In the process, they learn about combustion, carburetors, cooling, ignition systems, lubrication, materials and proper use of tools. Engine Dissection Instructions engine.doc Engine Lecture Slides engine.ppt Telephone Dissection - Students dissect rotary dial telephones, as well as modern electronic versions. The rotary dial telephone, while now obsolete, is an excellent example of an electro-mechanical device. The ringing mechanism, the rotary dial governor, and the carbon microphone are extremely clever devices. They provide an opportunity to discuss the invention and history of the telephone.
Students benchmark the performance of kitchen mixers from a variety of manufacturers.
The results of the benchmarking are used to conceptually design the ultimate hand mixer. Adobe Acrobat .pdf file Product Dissection - A Tool for Benchmarking in the Process of Teaching Design , Jens E. Jorgensen, James Fridley, and John S. Lamancusa, Proceedings of 1996 Frontiers in Education Conference , Salt Lake city, UT, November, 1996. A Process for Teaching Design , James Fridley, Jens Jorgensen, and John Lamancusa, Proceedings of the Frontiers in Education Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, November 1997.