Forensic Fury
The unit has been designed with an emphasis on laboratory activities. There is a series of short lectures followed by the labs
Suggested lecture notes are included for teacher use. These notes should be adapted for the grade and ability level of the students. The lessons could be easily adapted to a block schedule. In addition, the lessons could be adapted for higher level classes by presenting more in-depth lectures and including additional unknown samples for the lab exercises.
"Crime Scene" scenarios have been provided for each activity. These appear in the anticipatory set of each section's lesson plan. The "crimes" all take place in school settings. Teachers who feel these scenarios might inspire mischief on the part of their students should, of course, modify the "crimes" accordingly. Different scenarios could also be used to match the dynamics of a particular class.
There are several possible uses for this lesson including, but not limited to:
· an introduction to the scientific method, the microscope, laboratory procedures, and maintaining laboratory notes.
· an introduction to genetics and DNA.
· an application of DNA technology
Aerocar
In this project you need to think like an experimental designer, which means making your ideas, testing them and then modifying them until you have your best solution. There are no guarantees in experimental design – in this project the process is as important as the final product.
You will learn about:
- The nature of design as an experimental activity.
- The value of experimental design in the development of technologies.
- The concept of ground effect
You will learn to:
- Design and make a propeller powered car intended to gain flight.
- Modify your design for optimal performance
- Evaluate effectiveness of dynamic systems using propellers.
- Observe physical behaviour of the moving car and its motion.
- Measure and record behaviours of their vehicle for evaluation purposes.
Your submission will be a project folio. Include in the folio:
- Responses to text questions and research tasks
- Record of observations from testing
- Explanation of making process and
- Detail of your variations
- Evaluation
Helicar
Project overview
You will learn about:
- The nature of design as an experimental activity.
- How propellers work.
- Applications of propeller technology.
- Physics concepts of velocity, acceleration, drag, friction, terminal velocity, net force.
- Representing change over time graphically.
- Aerodynamics
- The forces involved in making a car move and other engineering concepts
- How the car was developed
You will learn to:
- Design and make a propeller powered car.
- Observe physical behaviour of the moving car and its motion.
- Recording data on the speed of the car
- Plot graphs regarding the motion of their Helicar
- Evaluate your design and make modifications to optimise vehicle behaviour
In this project you need to think like an experimental designer, which means making your ideas, testing them and then modifying them until you have your best solution. There are no guarantees in experimental design – in this project the process is as important as the final product.
STEM MAD
This module is designed to acknowledge and promote STEM learning initiatives that address real-world problems; encouraging students to make a difference (MAD) in the world by acting for justice and the common good.
Crane it
In this module you will be introduced to the concept of pressure, specifically hydraulic pressure. You will look at fluid power and Pascal's principle. From this you will construct a hydraulic arm that uses the principles learnt to undertake a series of experiments to identify advantages and limitations of the machine. Then put this into practice through the construction of a hydraulic arm of your own design to complete a final challenge.
Apollo Cup
In this course, you and your group will perform in the Apollo Cup 2K23, a constructed solar car racing car competition. In this module, you will undertake the construction of the solar car, and undertake races against peers.
Arduino and You
Welcome to the Arduino Workshop, where you'll be able to follow our guided course which covers everything you'll need to know in order to create your own Arduino projects and become a leveled up maker. Along with the course videos themselves, you can find all of the related course material such as code examples, circuit diagrams, images, and other resources.
We'll be working with Arduino so you'll need an Arduino board to follow this course. We'll be introducing many different concepts including working with various types of hardware such as sensors, displays, and general electronics components. This module has direct links with Stage 6 Software and Design.
Assessment: This module will require you to complete a series of projects that will be uploaded to a portfolio and complete a project that utilises an Arduino at the control module.
Prerequisite: The is no prerequisite for this module. However, an understanding of basic electronics or completion of the electronics module would be of benefit.
Biomedical Innovations Vol 1: Designer Medications
Biomedical engineers use experiments to discover how various chemical substances react in the human body, for example, the absorption of medication and how the body breaks down the outer coatings of pills and capsules. To test new medicines, scientists use solutions with chemical compositions similar to the environments found in the human body to model various body reactions. Engineers also create all sorts of devices and tools used in experiments, and creative medicine delivery materials and equipment, including syringes and patches, and even the factories for making different types of pills and bottling liquids.
Biomedical Innovations Vol 2: Bionic Eye
Biomedical engineers tackle some of the most difficult challenges, such as correcting and rebuilding non-functioning body parts. The biomedical devices that engineers create directly impact and help people. This includes prescription glasses and contact lenses, the equipment and tools to test your vision, as well as the microkeratome and excimer lasers used in LASIK eye surgery. Because of these modern engineering marvels, people who previously could not see clearly are now able to see perfectly. And, with some innovative engineering devices, people who could not see at all are able to see shapes and images.
Biomedical Innovations Vol 3: Lend me a hand
You have been hired by a research and development group that is investigating new technology related to incorporating human characteristics into machines. The group is currently focusing on wearable sensors that can control robotic components.
Your mission:
Study the anatomy and biomechanics of the human hand and build a robotic hand that can be controlled by a sensor-equipped glove. Your contribution has the potential to positively impact today's society and the lives of future generations.
Biomedical Innovations Vol 4: Rack your Brain
As a biomedical engineer, you have been invited to participate in an important brain injury prevention program. Current research reveals new insight on how head collisions impact the brain and its functions. Many of these collisions happen during sports-related activities. As a result, athletic organizations, and equipment companies are interested in better protecting athletes. These organizations have asked you and your team of engineers to assist in designing protective head gear.
First, analyze athletic concussion data and conduct research to better understand the functions associated with different brain regions. Then, construct a model of the human brain, equip it with impact sensors, and use it to develop and test designs for protective head gear to be used in athletic activities.
Brain injury can occur in many every day activities, including many sports. Awareness of brain anatomy, the potential effect of brain injury, and how to prevent long-term health consequences are important for today's youth. Creating powerful tools to analyze and display data is a key 21st century skill.
COVID Safe
In this module you will look at the use of a Rube Goldberg machine to promote the idea of being COVID safe.
A Rube Goldberg machine is one that takes an extremely easy task and through the use of energy changes or chain reactions completes the task in an over-engineered way.
Electricity and Electronic Circuits
The aim of this module is to help the student to develop knowledge and skills relating to electricity and electronics through a fun, hands-on, discovery-learning experience. No prior knowledge of electricity or electronics is assumed. The module is based around the discovery-learning approach. The learning on the module will be supported by lab-based activities, but it is an explicit aim of this module that with access to a selected set of suitable tools and components students would be able to undertake self-directed learning activities outside the lab. This module will prepare the students who are going on to take more advanced electronic engineering modules with the necessary fundamentals.
It will also provide students with an introduction to some of the theory underpinning the practical aspect of the module.
This will include
(i) an introduction to electricity and electrical concepts;
(ii) Soldering and soldering techniques
(iii) an introduction to the concept of resistance and to resistors in general;
(iv) fundamentals of DC circuit analysis (e.g. Kirchoff’s laws);
(v) an introduction to diodes, transistors, capacitors and inductors.
The module is intended also to be a useful introduction to students from other disciplines who wish to learn the fundamentals of electronics, but who do not intend to pursue it further after completion of this module.
Assessment: Assessment within this module will be via quizzes and projects
Prerequisite: There is no prerequisite for this module, however content within this module is used in other modules.
Flights of Fancy
People have always understood that flight was possible from observing birds, but it took thousands of years for
humans to actually figure out how to take flight. In order for humans to understand how to construct flying
machines, and to understand how the moon stayed in the sky and moved around the earth, we needed to
understand motion, gravity, force and other scientific ideas. The study of these concepts is a part of a field of
science called, Physics. In this unit we will focus on flight and motion, but there are many, many other areas in
Physics to explore.
Motion makes the world go 'round and the moon and. . . . In fact, motion makes lots of things go. When we think
of motion we often think of cars, bicycles, kids running, basketballs bouncing and airplanes flying. Motion is the
changing of position or location.
Fang It!
This is an introduction into aerodynamics, in this course you will look at forces and principles associated with Aerodynamics used in vehicles.
This module is linked directly to the F1 in Schools competition. The material that is within this module is produced by external providers such as Autodesk and as a result the videos and associated resources are the property of Autodesk(c) and geared directly to the F1 in schools program.
To become part of the F1 team you must complete or in the process of completing this module.
F1 in Schools is a unique technology
challenge that involves the construction of a
1/20th-scale CO2 Formula One (F1) racing
car out of balsa wood using Computer Aided
Design and Manufacturing technologies and
a CNC router. This standards-based
challenge seeks to raise the profile of
engineering among young people and give
them access to the latest technology in the
engineering and manufacturing world.
This is module is a prerequisite course to Aerodynamics 2.
Prerequisite: There is no prerequisite for this module. This course will interest students who wish to or thinking about enrolling in Physics in Year 11.
Assessment: This module contains a series of small projects with the major task consisting of the construct and analysis of a team designed F1 car.
Get over it
When driving or riding from home to school, how many bridges do you cross? You probably have not noticed all the bridges over railroads, rivers, creeks and highways on the route. That's the job of bridges, to make travel smooth.
Human travel has greatly improved due to bridges. There was a time when to cross a river, people had to walk along its bank until they found a place where the water was low enough to cross without being swept away by the current. A steep embankment or small gorge had to be travelled around - unless you wanted to climb down it and back out the other side.
In this module you will investigate the types of bridges, build these bridges and identify the structures that make strong bridges.
I Like the sound of that
A tree falls in the woods and no one is around to see it, does it make a sound? Obviously it does! But how? The concept of sound and waves can be a difficult concept as most of the time we can not see them.
But how can we use waves and sound to see how healthy a fish is? or how we can explain how whales and other marine organisms can communicate over vast distances?
In this module you will look at what waves are and how sound waves are created and carried.
You will undertake a series of experiments within this module and produce a report that answers these questions and identify how variables can impact on the movement of waves
Introduction to 3D printing
This unit is designed as a basic introduction to rapid prototyping and 3D printing. This unit is a pre-requisite to Intermediate and Advanced 3D printing modules.
In this unit you will be introduced to the 3D printer, be aware of its components including types of printing materials and the use of the machine. The concept of X, Y and Z co-ordinates in 3D printing. How to create and modify .STL files and use of TinkerCAD as a software package including slicing.
You will be expected to undertake a series of challenges that use the 3D printer.
This module is for students who would like to have experience in the use of 3D printers and their associated software.
This is course is ISTEM based and can can have applications within Year 11 Software Design and Development and Design and Technology.
Assessment for this module includes challenge results and a quiz.
TANK you, Very much!
In this module you will be utilising the Lego EV3 to create a tank to traverse multiple terrains while also utilsing sensors within the tank so that you are able to identify targets and keep civilians safe.
It IS Rocket Science!
Rockets are a great way to blend the basics of aerodynamics, physics, and fun! In this introductory class we'll look at basic rocket design and understanding the forces at play that dictate how well rockets perform, then we'll test this knowledge by making a few different types of rockets and launching them!
This class is aimed at the budding rocket enthusiast, and aims to keep things accessible by using mostly household items to create our own rockets. The class culminates with making and launching a water rocket, capable of achieving altitudes that would make any astronaut dizzy, while still ensuring the rocket returns safely to Earth.
Strap in, Cadet, we're about to shoot for the stars!