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This is a course for those who wish to go beyond the introduction to the physical sciences obtained in the chemistry and physics courses offered at Hanover High School. The course utilizes a project-based learning environment to develop teamwork, structured programming, technical writing and drawing skills, as well as intuition about physical systems.
During the fall semester, students participate in the University of Vermont TASC (Technology and Society Connection) Device Engineering Contest. The challenge is to design, build and test a device to perform a specific task. The competition culminates in December with all the schools participating in the UVM competition.
Second semester begins with the use LEGO Mindstorm robotics kits to bring students into the world of robotics. Students will learn basic physical and electrical engineering topics and will develop proficiency with MLCAD (CAD software) and NXT, a LabView-based programming environment.
Working individually and in teams, students will complete approximately 10 LEGO based assignments of increasing difficulty and scope. The robotics unit begins with the construction of simple machines and advances full throttle to autonomous robot competitions.
The lessons learned from the defined problem-solving phase of the course marked by LEGO assignments will be applied to individual research projects in the fields of chemistry and physics. The entire class group will act as a resource for each individual student’s research project. The goal is to expose the student to “real” world collaborative and peer review processes.
No prior engineering or computer programming experience is required – merely an instructor recommendation, a high level of self-motivation and a desire to have fun while learning.
Raging Distaste For Mediocrity And A Fierce Devotion To Innovation
