[TheThinkTank] call for curriculum materials

[Gwyndaf Jones]

Yes!

I am just leaving from a conference on technology for development  
which was attended by an MIT undergraduate as she left to go to  
Tanzania and develop a curriculum for teaching a course in appropriate  
technology at a vocational school.  I participated in a brainstorming  
session  to come up with examples for her and she left with a list of  
good prospects.  I am going to forward this email to her so she can  
respond although it may take her a little time as she does not have  
easy internet access while she is there.

Other sources that are too challenging for most middle school students  
but from which you could probably pull some examples:

One well known book with lots of examples is Cycling Science by MIT  
emeritus professor, David Gordon Wilson:   http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Science-David-Gordon-Wilson/dp/0262731541/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213549905&sr=8-1

Expert Village has some interesting videos done by Charles McMahon,  
retired professor of material science at U of Penn at: http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/457_bicycle-parts.htm
He has a book at: http://www.merionmedia.com/

Gwyn Jones, lab instructor
MIT d-lab         http://web.mit.edu/d-lab/
Maya Pedal    http://www.mayapedal.org/




On Jun 11, 2008, at 4:52 PM, adam schwartz wrote:

> Does anyone have, or have seen any curriculum materials that relate  
> bicycles to science and math. Anything related to technology,  
> engineering, and design as well would be greatly appreciated.  Also  
> if anyone is interested in collaborating on writing a curriculum  
> together for a science, engineering and technology program around  
> the idea of "Pedal Power" then please let me know.
>
> Here is the description for the program I am looking to develop.
> Pedal Power is a program of the Renaissance Community Youth Bike  
> Shop that incorporates science, engineering and technology into a  
> curriculum focused on youth initiated environmental design and  
> appropriate technology projects involving bicycles.  The program  
> will engage students to research, design, and construct their own  
> DIY human-powered inventions.
> We will work with Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a student group  
> that works on environmental design and appropriate technology in  
> international development, to develop our curriculum and instruct  
> the class. Middle school students will spend the first part of the  
> course learning about the basics of engineering, construction,  
> design, energy, and technology. Then students will work in teams to  
> design, and implement their own "Pedal Powered" invention. After  
> student teams have constructed their machines, they will have the  
> opportunity to display and show them off to the community at our  
> spring event. In the future this program has many options for growth  
> and development including participating in design contests, and  
> entering projects into local events. If successful, this program has  
> the opportunity to expand into new and exciting realms in design and  
> engineering beyond Pedal Powered projects within the scope of  
> appropriate technology such as home scale wind power, etc...
>
> -- 
> Adam Schwartz, Program Coordinator
> The Renaissance Youth Bike Shop
> 6200 Sheridan Street, Riverdale, MD
> Rideyourbicycle at gmail.com
> (301) 405-3213
>
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