Systems Structures & Mechanisms by Mr. Derek J. Webster Western New York Physics Teachers' Alliance SUNY-Buffalo State College Saturday, December 06, 2008 Guidelines of Cognitive Science If we want to understand why our instruction works or does not work, we have to understand something about how our students do work. If we want to understand why our instruction works or does not work, we have to understand something about how our students do work. Active Engagement / Constructivism The most important aspect of student learning is those things that students actually do, not what the teacher presents. The most important aspect of student learning is those things that students actually do, not what the teacher presents. Group Learning / Learning While Teaching For most students, social interaction is the most effective learning environment For most students, social interaction is the most effective learning environment Student-centered tutorial For a student to have understood a concept they need an opportunity to For a student to have understood a concept they need an opportunity to experience a hands-on group learning experience a hands-on group learning discuss the phenomenon with peers and teachers (student talk) discuss the phenomenon with peers and teachers (student talk) incorporate the phenomenons concept terminology into their pre-existing paradigms incorporate the phenomenons concept terminology into their pre-existing paradigms explain phenomenon with their own words explain phenomenon with their own words What is a system? Instructions You have 2 minutes You have 2 minutes In your groups discuss In your groups discuss PS I want to hear some talkin!!! PS I want to hear some talkin!!! A system is ________________________________? A System is a group of interacting elements forming an integrated whole. What is a system? Instructions You have 2 minutes You have 2 minutes In your groups discuss In your groups discuss PS I want to hear some talkin!!! PS I want to hear some talkin!!! List 3 things that are common to all the systems? System Question: List 3 things that are common to all the systems? a.They each have 1 or more components that work together to do something? b.Something goes into system. c.Something comes out of system. Time to have fun Demo safe use of wood cutters Demo safe use of wood cutters Measure 4 struts each 15 cm long Measure 4 struts each 15 cm long Safely cut 4 struts with wood cutters Safely cut 4 struts with wood cutters Design a square frame Design a square frame Instructions You have 3 minutes You have 3 minutes In your groups cut, design & discuss In your groups cut, design & discuss PS I want to hear some talkin!!! PS I want to hear some talkin!!! A square frame Only the right-most one is a square. Why? Only the right-most one is a square. Why? What shape is the other two frames? What shape is the other two frames? Gears one good turn!!! Gears are wheels with ________. Gears are wheels with ________. They are used to: They are used to: _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Instructions You have 3 minutes You have 3 minutes In your groups cut, design & discuss In your groups cut, design & discuss PS I want to hear some talkin!!! PS I want to hear some talkin!!! Gears one good turn!!! Gears are wheels with teeth. Gears are wheels with teeth. They are used to: They are used to: change speed (speed up or slow down) change speed (speed up or slow down) make work easier make work easier change the direction of motion change the direction of motion Instructions You have 3 minutes You have 3 minutes In your groups cut, design & discuss In your groups cut, design & discuss PS I want to hear some talkin!!! PS I want to hear some talkin!!! Gears one good turn!!! Specialized types of gears Specialized types of gears worm gear worm gear crown/bevel gear crown/bevel gear rack &pinion rack &pinion Gears one good turn!!! Gear Tutorial. 1.Push one dowel through each of the gear holes. 2.Draw a mark on one tooth of each gear. 3.Label one gear as the driver gear with a D. 4.Label the two remaining intermediary gears each with an I. 5.Label one gear as the follower gear with a F. The driver gear will be used to turn (or drive) the follower. The driver gear will be the one that you turn with your hand. 6.Put these two gears on the Styrofoam board with the marked teeth touching each other. (see Figure 6). 7.Turn the driver gear on complete rotation clockwise (the same direction that the hands on an clock turn). 8.Count and record the number of turns and the direction of the follower gear as you complete step 6. 9.Place one intermediary gear between the driver and the follower. Repeat the experiment (see Figure 7). 10.Place another intermediary gear between the driver and follower (so there is now two gears between the driver and follower). 11.Repeat the experiment. Gear Tutorial Time to build Instructions You have the remainder of the session to build the drawbridge system In your groups cut, design & discuss PS I want to hear some talkin!!!