BELOW YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE TECH ED PROJECTS THAT 8TH GRADE STUDENTS ARE WORKING ON THIS YEAR. CLICK THE BLACK BOX WITH THE ARROW NEAR EACH PROJECT TO SEE A RUBRIC OR SAMPLE FOR THAT PROJECT.
8TH GRADE
PAST PROJECTS
FIRST QUARTER
FIRST QUARTER
DOSSIERS
At the begining of of the semester students were asked to share some information about themseleves. This information was then formatted into a dossier (a file of information) about the student that could be accessed at a glance. Inside this dossier, student turn in any physical work that they create throughout the year, such as sketches, worksheets, and print out images.
EMBLEM DESIGN
After students were organized into groups, they were asked to name thier group. From whatever name they came up with, groups made a list of imagry associated with the name. Each student then sketched 3 different concepts for what an emblem (or logo) might look like. These sketches were then refined and elaborated on using the creative copyright website thenounproject.com (a search engine for symbols) and a 2D design program called pixlr.com (basically a free online version of photoshop).
TOOL IDENTIFICATION & USE
Through discussion, direct observation and sketching, students learned the names and uses for 50 different Hand tools used for manipulating wood, metal, and other materials. They then used an online website called quizlet.com to study and test thier knowledge of the tools. Click the black box with the arrow in it to see a randomly generated sample of the test.
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SECOND QUARTER
3D MODELING REVIEW
3D modeling is fast becoming a highly in demand job skill in many industries. 3D models can be printed on a 3D printer, used in virtual renderings for architecture or product design and make up the vast expanses of many video games. It is even become a great tool for traditional fields like woodworking. 8th grade students had used the 3D Modeling program Autodesk Inventor last year, so we reviewed some of the functions of the program and then students had the opportunity to do an exercise to help brush away the cobwebs of the summer. Each student looked at an image of a DROID (specifically an R4 unit from the movie STAR WARS) and attempted to rebuild it. Projects were graded on effort and if each part of the model had been demensioned (an essential step in making acurate 3D models). Click the black box with the arrow in it to watch a short video that demonstaites the demensioning of a 3D model.
REDESIGN OF SHOP
ENTERENCE & HALLWAY
Most people probably don't realize this, but the Tech Ed room actually consists of 3 parts. The first part is the main classroom where most of the computer work is done. Next, their is the Tech Ed office located in back of the main classroom. Finally, their is the woodshop that lives back behind the office. The woodshop is accessable by a seperate door and hallway that leads to the space. Unfortantly, this hallway mostly sits unused and has filled up with clutter - a real waste of a perfectly usable space. So I challenged the 8th graders to work in teams of two or three to reimagine this space. As the project proceeded, we talked about the different stages of the design process, identifying your users and thier needs, establishing a mood, how to create renderings of a space and what a design presentation board should look like. During the third quarter, teams will be presenting thier work to a panel of industry professionals to gain experience pitching and justifying thier ideas. Click the black box with the arrow in it to see the criteria that the presentations will be graded on.
THIRD QUARTER
PROGRAMING -
THE BLUE RECTANGLE SKETCH
While learning the basics of programing, students show their understanding of concepts such as variables, functions, loops, and constraints by creating a program or "sketch" that animates a square.
First students must draw the square and make it move from the top left hand corner of the screen or "canvas" to the bottom right hand corner, getting it to stop when it arrives. Then they need to change the color of the background from red to blue and the color of the square from blue to red at the same rate.
This simple action demonstrates all the basic knowledge required to create a much more complex animation such as a sunset or a car racing down a race track. Each line of code in a students sketch must also be "commented" (have notes on what it does) to prove that they understand how that element of the sketch is working.
PROGRAMING -
THE CODED ENVIRONMENT SKETCH
This project demonstraits student's ability to effectivly adapt and use the coding concepts that they have learned so far. This ability to adapt skills to different scenerios is extreemly important. The project also challenges students to learn new skills independently from the processing website. They can do so by watching interactive video tutorials, looking at samples of example code, and by reading the reference section which explains what each command makes the computer do.
During the project students will create an environment (a place) that includes things that change color and move as well as a new concept that they must choose and learn independently. This new skill will eventually be taught back to the rest of the class.
Just like in the first introductory sketch, each line of the program must have a comment (note) that explains what that line of code does, proving an understanding of the code that is being written.
CURRENT / FUTURE PROJECTS
MORE COMING SOON!
FOURTH QUARTER
WATER BOTTLE ROCKETS
For their final project of the year, 8th grade students are working in teams to design, construct and test rocket designs. The goal is to keep the rockets in the air as long as possible. The rockets will be powered by a combination of water and air preasure, flying up to 300 feet in the air. Groups are responsible for figuring out how the design of fins, a nose cone, a parachute, a parchute release mechanism and of course the rocket itself.
This project covers important skills including research, aerodynamics, (thrust, propulsion, drag, lift, wind resistance), air preasure, material adhision methods, problem solving, team work, iteration and of course the engineering design process.
Click on the first black box with the arrow to see the document that students are working on, and click on the second box with the arrow to see videos that detail techniques for rocket construction.