Program Description

Our Technology & Engineering Department offers a variety of elective courses for students who are interested in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) fields. The courses that we offer are important for student success and are deeply intertwined in the real world. A STEM-literate student is not only an innovator and critical thinker but is able to make meaningful connections between school, community, work and global issues. Students learn how to apply STEM knowledge, skills and habits of mind to make the world a better place. 

Students in the Engineering R&D class are currently learning about generators and are designing a water turbine and generator so that a small amount of electricity can be generated from a pipe filled with flowing water.  The project stemmed from an interest in electricity and magnetism and a desire to have a deeper understanding of how kinetic energy (the energy of motion) can be converted into electrical energy in a generator.  By doing a hands-on project, the students will have a much deeper understanding of how electricity is generated than they would by just learning it from a book.

The Innovation Center is an ideal learning environment for this project.  Students have state of the art computers to do research and design.  They have the space needed to have tubs of water and connecting plumbing.  For this project, they are designing their own turbines using Tinkercad (TM) and printing them on the Ultamaker 3D printer.  This technology allows them to quickly modify and reprint various turbine designs so that they can quickly iterate to the best design.

Pictured in front of their in-progress designs are Spencer Putnam, Alex Fuchs, and Christoph Bernas.  Pictured at the 3D printers are Christoph Bernas and Connor Adamski.  The printed turbine was designed by Connor.