Abilities for a Technological World

Unit E

Students will develop abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems

National Standard 12

Apply technological tools and systems to real world experiences.

Objective 5.00

Objective 5.01Explain the concepts used to develop and maintain technological products and systems.

Objective 5.02Use computers and other tools of technology in various applications.

To achieve the previous objectives students will be able to

apply information provided in manuals, protocols, or by

experienced people to see and understand how things work.

A student reads an instructional manual and follows an on-screen tutorial in a multimedia module

The technology students of today

learn in many different ways.

Modular Lab

Some labs have gone totally modular, where the students follow a series of tutorials as they learn about technology.

Conventional Lab

Other labs allow the student to learn through a series of teacher guided activities.

Whatever system is used, it is important for the student to develop

the ability to use the resources around them to understand how our

complex technological systems work.

Students will use tools, materials, and machines to safely build, diagnose, adjust, and repair systems.

Students must realize that FEEDBACK is information about the output of a system, and that it can be collected in many ways.

A dragster is placed in a wind tunnel to collect aerodynamic data.

Once a student has this data, it can be used to monitor how a system is working,

and then diagnose, adjust or repair the system to reach the desired goal.

As we made the switch from Industrial Arts to Technology

Education, our use of tools and materials has changed

dramatically. Along with these changes came a new series of safety concerns, not just for our

students, but also for our equipment.

While the discharge of static electricity did little damage to a band saw,

A student uses the band saw to cut out his truck for the TSA Transportation Modeling competition.

we must explain to our students how damaging it can be to a computer or other electronic devices.

Groundingstrap

Always use a grounding strap !

Students will be able to use computers and other tools of technology in various applications.

Interfaces; like the one attached to our robotic arm,

can be used to allow various devices to communicate with computers.

Students need to understand the operation of and properly use computers, calculators, and other electronic devices to help determine if a system is operating properly.

A student uses a multimeter to diagnose an electrical circuit.

As a system becomes more complex, the need to properly maintain the operation of a system also increases.

Students assemble, program, operate, and adjust a robotic arm.

Students work on a digital video editing system. Proper maintenance of the equipment will ensure that the system continues to operate efficiently.

Students will need to access the data provided by sensors

within a system to evaluate the operation of the various

components making up the system, and make changes

when necessary.

A Lego Mindstorms or ROBOLAB kit provides an excellent opportunity for students to investigate systems models.

Here are some examples of Lego sensors that can used by students in the lab to collect and monitor data and provide feedback to a system.

Temperature Sensor

This sensor will allow students to monitor the temperature of something.

Light Sensor

Students will be able to use the light sensor to monitor light from 0.6 to 760 Lux.

Touch Sensor

This sensor allows students to identify when one item comes in contact with another.

Speed Computer

Students will be able to use this sensor to measure speed in rotations or RPM’S, and to measure distance in inches or feet.

The understanding of how a system works is vital if students are allowed to operate and maintain it.

Students working on the Systems Control problem at the TSA National Conference in Richmond Virginia.

Systems and sub-systems

It will become increasingly important for students to become systems-oriented, and to realize that systems are made up of many sub-systems. Model rockets are made up of many sub-systems; ignition, propulsion, guidance, and recovery.

The components of the universal systems model, input, process, output, monitor, and feedback also need to be identified and used in activities whenever possible.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

FEEDBACK MONITOR

Universal Systems Model

THETHE END END

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