We thought we knew it all about Wind Power

This site gives an insight into the ways that designers, scientists and engineers are still inventing ways to harness free energy. Perhaps you should ask your students if they can think of ways to use or develop this idea. Let them read and discuss the comments other people have made and see if they agree or disagree. Go on they will surprise you. Let them be creative.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4224763.html?series=37

Technology for Life – Challenges for schools 2007/08

 http://faraday.theiet.org/

“Technology for Life” is all about the impact that science and engineering make to the world of health.The programme is split into four topic zones, each concentrating on a specific area of engineering and technology that is helping to save lives.Each topic zone is fully integrated and packed with curriculum linked resources for 11–16 year olds to help you engage and inspire your students in STEM subjects. Click on the links below to find:

• Videos (15 mins) – introduce your students to real-world science and technology with our eye-opening short videos
• Short starter activities (10–15 mins) – quick, engaging introductions that lead you to the body of your lesson
• Main lesson activities (45–90 mins) – full lessons on each of the four topic areas with practical extension activities
• Games (10 –15 mins) – let your students take control of cutting-edge technology in our interactive games.
• Quizzes (10–15 mins) – quick, online, multiple-choice quizzes containing questions about the videos and curriculum subject matter
• Challenges – compete with other schools, to win £££s in our lesson-based challenges and vote online for your favourite entries.

Institute of Engineering and technology PrizeFour regional WinnersSchool wins £5000.Students win £500.Students win three places on a three day engineering course.Students take part in the filming of four ‘Faraday returns’ videos with leading scientists and engineers. Eight regional runners upSchools win £1000 and an engraved Faraday bust.Students win £500 (to be divided equally amongst each member if entering as a team).National Winner Announcements to be made at the final venue on 2nd April.Audience prize A prize will be awarded to the audience winner (entry with the highest online voting score).

No Teacher required

I was on holiday in Africa recently and amazed at the things that were made from scrap materials. There are just a couple of pictures here but interesting and thought provoking.

These children have toy cars that you can steer without bending down. As I say, interesting

Pictures

More pictures

Don’t have a clue

Google Answers was a great service I but sadly it was closed. Many of the free-lance researches from Google Answers moved to a new independently owned site, Uclue, that offers a similar service. You ask a question, announce a price you think an answer is worth, and if a top-notch researcher thinks your fee is fair, they will research your question. Questions can be quickies worth £2, or more complicated queries costing £100.

You can always ask for clarifications. As with Google Answers, the results are public. That means it pays to search the site for previous similar questions. It also means that your answer won’t be confidential.

If you want advice, go to the free and free-wheeling Yahoo Answers. If you want help on a particular question that the exact right person can answer quickly, I think Ask Metafilter is by far the best guru (and it is free for members). But if what you need is some real research and serious sleuthing, the kind of answer that is not just sitting in someone’s head, your best bet may be Uclue.

Website

What’s your idea

This may seem a bit wacky at first but ….

A cycle lawnmower!

We all want ’greener’ devices. This idea has not been ’developed’ into something that will sell yet (I suspect) but the idea isn’t bad. Just think of the wind up radio?

Can you think of a way of converting something that currently needs power into something greener?

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Doodle creativity

It works this way:

You draw with your finger in the air, the computer traces this and produces a 3D model. This is then output to a 3D printer and created … All quite easy and do-able but it’s still impressive when you see it happen.

Watch the video and wonder where this is leading ..

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