Ideas For School Maker Space & Project - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 11:38:53 am
content: I've volunteered to help plan and set up a local schools maker space and they want to meet to discuss ideas.They have a budget (unknown amount) to develop a dedicated STEM unit for senior school kids (School Years 7-12 presumably, (so 11yo to 18yo).They have targeted "Sustainable Futures" as a broad context, and are looking to develop a project that has an engineering focus – kids have to design/make something.So they want to discuss developing a makerspace, "focus areas for the unit of work", and presumably a suitable project idea.FIRST robotics doesn't really cut the "Sustainable Futures" mustard as the obvious first choice.Any ideas?I've got a few but I should probably go with a list of project ideas hoping they might find one suitable.Haven't met the head of technical studies yet, but I gather he's just a B.Ed, so not sure if the school has any real technical teaching ability.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 11:54:10 am
content: No brainer... develop the technology for Solar roadways?

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 12:48:47 pm
content: It's not the most interesting, but maybe making a wind turbine? It counts towards creating 'sustainable futures', and I can see it including various areas such as aerodynamics (airfoil design for the blades), 3D design, material choices (learning about toughness, malleability, etc.), and mechanical systems (like gear ratios, reduction). It's not too difficult or expensive to do, although it might not be as engaging as robotics.And it even fits in the syllabus! (although I suspect that this is a private school)Hope this helps!

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 02:23:52 pm
content: Quote from: NivagSwerdna on October 18, 2016, 11:54:10 amI was going to suggest the same!ducks and runs...I think it is going to be tough to come up with meaningfull projects for 7 to 12 year olds. How about switching a light on or build a simple radio? Powering stuff by wind or solar is always going to be limited because you'd need to be outside and depend on the weather for testing.Over here they sell kits under the brand name 'Spektro':

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 02:48:17 pm
content: I would work backwards... anything that creates exposure to a laser cutter and/or 3D printer and in so doing gets students involved with CAD/CAM (Fusion 360? etc) has got to be a great start.The wind turbine idea is quite fun (3d print a prop?)However, a google suggests the focus is more on agriculture/food production/climate change? sponsored by Bayer?So maybe more along the lines of growing things? Hydroponics? (scope for automation). Measure growth rates? Soil analysis?Fully automated lettuce growing machine? (Reminds me of automated harvesting in Minecraft!)

author: StuUK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 02:48:30 pm
content: You could do something simple such as a solar powered model car. You don't need to be outside as such but it should be relatively simple and the goal could be a race amongst the students when they've built them. It would have a number of 'engineering' elements to it as well as sustainable/anti-pollution etc...Also, I presume they've applied for the various STEM grants that are available.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 03:19:18 pm
content: I'll second the suggestion for hydroponics. Indoor particularly, because it covers a fairly wide range of subjects. It can involve pumps and hydraulics, chemistry, power and lighting, mechanical design, etc. It could scale from a very simple and low cost start to something large and complex.

author: C
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 03:33:45 pm
content: At some time in the past, read a news story I think it was in a japan grocery store growing Hydroponic lettuce & tomatoes.One tomato plant had a huge trunk(4 to 6 inch if memory serves) with the branches on A over head rack. The thing was huge in the photos.The number of tomatoes off that one plant was in the 100's of pounds.It actually sounded imposable for one plant.The foundation of it was grocery store could grow Hydroponic lettuce & tomatoes indoors using electric lights cheaper & with better quality then the could buy.Guess they were talking store quality more then back yard quality.You could suggest growing hemp and turning it in to rope & cloth.lot of steps between plant and product.Have a contest on who could grow the strongest hemp for rope.Second thought might be better with some other plant.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 05:19:52 pm
content: THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICANBOOK OF PROJECTS FORNEW YORK, I960, SIMON AND SCHUSTER

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 06:05:05 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 18, 2016, 02:23:52 pmI think he means school years 7-12, or ages 12-18 or so.If you're stuck with "Sustainable Futures", how about starting with a focus on solar power... that's enough for a wide range of activities:- making panels out of solar cells- measuring power/energy produced- voltage conversion/MPPT- batteries- sun trackers, automatic wipers, etc.- wireless monitoring- solar thermal ovens- Solar Roadways and Batteriser debunking

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 06:22:30 pm
content: Solar power - both solar electric and other systems like solar hot waterWind powerHydroponicswave/tide powerHybrid power systems for both personal vehicles and mass transitInfrastructure linking much of this together - solar, wind, wave with distribution systems to provide steady power int he wake of varying environmental conditions - sunny calm day, windy rainy day, etc.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 06:46:34 pm
content: I like the idea of solar powered radio control cars with some sort of competition near the end of the project - either fastest around a route and/or furthest distance. RC parts are pretty darn cheap these days and there is no limit to how creative the students can get - wireless control, telemetry, datalogging etc. If they were something like 1/10th scale then the size and space needed is very manageable.

author: riyadh144
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 06:57:03 pm
content: Solar powered robot to collect harvest from trees, it shouldn't be that hard as by robot I mean a device that you hook onto the tree and shakes the fruits off. it can be solar powered with a few battery packs, can be controlled from an arduino or a pic, or even a RPi, so you can control it over wireless and do an IoT thing.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 07:07:43 pm
content: Quote from: riyadh144 on October 18, 2016, 06:57:03 pmDid you read the part where it says 7 to 12 years old?

author: riyadh144
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 07:19:01 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 18, 2016, 07:07:43 pmI read senior school kids, and thought it was highschool I am very sorry I will delete it if that helps.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 07:27:31 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 18, 2016, 07:07:43 pmIt doesn't - he means grades 7 through 12(it says seniors).

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 11:05:05 pm
content: Quote from: TheSteve on October 18, 2016, 07:27:31 pmThat still doesn't make it very clear because senior can be anything and school systems/grades vary around the world. So perhaps Dave can specify the age and educational level because at 12-18 year old 'kids' usually have various educational levels and directions based on their capabilities and interests.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2016, 11:25:05 pm
content: Quote from: riyadh144 on October 18, 2016, 06:57:03 pmUm no, a tree big enough to warrent shaking the fruit off usually requires large hydraulics. You might be able to pull it off with a bunch of big lithium packs and high power vibrator motors, but there's no way you could make solar practical, especially since trees mean shade.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 01:23:27 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 18, 2016, 02:23:52 pmSorry,school years7 to 12. So hat's about 11yo to 18yo, more likely the later years.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 02:29:48 am
content: Just confirmed it's a program for year 7 students, so 11-12yo

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 03:49:14 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on October 19, 2016, 02:29:48 amThat leaves out robotic girlsFYI There was an interesting NBC news story tonight about a Texas HS that closed down their football program and converted the football field to growing veggies and the kids were really into it. So the hydro idea is not a bad idea.http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/texas-college-turns-its-losing-football-team-into-a-winning-farm-788662851914?cid=eml_nnn_20161018(ps I never saw food like that at a stadium - I assume it is Sky Box food )

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 04:04:45 am
content: The younger kids may like things that 'move'.Perhaps a mechanically driven LED torch.Simple step up pulley --> cheap PM motor --> LED. Maybe an option to add a supercap.Solar powered fan.Budget data logger? Analog to USB input. Measure solar panel Output, temperatures etc. read into excel. Perhaps not have kids build the electronics but the rest might interest them.Small temp gauge, digital or analog. They get to keep something they will look at and use again. They could probably handle the soldering for a simple analog sensor, analog meter design.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 04:23:55 am
content: I have an idea.Ask the kids.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 04:45:24 am
content: Year 7 students will not have learnt very much about electronics and engineering in primary school (that was my experience anyway), so maybe something like a basic solar car with a solar panel, switch and motor? I know of at least one company that produces kits like this (our school uses this company, they're okay), which would make it easy for Year 7s. Areas in which they could learn about include solar panels, soldering, parallel/series circuits (I believe this is usually learnt at the end of Year 7 in the syllabus), workshop tools, as well as basic electronics (V/I/R).In terms of making the project interesting, they could possibly make their own car body design and maybe even 3D print, although that might be a stretch.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 05:04:09 am
content: Quotelouver or louvre are solar slats that are angled to the light . the concept is Solar Louvers can be motor mounted to track the Sun from Sun-up to Sun-set. can be full scale roof-top unit , or scaled down model. use of electronics in the motor tracking sun tracker . many engineering challenges in this concept. the solar Louvers , the motor tracking, the rotation apparatus and method usedtilting tracking solar panels time of the day Note- the motor control electronics can be pre-assembled to make easy to do kits.http://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/solar-trackers/Note- about the Wave Turbine concept, the air chamber is fixed to the bottom of the fish tank in a scaled down model, or sea bed full size,Not floating. as water works as water wave piston so air chamber must be fixed. breakwater shore structure with upto 10 or more water pistons.

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 07:03:12 am
content: I have been asked the not quite the same, but closely related questions from a local school hereThey have invested in a technology centre, with a bit of 'off the cuff' purchases of items from mechanical shop gear through to 3D printers/ laser cutters. Also invested a bit in Arduino, primarily through Sparkfun. Actually some quality gear has been installed.I don't want to get into the pros and cons of what they've purchased but to give them some input in the direction they should head. The school is already a hub for running certificate technology courses for students of schools in the local area using contract teachers/educators.They would like to push the idea of opening out to the community after hours, somewhat like a maker-space. I think what is really lacking here in Aus is an online community to support these teachers and scenarios. For all the teachers here, electronics is not a first language but the IT teacher has quite a good background in robotics/Lego Mindstorms and is adept at Arduino programming.I'll be interested to see how you get on Dave, I'm still chatting informally with them.

author: SimonWasAnEngineer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 07:10:55 am
content: Quote from: ez24 on October 19, 2016, 03:49:14 amI really like the urban-farming concept.Maybe build small greenhouses? Like 1m x 1m or so. The Kids can develop concepts, the best (or all) could be drawn in a CAD.The parts (plywood, plexi,...) could be cut by a laser cutter an the Kids will assemble the parts.An Arduino could monitor the temperature and humidity and maybe control a pump to water the plants.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2016, 07:36:08 am
content: Quote from: SimonWasAnEngineer on October 19, 2016, 07:10:55 amI think this idea is not bad because it also offers things to do for kids which aren't into technology. Besides that I always liked growing food or fruits in the garden.