Exciting youth about science and engineering : the Stirling Engine class
Name
318901481-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
4.09 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
fd43bf28a5baa1d667066a4828ce99a2
Author(s)
Barragán, Patrick R
Advisor(s)
Douglas P. Hart.
Alternative Title
Stirling Engine class
Date Issued
2008
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The problem of a lack of science and engineering opportunities for youth has been identified. While other programs and attempted solutions exist, a novel approach involving creating self-contained project classes, called modules, and trading them between institutions is proposed. This idea intends to make these lacking opportunities available while overcoming some of the current problems opposing this availability namely insufficient resources and staff. While limited time and resources prevents the complete testing of the idea, the development of a single module to the point before developing a trading system is implemented. The project chosen is the construction and operation of the Stirling Engine using a design borrowed from MIT course 2.670. The module is tested with 15 4th to 7th grade home-schooled students in Los Angeles, Ca. Observations and participant feedback are gathered. Changes including the shortening of lectures, simplification of the project, and addition of testing are proposed. The information gathered from the test suggests that with a trading system in place, these modules can expose students to science and engineering and generate excitement for the fields.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008.
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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