Posted 2/6/12

GMS Middle School Technology students develop bridges, cars, and problem-solving abilities

Hands-on, experimental, and interactive are just a few of the words you could use to explain what is happening in the technology wing at Gloversville Middle School. There, students are coming to their own conclusions by developing and testing out their own designs.

Seventh-graders in the Technology and Engineering classes just completed a “bridge project.” The bridge project’s main concepts were for the students to become aware of structural engineering and also help develop their problem-solving abilities.

The engineers –or students – needed to build a bridge according to specifications. Once built, students tested the efficiency of their structures. Using a software program, students plotted and graphed various stress loads on the bridge, from beginning to bridge failure (cracking). These results, along with the bridge mass, were used to calculate how many times its own weight the bridge could support (otherwise known as its efficiency).

“I believe that this project provides the students with valuable insight into real world settings,” Mr. Rice said. “They start to make the connections between life and what they are learning in school.”

Continuing on that theme, the eighth-graders in the Technology and Engineering classes designed, built and raced CO2 powered cars and then tested their aerodynamic drag in a wind tunnel.

The project began with students completing technical drawings and developing engineering problem-solving skills to design the cars.

Once that phase was complete, students used the technology lab to build their designs. Using a computer program and wind tunnel, students then graphed the aerodynamic drag of the car. Using this information, students were able to draw their own conclusions about which shapes are the most aerodynamic.

They then put those theories to the test by actually racing the cars using punctured CO2 capsules. The speed was determined using a radar gun. Many cars reached speeds of over 30 mph.

"The power of hands on learning comes from students using theory and concepts in a practical setting," said Mr. Jazeboski.