child that did not like taking toys and gadgets apart? Probably not, we are all curious beings wondering what’s inside that household gadget or toy that makes it work. November 15th is America Recycles Day, take apart projects and challenges, reverse engineering and tinkering are perfect for introducing students of all ages to recycling, mechanical engineering, making, the repair culture, 21st century skills and more. During my STEM, STEAM and MakerEd professional staff development trainings I introduce teachers to incorporating tinkering, reverse engineering and deconstruction challenges. The teachers truly enjoy analyzing a gadget and then taking it all apart, they all agree that incorporating tinkering and a take-apart center within their K-12 classroom or library makerspace is totally doable with little effort. During the STEM, STEAM and MakerED trainings I have teachers analyze the gadgets thoroughly before deconstructing the gadget. They must also label all the parts, and figure out what the parts do. If they have no clue as to what the parts are and what their functions are, they are encouraged to use books such as How Things Work etc. and then proceed to conducting internet searches. The teachers are asked to affix the components onto poster board, cardboard etc. Each group is asked to share what they learned about the gadget with their peers. An extension to the challenge is to design and create a new gadget using components of the deconstructed gadget and/or make art pieces from the components. Introducing students of all ages to the practice of taking apart a broken or out-dated gadget will help students to understand many aspects of engineering, improving technology, materials science, science and engineering practices and more. Of course what excites teachers is that incorporating reverse engineering, i.e., take apart challenges and centers within the classroom and or library makerspace is relatively cheap or free aside from the initial investment of small hand tools and safety goggles etc. required to take apart object. The following photos were taken during STEM classes I’ve conducted for VPK students as well as teachers undertaking reverse engineering and maker challenges during STEM, STEAM and MakerEd professional staff development trainings I’ve conducted. For more information about America Recycles Day check out the following website https://americarecyclesday.org/ . For more information about the STEM, STEAM, MakerEd and Next Generation Science Standards professional staff development trainings I offer worldwide, year-round check out the description pages found on this website.
Category: MakerEd
Vibrobots and Bristlebots Engineering Design Challenge for STEM and Maker Classrooms
If you are looking for an affordable electrical-based engineering or makespace design challenge, Vibrobots and Bristlebots are the perfect challenge. When I introduce teachers and Media Specialists to the engineering design challenge of designing and building Vibrobots and/or Bristlebots I start off the lesson by having the teachers analyze simple Hexbugs. Hexbugs were invented years ago by Beam Robotics, they are a simple robot that moves about based on a vibrating motor. Hexbug models have become more complex throughout the years, with the later models sensing light, objects, and having the ability to swim in water. Students will choose their own materials to build their Vibrobot or Bristlebot, most materials can be purchased at your local dollar store, as well as using recyclable and re-usable materials. This engineering design challenge can be completed as an individual challenge or in groups of 2. Provide students with basic perimeters and goals to what you expect the Vibrobot or Bristlebot to perform. After students have completed designing, building and testing their models have each student or groups of students provide a demonstration of their model. Students are to discuss how they incorporated the engineering design cycle or design process, and related STEM terms. The following video gives an overview of the Vibrobot Engineering Design Challenge, a challenge that develops and strengthen 21st century skills, and aligns with Next Generation Science Standards. It’s an affordable electrical-based engineering design challenge perfect for the STEM classroom or Makerspace. For more information about the STEM and MakerEd professional staff development Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski conducts worldwide complete the contact information on the contact page. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgonaB2d9co[/embedyt]