Project Lead The Way Laboratory

Principles of Engineering

The following Project Lead The Way laboratory design was developed by technology education majors at Purdue University as part of their IT: 471 course “Managing the Technology Education Laboratory” instructed by Dr. George E. Rogers

Principles of Engineering Lab Plan

Jason Kern, Darin Powell, Matt Davis

Project Lead the Way

Change to Enhance Student Learning

• Our students are entering a quickly evolving and highly technological 21st century society

• Implementing PLTW with Principles of Engineering

• Taking our older industrial arts type of lab and turning it into today’s technology education lab to better suit student needs

Relating Change to Standards

• With this lab enhancement we will be able to reach farther and cover more of our national technology standards

• Doing so we will be able to better prepare students for their future

Relating to School Mission

• “Our students will receive an education that will give them a step up on students from other schools whether they choose to directly enter the workforce or continue with their education,” is the school mission.

• Restructuring this technology education classroom shows our dedication to the school mission through our willingness to provide students with the best educational opportunities of the time.

Course Objectives

1. Define and name different types of engineering

2. Develop communication and documentation skills

3. Understand the design process

4. Explain engineering systems

Course Objectives

5. Define and explain statics and strength of materials

6. Recognize dynamics/kinematics

7. Determining engineering in reliability

8. Recognize materials and materials testing in engineering

Learning Activities

• Research and report on engineering careers• Working through the design process• Learning simple machines and creating a Rube

Goldberg project• Completing activities on a Pneumatic Trainer

& Hydraulic Trainer

Learning Activities

• Working through Fischertechnik assignments with dc motors and creating a marble moving conveyer system in link with computer program

• Use the structural stress analyzer to determine the strength of a variety of materials

Equipment List

• Lap top computers• Fischertechniks Kit• Hydraulics trainer• Pneumatics trainer• Structural stress analyzer

Classroom Atmosphere

AcousticsPorous ceiling tiles

ColoringThe chairs and room will be primarily blue.The blue promotes a calm and appealing feeling

Classroom Atmosphere

LightingThe room will have a foot candle lighting of 70.

2 sets of switches for computer area and work area, each including a dimmer.

Safety

-Traffic Lanes are not a big issue in this lab. There is adequate room around every table/area for traffic flow.

- Color Coding is done according to OSHA standards and regulations. First Aid kits are green, MSDS containers are colored blue, and moving parts on all major equipment are to be color coded.

-Safety Equipment – All students are to wear safety glasses while working in the work table area. The safety glasses are located near the first aid kit in a red cabinet.

-MSDS sheets will be hung near the first aid kits, and safety glasses, as well as a master copy located in the teachers office. The MSDS book is to be updated monthly with all materials used in the classroom.

Safety

Safety

- Electrical – A preventive maintenance program will be implemented to ensure all electrical devices and outlets are safe. The electrical column on the lab tables are for ease as well as safety for students.

Facility Organization

-The lab is organized around the objectives

-For example, the Fischertechniks activities will be stored inside the work tables.

-Other materials will be put in storage and supplied to students as needed.

Facility Organization

-Inventory will be kept on a database program that keeps track of all equipment and consumables.

-All important information will be kept on the materials and updated at the conclusion of each activity and prior to each semester.

-Furniture inventory will be kept as well as maintenance records.

Leading the Way In K-12 Engagement