Higley High School

CTE Engineering Innovative Grant

WIND

ENERGY

DEVICE

Project Green STEM: Growing Green Careers of

the Future

Students will design, develop, and prototype a wind energy conversion device in a project based learning environment.

MISSION

Students will produce documentation which supports the plan for implementing a wind

energy device.

THE INSTRUCTION BEGINS . . .

Phase one includes research on wind energy, mechanical and electrical systems, and system efficiency.

PHASE

Students will produce a computer-based wind energy model

using AutoDesk Inventor

AutoDesk is a computer-aided design tool that provides a design environment for engineers to develop mechanical systems.

PHASE

Students will produce prototype components

using a 3D printer.

PHASE

These components will be evaluated for form, fit and

functionality by the students and outside experts in the field of

engineering.

PHASEBuilding of a functional

wind energy conversion device

Building initial 3D printer parts for form/fit/function checks.

PHASE Why is engineering important?

Does it matter?

Students will learn why teamwork is critical for project success and how to build an effective team.

Why are you here?Do Engineering classes

matter?

Or

Is a C good enough?

“You know that tower you designed? The work site called and said they have a problem. Go down there and see if you can straighten it out for them!”

One day you are working at your desk and your boss walks in and says…..

When you arrive you see……..

I knew I shouldn’t have slept in Engineering Class!

Source: http://ethics.tamu.edu/ethics/tvtower/tv3.htm#photographs

Engineering Design Process

Develop a design proposalModel or prototypeTest and evaluateRefineCreate or makeCommunicate results

PHASE

STUDENT PROJECTS

Wind Turbine

Autodesk Wind

Belt

Work on Autodesk Inventor designing wind device parts

3D Printer and parts displayed

Wind device

Testing with wind tunnel

ENGINEERING SHOWCASEOn April 20, 2011, parents and community leaders attended Higley High School’s Engineering Showcase. Students demonstrated projects they have worked on over the school year. Student’s showed off their wind turbine designs modeled in the Autodesk Inventor application and how the physical turbines (based on the software models) performed with an actual Wind Tunnel. Students’ reverse engineering projects were on display which showed the software modeling and actual modifications students made using pieces built with Higley’s new Dimension 3D printer.

For more information, please contact Cindy Nixon, Higley Unified School

District, CTE Coordinator at cindy.nixon@husd.org or 480-

279-7057

Thank you to the State of Arizona’s Innovative Grant Program for providing this

opportunity and support for our teachers and students.