Rube Goldberg Projects

     For the freshmen's last project of the year, they had to design and build Rube Goldberg machines. Named for the cartoonist who sketched them, a Rube Goldberg machine is a complex machine, made to complete a simple task. The freshmen were divided into groups within their classes, and each group had to build a Rube Goldberg that incorporated the six main simple machines in its design. The six main simple machines are an inclined plane, a wheel and axle, a wedge, a screw, a lever, and a pulley.The students learned about how these could be employed in the project, and then went to work in the shop.

One of Rube Goldberg's more famous designs, the Self-Operating Napkin.

     When building, the groups were all given $200 in ETA dollars, created for this very project, and had to budget their money. Materials, tools, and expert advice all had a price. If the students kept their money in order, on a charge sheet, they were given a bonus. However, if they were doing something improper in the workshop, they were fined. This gave the students a new perspective on building, and how to make use of all that they were given. 

     The groups within each class had to connect their projects together, so that momentum of an object (like a marble or toy car) would continue from group to group. This stressed the importance of communication, and how it is necessary in any kind of project. The classes then took their projects down to the cafeteria, so the classes could "race" their machines. Below are some of the final projects.

     The "race" in the cafeteria was a wonderful end to a wonderful year, and the teachers and teacher's assistants would like to applaud the hard work that the students put in this year. Have a great summer, and we'll see you in the fall!

Reverse Engineering Learning Fair

This was the third Reverse Engineering Learning Fair at Doherty, where the students take apart an object and construct it on Inventor, the most commonly used CAD program in industry. This project prepares the students to create an item in the world of engineering by having them do research in History and Biology, make accurate measurements of an item in Math, dissecting the principles of design in English, and creating a fully functioning 3D-Animated item in engineering. 
Mr. Garcia and Ms. Cochran introduced the evening, debuting a video of previous graduates of the ETA talking about their experiences and their life. After the film, Animah Mohammed spoke about the project itself.

After the film, Animah Mohammed spoke about the project itself, describing it from the point of view from a student. David Adarkwah then described what it was like to be in the ETA. 

Then, the parents and peers walked around and enjoyed the learning fair and the hard work the students put in.

At the end, the raffle was pulled to give a gift card to a parent and a student. Congrats to student Anthony Migridchian! Thanks to all who attended, even though the room was very hot, which we cannot control. Thanks to the freshmen for another great year! 

Learning Fair UPDATE

Today, Ms. Cochran is collecting the:

Learning Fair Inventor Files: 

Cover Page 

.IAM 

.IPN with BOM, and balloons

Then, next week, Monday and Tuesday is only working on display boards. Tuesday, they are due at the end of the period. After school on Wednesday is the learning fair.

Learning Fair UPDATE

The Human Connection Project is now due on May 5th. 

Human Connection Exemplars

Welcome back from vacation! As the freshmen resume working on the Learning Fair project, Mr. Simmarano wanted to show some Human Connection projects from previous years. These were all given high marks for creativity, organization, and content.

Learning Fair: Reverse Engineering Due Dates

4/3- Introduction of the Project
4/11- (Honors) English Technical Writing completed with rough draft attached
4/12 & 4/13- Human Connection Research in the Media Center
4/13- (College) English Technical Writing completed with rough draft attached
4/13- Gantt Chart Due for Engineering
4/13- Product approval sheet due
4/17 - 4/21- April Vacation
4/24 - 4/25- Math Lab
4/24 - 4/25- History Timeline Research in the Media Center
4/28- History research completed
5/5- The Human Connection for science completed
5/9- History Timeline completed
5/12- Inventor Files and Working Drawings printed
5/15- Surface Area and Volume completed
5/16- Poster Board completed
5/17- Learning Fair

IMPORTANT: ALL LATE WORK MUST BE BROUGHT PERSONALLY BY THE STUDENT TO THE TEACHER FROM WHICH IT WAS ASSIGNED BY MAY 16TH. OTHERWISE THE STUDENT WILL BE INELIGIBLE FOR THE LEARNING FAIR. 

Reverse Engineering Learning Fair

   The ETA's next cross-curriculum project will based around reverse engineering. Students will have to research and reverse engineer a product with a minimum of five pieces. They will need to detail the history, function, design, and how this product is used by the human body. Students will use technical writing, graphics, and Inventor to complete the project.
Each Student Will:

1. Research an existing existing technology/product
2. Complete and submit the "product approval sheet" in Engineering
3. Submit a list of dates of their technology/product and world events timeline in History
4. Submit a paper demonstrating technical writing of their technology/product in English
5. Complete a graphic organizer on how how the technology/product impacts human anatomy in Biology
6. Compute the surface area and volume of the technology/product in Algebra/Geometry
7. Complete and submit Inventor files and working drawings in Engineering
8. Display their work on a poster board in a aesthetically pleasing design

     If students want to, they can attend the learning fair on May 17th for extra credit.

Genetics Research Project

Mr. Simmarano would like to remind all freshmen that the Genetics Research Project is due on Friday, 3/17/17. If you need access to a computer, or extra help, go to Mr. Simmarano's room after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. 

The Blackstone Canal 2016

Last Thursday, the Engineering and Technology Academy had its eighth annual Blackstone Canal Learning Fair! The night was a resounding success. 
The students showed up around early to set up their projects and the mock canal. After everything was set up they enjoyed pizza and cookies, provided by the teachers.

The mock canal

Mr. Garcia opened the night, giving a basic schedule of how the night should go. He also announced, for those who didn't know, that school was cancelled on Friday the 16th. He also told people about the raffle that both students and parents could participate in, for Barnes and Nobles gift cards. The raffle tickets would have to be signed either by seven students or attendees, to prove that the students were interacting with adults. He then handed the microphone over to the student speaker, Miguel Sosa. Miguel talked about the history of the Blackstone canal and what the project entailed for the students. After Miguel was finished, Mr. Garcia let the learning fair commence.

Miguel Sosa and Mr. Garcia

Parents walked around from project to project, asking the students questions about it. "What was most challenging? ...Most enjoyable? ...Most interesting?" were all common questions. Students, who were standing at their projects, were ready to answer any and all questions, since they have been working on this project since late October. And as they spoke, students got more and more names to put on their raffle cards. 

Below are various pictures of the night:

At 7:30, the raffle was drawn and the students were sent home. Congratulations to the engineering students who worked so hard on this project, and thank you to the teachers who made it happen! 

Blackstone Canal Projects

The teachers of the ETA would like to give credit to some students who went above and beyond with their learning fair projects. 

Ashley Grullon

Candice Darteh

Samantha Torres

Darin Hiraldo

Nikola Grozdani

Mikayla Reuda

De'ziah Griffin

Thank you for all the effort you put into this project!

The Blackstone Canal

The Blackstone Canal

Engineering and Technology Academy Invites You!

The ETA is holding their 8^th annual “Bringing Back the Blackstone” project fair, and welcome the community to see. Those who attend will have the freedom to walk around and talk to the students, parents, and staff about the projects and the future of the Canal District, in a casual environment. Snacks and drinks will be provided.  

Date:
December 15th, 2016

Time: 6:30-7:30 pm.

Location: In the cafeteria of Doherty Memorial High School

Update: The Blackstone Canal

Mr. Garcia has changed the due date for the completed history timeline (with sources). It was due Thursday, December 1st. It is now due Monday, December 5th. Please use this extra weekend to work hard on this project. Thank you.

Redesigning the Canal: All You Need to Know

Zoning Definitions:

• Residential (Blue Paper)- houses, apartments, condominiums, off campus housing, shelters
• Commercial (Pink Paper)- businesses/services(store, pharmacy, bank), malls, resturants, night life, cafes, hotels/motels
• Industrial (White Paper)- manufacturing(factories), warehouses, hospitals
• Cultural (Yellow Paper)- museums, schools, colleges/campus, community centers, libraries, theaters
• Recreational (Green Paper)- parks, memorials, skate parks, botanical gardens, sports complex

DATES

• Oct. 19th- Introduction to Project
• Oct. 20th- Library Research: Industrial Revolution
• Oct. 21st- Library Research: Green Energy
• Oct. 24th- PSATs, Scale Activity and Permit Introduction
• Oct. 25th-31st- Special schedule: All day Engineering Class (Permits Due)
• Nov. 4th- Complete Scaled Drawings for Math
• Nov. 11th- No School (Veteran's Day)
• Nov. 15th- Green Plan for Biology Due
• Nov. 18th- History Timeline Research/Sources Due
• Nov. 21st- English Editorial Due with rough draft attached
• Nov. 23rd-27th- No School (Thanksgiving Vacation)
• Dec 5th- History Timeline Due with sources attached
• Dec. 7th- Inventor Sketches Due
• Dec 9th- Construction of Model AND Poster Board for Engineering Due
• Dec. 15th- The Learning Fair (Snow Date: Dec. 21st)

ALL PARTS OF THIS PROJECT MUST BE TURNED IN AND REVIEWED BY EACH TEACHER BY DEC. 13th FOR LEARNING FAIR EXTRA CREDIT.