4/17/12

Change in Key Term Crossword Due Date- 4/25/2012 Due to the level of difficulty and the opportunities to work with the words in context we have decided to move the due date for this assignment.

7-2 and 7-3 are currently working on designing a robot and creating a brochure to sell the robot based upon its purpose, end effectors, sensors,and its ability to appeal to humans and overcoming the "Uncanny Valley" Ask your kids they can tell you. :)

This week we will start looking at speed and torque and how gears can change the input to a different output.

We will also investigate gear ratios. GREAT STUFF

4/2/2012

Students will take vocabulary quizzes today Key terms 2.1

All Model and Design projects must be completed by Thursday April 6, 2012. Automation and robotics has begun and students are researching and presenting on different types of robots. This week we will begin our Mechanical Systems Unit 2.2

Key term crossword puzzle 2.2 will be assigned as homework on April 17th and due the 20th. Key term Quiz will be given on the 29th.

Students will be constructing mechanical gear systems to determine their purpose and applications. They will then apply knowledge of mechanisms to create a working object using a gear sytem of their choice.

Have a Great Spring Break!

3/19/2012

7th Grade students are completing the final Design and Modeling Performance Assessments.  The time frame to complete them extended beyond our initial plan for how long it would take, but the results are well worth the wait and the effort we see in the students.  Upon completion of the projects, groups will present a team portfolio and grades should be entered within the next week. We will continue to give some time in class this week; if additional time is needed, students will have the opportunity to stay in and work during recess B days and other days as available. 

We will begin our next unit this week  Automation  and Robotics.  We begin with understanding the importance of algorithms and will be working with our fischtechnic building parts.

Homework 2.1 Key Terms Crossword Due Thursday March 22nd

3/5/2012 

All 7th grade students are workinig on their final project for design and modeling.  the goal is to be finished by this Friday (3/9/2012).  Please discuss with them their progress and what they are designing.

This is a major project and they are incorporating everything they have learned in this unit.

 Project Guidelines

STEM Summative Assessment Modeling and Design

You will work with a group of no more than 4 students to create objects found within a theme of your choice.

Example:  A team of 3 may choose a Pet Store theme.  After discussion your team has decided that the pet store needs several items such as: a kennel with a nap area and feeding area, a visitor cube for interacting with the pet with seating and a gate, and a pet run area with jumps. Each person will then choose one of the items to design.  The team will work together to write a design brief that reflects their own part of the project.  Each person will have a different design brief but will be designing for the same client.  They will create at least four sketches with annotations to show brainstorming, and the team will then evaluate the sketches using a decision matrix.  Each person will have his/her own decision matrix, and indicate which sketch was chosen on the sketch included in the portfolio.    After each person has chosen their best idea, they create a sketch of the design on ortho/iso paper that shows dimensions in front, top, and side views as well as one isometric view.  It is then time to design the product on Autodesk.  Each person on the team will create a standard ipt. File for each part needed to construct their design.  They will then assemble the product in an assembly file.  When the assembly file is completes create an orthographic drawing of major parts in an idw. File.  Print this out.  Also create a BOL for the assembly.  The final step will be the animated presentation.  The team will show all animated presentation to the class and explain their products.(not included in portfolio)

Elements included in this project will reflect your ability to complete each aspect of modeling and design.  You will be required to apply the design process, technical drawings and parametric modeling (Autodesk), and presentations through orthographic drawings on Autodesk, Bill of Materials of major parts, and animated presentations.  Your dimensions should be appropriate for your product.  

You will create a portfolio which includes:

• Cover Sheet
• Table of Contents
• Design Brief
• Proof of Brainstorming through 4 sketches with annotations that provide detail about the materials used and ways your structure is constrained.  Sketches should show enough detail to help communicate your ideas.  These sketches should be on separate sheets of paper and included in your portfolio.
• Decision Matrix that uses criteria appropriate to your product
• Development of Best Idea through orthographic and isometric hand sketch with dimensions
• Parts created on Autodesk (should reflect all parts needed for design) print out all parts and place in your portfolio
• Assembly of final product on Autodesk
• Drawings created on Autodesk (Orthographic and Bill of Materials)
• Animated Presentation (this is not  included in your portfolio)

Your portfolio should include each of the above items and be presented in a neat organized format.

2/2/2012

Time is really flying...Students have begun their last section of design and modeling.  They are working on their Pegboard Toys.  Students will be applying all of the skills they have learned to this point and adding a few new ones. 

There is no homework associated with this activity. 

1/18/2012

Unit Topics - Autodesk inventor CAD program, geometric constraints, Precise Input, Title Block creation

Students will begin modeling structures within the 3-D Computer Aided Design Environment.  We will be introducing ne tools and applying them to create

HOMEWORK :  Due January 24th 1.5 Key Terms Crossword

Project: Begin Pegboard  Toy within the next week

1/5/2012

Current Unit Topics

Orthographic Projections, Parametric Modeling, and Dimensions

7-1 Should have turned in 1.4.3 and are finishing 1.4.4 to turn in on Monday

IXL Skills S1 and S3 should be completed by Monday.  If you have not turned in a signed progress report given prior to break pplease turn them in on Monday.

7-2, 7-3

Students are completing 1.4.5 and will complete 1.4.4 on Monday.  IXL has not been assigned in class, but will be assinged as of Monday and Due by Friday January 13th. 

7-2 homework has been assigned to complete 1.4.4 including conclusion questions Due Monday.

12/21/2011

Students have been introduced to orthographic sketching and isometric sketching.  The students have been practicing orthographic (multiview) sketches and are required to use a ruler and follow sketching rules such as spacing, alignment, and view placement. 

We will be quizzing them on the 1 point and 2 point persepctive drawing, circle sketching and line types.

When students return next year we will dive into dimensioning on orthographic sketches and into autodesk where they will create 3-D projects.  All 7-2 and 7-3 students have received a take home test.  They can look it over and if they feel confident they can work on it over break.  Otherwise it will be assigned to complete a week after we return  to school in 2012.

Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season.

12/16/2011

7th Grade Unit 1.4

7th grade students have been working through sketching as a communication of their ideas in class.  After setting the bar high, many students were able to improve their sketching and annotating skills to tell us about their plans for their roller coaster section.

As we move forward, we are introducing orthograohic sketches, isometric sketches, and 1 and 2 point persepctive drawing.

A quiz is tentatively scheduled for next week on sketching- possibly Wednesday or Thursday depending on how far the class can progress by that time.

** Many students did not hand in required work such as the reflection of the roller coaster activity and/or their sketches and design briefs from the roller coaster.  As we identify those students, they will be required to stay in from recess to complete these assignments for reduced credit.