Last week, I had the pleasure of observing MTHS students who participated in Engineering Design and Development (EDD) course. This is the capstone course in the Project Lead the Way. Please take a moment and read below. I think you'll be as impressed as I was.
A Comprehensive PLTW Curriculum Overview
This report summarizes the activities and outcomes of the Engineering Design and Development (EDD) course for the 2024-2025 academic year. EDD is the capstone course in the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Engineering program, challenging students to work in teams to design and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. This document provides an overview of the projects undertaken, feedback received, and acknowledgments to those who supported the program.
Throughout the year, students applied the engineering design process to identify a problem, research existing solutions, develop a novel design, build a prototype, test its functionality, and iterate based on feedback. The culmination of this process was a final presentation to a panel of experts, showcasing their technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork. This report serves as a testament to their hard work, creativity, and dedication.
Project Summaries
The following sections provide brief summaries of the projects undertaken by the EDD teams. Each summary includes the problem addressed, the proposed solution, and key accomplishments.
Outdoor Water Irrigation
Problem: Inefficient water usage in outdoor irrigation systems leads to water waste and environmental concerns.
Solution: Development of a modular irrigation delivery system that uses rain water and solar energy to perform water release based on various emitters depending on the plants needs.
Key Accomplishments:
- Developed a functional prototype of the smart irrigation system.
- Implemented multiple emitter and extension options to deliver at different requirements
Device Dock
Problem: Cyclists, including mountain bikers, road cyclists, and recreational riders, often struggle with unstable phone holders, especially on rough terrains
Solution: Design and development of a sturdy device holder using 3D printing.
Key Accomplishments:
- Designed a 3D printed prototype of a device holder that uses TPU and PLA
- Tested using shock absorbers
Indoor Plant Dehydration
Problem: Lack of a simple and reliable way to monitor soil moisture levels leads to indoor plant dehydration and plant death.
Solution: Creation of a low-cost, easy-to-use moisture sensor and alert system that notifies users when plants need watering.
Key Accomplishments:
- Developed a robust and accurate soil moisture sensor.
- Implemented an automated system that waters while the soil moisture level is low
Undercooked or Overcooked
Problem: Inconsistent cooking temperatures and times result in undercooked or overcooked food, leading to food waste and potential health risks.
Solution: Development of a smart cooking appliance that uses sensors and predictive algorithms to ensure food is cooked to the desired level of doneness.
Key Accomplishments:
- Developed a prototype smart pan with integrated temperature sensors.
- Implemented a predictive algorithm that relays cooking parameters based on food type and weight.
Feedback and Evaluation
Each project team presented in a professional setup to parents, engineers, administrators, alumni and received valuable feedback during their final presentations.
The QR Code will lead you to a webpage where each team has presented their digital portfolio’s with details about the breakdown of components that the PLTW Capstone curriculum follows to extensively help orchestrate a year long project by student teams to find a working solution to the problem of their choice and create a working prototype to showcase at the end of the year
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the following individuals and organizations for their support of the EDD program:
- Monroe Education Foundation (MEF) Grant: For granting the funds to secure parts toward building of the physical prototype
- Industry Mentors & High School Teachers : For providing real-world insights and technical expertise.
- Panel of Experts: For their valuable feedback and evaluation of student projects.
- School Administration: For their support of the EDD program and its objectives.
Conclusion
The Engineering Design and Development (EDD) course provided students with a challenging and rewarding experience to apply their engineering knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems. The projects undertaken demonstrated the students' creativity, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork. The feedback received from the panel of experts during mid year and end of year will be invaluable in guiding future iterations of the projects and enhancing the overall learning experience.
The success of the EDD program is a testament to the dedication of the students, instructors, mentors, and school administration. We look forward to continuing to provide students with such opportunities.