Building bridges at Carson City's Pioneer Academy
In the inaugural year of Project Lead The Way, also known as PLTW, Principles of Engineering at Carson City's Pioneer Academy, students are putting principles learned in class to practical use.
Early in the year, Mr. Zona spoke to Pioneer science teacher, Mrs. Steinkraus about his vision and improvements for the central campus courtyard. He challenged her Engineering classes to design and build a bridge feature to span a drain in the middle of the courtyard.
This challenge aligned perfectly with the Materials and Structures unit in Principles of Engineering where students learn how to calculate forces and material strengths and apply them to practical uses. After learning basic measurement and calculations in the class, students brainstormed different design ideas and built models of their ideas out of popsicle sticks to help communicate and present their designs.
After presenting, then selecting a final design idea, the students completed power tools safety training and then began construction of the bridge. The students have demonstrated how to work as a team and develop a design collaboratively and then begin the final phase of the construction process.
Due to the potential complexity of the project some students were hesitant at first to take on the challenge, however since the students embraced the project challenge and have been excited with the process and look forward to identifying how they can make future design improvements.
The project has motivated the students and many are seeing a real world connection to the ideas they learn in the classroom. One student, Isaac, told Mrs. Steinkraus the main reason he wants to come to school is to be able to work on the project. The students in the engineering class are looking forward to see how it will turn out and are excited to leave a lasting impact on their school.