rsac conference december 6 , 2011

STEM Activities for the Secondary

Classroom

RSAC ConferenceDecember 6, 2011

STEM Activities for the

Secondary ClassroomMr. Jason Dietrich

Mathematics & PhysicsIllini Central High School [email protected]

Dr. Bob MannMathematics

Western Illinois [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Mr. Jason B. Dietrich

• College Education– Bachelor of Science Degrees

• Civil Engineering (UIUC 1991)• Electrical Engineering (Iowa State 1994)

– Masters Degree• Education (UIUC 2002)

– Additional Coursework• U of MN (Multiple Processor Computer Architecture)• EIU (Physics Renewable Energy)• ISU (Insurance Course)• WIU (Scientific Computing / Secondary Math Resources)

Mr. Jason B. Dietrich• Engineering Experience– Parametric Engineer (Micron Semiconductor)

• HP 4145 Parametric Analyzer• Keithley Capacitance Meter• National Instruments LabView Software

– Test Engineer (emd/Benchmark Electronics)• HP 16550B Logic Analyzer• Stratus RISC Computers

– Professional License (E.I.T.)• State of Illinois #061-023968 (Oct. 1991)

• Industrial Experience– Engineering Technician

(Huchinson Technologies)• GE 90/30 PLC Ladder Logic

Programming• Lumonics 702JK Series Laser

measurements– Electrician (Mueller Company)

• Installation and Maintenance of 220-480 VAC 3-Phase motors, electrical equipment, relays, switches, conduit, and fuses

• Installation of Allen-Bradley SLC 150 Programmable Controllers in Brass Foundry

Mr. Jason B. Dietrich

Mr. Jason B. Dietrich• Educational Experience

– High School Teaching• Beardstown High School• Virginia High School• Illini Central High School

– Courses Taught• Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP

Physics B– Sponsorships

• ISU CeMaST Math & Science Symposium, WYSE, ICTM, Rube Goldberg (EOH UIUC), Scholastic Bowl, Bridge Competitions (Bradley Bridge Pals/ISPE Competitions), Real World Design Competition, Cougar News, IJAS Science Fair Competition, Class Sponsor, Student Council

Current ICHS Class Subjects

• Algebra 2• Pre-Calculus• AP Physics B• AP Calculus AB

• Initial Questions:

– What is a Solar Cell ?

– How do Solar Cells work ?

– How efficient are Solar Cells?

Solar Cells : STEM Topic

• Educational Pedagogy based upon ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education)

STEM Unit Organization

Introductory DemonstrationsLaboratory Demonstration

TI-Calculator ActivityLEGO Creation

Solar Cell Panel used as a DC Power Source



Lecture/Discussion

Written Assignments Web-Quest

Problem/Solution Modeling

Sample Assignment Problem (From WebQuest)



Laboratory–

Fully developed laboratoryExperiments highlight

fundamental ideasProvide basis for further

experimental design problems

Short Circuit Current Measurement


Short Circuit Current Circuit


Output Power Measurement


Output Power Circuit


Data Table from Solar Cell Efficiency Lab


Light Source

Power In{Watts}

Power Out (max) {Watts}

Efficiency %

40 W (Inc)60 W (Inc)75 W (Inc)100 W (Inc)20 W (Flo)


What can we do to improve the efficiency of a solar cell?

Design Problem –

Sample Design Projects : Solar Tracker / Solar Elevator



Communicate/Present Findings

Science FairsEngineering Open HouseAcademic Competitions

STEM Days / Rube Goldberg / RWDC



Reflection –

Evaluate Unit/Design Process Further

Questions/Discussion

• Further Extensions:

– How do fuel cells compare to solar cells?– Do they yield better efficiencies?– What about other alternative energy cells?– Maybe wind energy?– How do they work?– What is the power in and power out?– How efficient are they? How costly?– What can be done to improve efficiency???


• Further Questions:

– Are there other types of Solar Cells (multiple layer, thin film, plastic/organic)?

– How can efficiencies be improved?– How do different types of materials (compound

semiconductors/direct band gap) alter Solar Cell efficiency?

– Are there applications for Solar Cells to recover light in business/manufacturing environments?


• Solar Cells– Current-Voltage Charateristics

• PEM Fuel Cells– Electrolyzer Characteristics/Efficiency– Power Supply Characteristics/Efficiency

• Wind Turbines– Power Output vs Blades (Number & Airfoil Selection)– Power Output vs Blade Pitch

• Robotic Control Systems– Solar Cells– Magnetic Fields– Light Intensity– Force – Temperature

Other classroom STEM Activities(Along ASEE organization)

• Illinois State University CeMaST (Center for Math, Science, and Technology) Math & Science Symposium

• WYSE – Worldwide Youth in Science & Engineering (Written Examinations)• ICTM – Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (Written Examinations)• Engineering Open House (UIUC) Rube Goldberg Participant – Machine

Design Competition• Bradley Bridge Pal Competition – Balsa Wood Bridge Design• ISPE Bridge Competition – Manilla File Folder Bridge Design• STEM/Solar Day – Science Exhibits (Telescope (Solar Filter), Telegraph,

Telephone, Hydrogen R/C Car, Solar Elevator, Relay circuits, Guitar Pick Up, DC Motor Circuits. LEGO NXT Mindstorm Creations

• 4-H National Youth Science Day – University based lab experiments ($900 award; I-Pad prize)

STEM Activities

Recent Grants• WeAreTeachers.com Grant

– Provide educational experience using technology in the classroom (NXT Mindstorms Robotics Equipment)

• ComEd/NEED Project “Change the World” Grant– Provide educational experience using renewable energy

technology in the classroom (H2GO Hydrogen RC Car, Horizon PEM Fuel Cell Lab)

• Illinois Clean Energy Grant– Installation of 1kW Solar Panels– Provide educational experience using renewable energy technology in the classroom (20 W Solar Panel)– 1.7 kW Wind Turbine

(Awarded May 2011 – To Be Installed)

2011-2012 Objectives• Emphasize STEM literacy – vocabulary.• Emphasize students to communicate

understanding.• Require students to maintain binders.• Provide students with PSAE practice daily.• Provide WYSE/ICTM/Rube Goldberg/ISPE/Real

World Design/Bradley Bridge Pal/ISU Symposium opportunities to students.

• Use Engineering/Innovation Design Structure in forming curriculum.

• Mathematica 8.0/8.0.1 (Including WolframAlpha)• ModelSmart 2D & 3D – Bridge Analysis• GeoGebra - Geometrical/Computational Software v.3.2.47.0• Logger Pro 3.8.4 (with Vernier Lab Quest & Emulator)• Pro/Engineer 5.0 (CreoElements) CAD (PTC Corporation)• FloEFD – Compuational Fluid Dynamics (Mentor Graphics

Corporation)• LabView – LEGO Mindstorms Robot Data Logger/Program

Editor• LEGO Digital Designer v. 4.1.7• Stellarium v.0.10.6.1• TI-84 & nSpire Emulators – (Texas Instruments Corp.)

Educational Software

Web-Based Resources• PSAE Review Material

– www.aleks.com• LEGO NXT Mindstorms

– http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx• GeoGebra

– http://www.geogebra.org/cms/• Texas Instruments (Curriculum Materials)

– http://education.ti.com/calculators/downloads/US/Activities/• Stellarium

– http://www.stellarium.org• Vernier Curriculum Materials

– http://www.vernier.com• Mathematica Demonstrations Project

– http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/– http://www.wolframalpha.com

• 5Spice Analysis v 1.64– http://www.5spice.com/index.htm

• TI-30XIIS Solar Scientific Calculators• TI-83/Plus Graphing Calculators• TI Sensors/Probes/CBL 2• Vernier Lab Quest

– Vernier Sensors/Probes• LEGO Mindstorms

NXT Robot– 9797 NXT Kit

• e-mail : [email protected]• Web Site – www.mrdietrich.com

Hardware Resources


http://www.mrdietrich.com/

ICHS Math & Physics

rsac conference december 6 , 2011

Documents

stem activities

stem topic data table

webquestsolar cells

stem topiclight sourcepower

dc power sourcesolar

real world design competition

ijas science fair competition

secondary classroommr