Career & Technology Education
Come See the Crazy Contraption!
In an endeavor to understand what machines do and what is inside machines that allow them to function, the students in Gateway to Technology® (GTT) have each designed and built a sub-system using simple machines. On Monday February 23 at 2:30 p.m. in Grinstead 229, the students will connect their sub-systems and demonstrate what is believed to be the largest contraption of its kind in Warrensburg. I hope you can come see the demonstration.
The contraption has:
9 first class levers
1 second class lever
2 screws or spirals
1 wheel and axle
34 inclined planes
and has a total of 33 individual actions in the system.
There is a video of the preliminary testing and adjusting of the contraption at:
Why A Contraption?
The design and construction of this contraption is a part of the GTT Science of Technology unit which, "traces how science has affected technology throughout history. Students learn about the mechanics of motion, the conversion of energy, and the use of science to improve communication."
What is GTT?
"The Gateway To Technology ® (GTT) cutting-edge program addresses the interest and energy of middle school students, while incorporating national standards in mathematics, science, and technology. GTT is "activity oriented" to show students how technology is used in engineering to solve everyday problems in units of study. There are currently five instructional units that excite and motivate students to use their imaginations and teach them to be creative and innovative, while gaining the skills they need to develop, produce, and use products and services." See the PLTW site http://www.pltw.org/Engineering/Curriculum/Curriculum-middle-school.cfm for more information about Gateway to Technology®.
What is PLTW?
The Technology Education Program within the Career and Technology Education Department of the College of Education is nationally certified to provide pre-service training for technology education majors in the internationally acclaimed secondary engineering education program, Project Lead the Way. The University of Central Missouri and Purdue University were the first institutions to meet the rigorous requirements for this certification. Upon graduation, students meeting the program requirements will be certificated to teach Project Lead the Way courses anywhere in the United States , Virgin Islands and American Samoa. Graduates will still need to be licensed in the state they will teach.
Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a not-for-profit educational organization, provides a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare a diverse group of students to be successful in science, engineering and engineering technology. High school students successfully completing PLTW courses and passing the national college exams have the potential for earning university credits.
For more information contact Dick Kahoe.