G9 Tech Class #8

Dear G9 students,

as I promised I am posting another picture of Mexico City, This is the Main Square.

Today please start working on Design.

• Include a variety of different designs addressing the project 'problem'  (at least 3)
• Explain every part of each ideas/product solution
• For explaining your designs, please use different techniques like story boards, sketches, labelled diagrams with explanations, etc.
• Evaluate each design critically against the design specifications (assess what design specs each design complies with or not)
• Choose one design to build
• Justify your choice
• Evaluate your performance in the design stage of the project.

You can use the Design Folder Checklist as a guide not to leave anything out of your Design Stage.

Remember to check the G9 Due Dates to stay on task.

Record what you accomplished today, what's your plan for next class, any issues you had to overcome, etc in your Process Journal.

G9 Tech Class #7

Dear G9 students,
Greetings from Mexico city! I attach below a picture I took from the plane while landing in Mexico city. I will try and get another picture that shows more of Mexico City for tomorrow :-)

Today please continue working on your Investigation stage which is due by the end of today. Please visit the G9 Due Dates webpage for Project 1 to plan accordingly.

Review the information posted in last class' blog post regarding:

• your 'problem': Design, build and test an aesthetically pleasing, yet economical bridge to replace the Clifton Suspension Bridge.  How will you solve this challenge?
• the basic design specifications (materials, cost, scale)
• and what you need to include in your Investigation stage.

You can use the G9 Investigation Template shared document to work collaboratively online.

• Remember to include the Assignment Standards we have talked about in class. 
• Specify on your document who was in charge of developing each part of the content (you can write your name between brackets, use colour coding, etc)
• You can use the Design Folder Checklist to make sure you don't leave anything out of your assignment.
• Take a look at Investigation criteria to know what is expected from you at this stage. 
• Once you finish your assignment: Download your Shared Doc as a .pdf before you submit it. You can watch the step by step video tutorial in my YouTube Channel!
• Once you have your downloaded your assignment, please follow the steps to submit your assignment as posted in the MYP Technology Website.

Remember to make your Process Journal entry of the day. You can use this Process Journal shared Doc template.

G9 Tech Class #5

Following what we began working on last class, we will continue our Investigation stage for Project 1.


Based on the specific info that we are looking into to learn about bridges:

• different kinds of bridges
• compression
• tension
• what kind of bridge is required for each situation
• how do arches support weight?
• what happens when a load pushes down on a Beam Bridge?
• how do you stabilize a Suspension Bridge?
• How do Cabled-Stayeds Bridges work?
• build some bridges online
• important vocabulary like: piers, span, beams, arches, truss, suspension, cable-stayed
• and more!

Please visit last class' blog entry and browse the suggested start up resources.

1. Tension and Compression 
2. Forces Lab 
3. PBS Bridge Basics
4. NOVA Beta Build a Bridge

+ Research two Famous Bridges focusing on:

• materials
• reason
• benefits
• drawbacks
• design/type
• diferent locations

This research is due: by the end of class today.

Keep working on your Process Journal. You can use this template as a start-up document. Remember to record who makes the journal entry!

G9 Tech Class #4

Today we will start working on Project 1: Bridge Building
We will work in groups of 3 students (max). Please organize in groups.

Let's start looking into these suggested sources to learn about:

• different kinds of bridges
• compression
• tension
• what kind of bridge is required for each situation
• how do arches support weight?
• what happens when a load pushes down on a Beam Bridge?
• how do you stabilize a Suspension Bridge?
• How do Cabled-Stayeds Bridges work?
• build some bridges online
• important vocabulary like: piers, span, beams, arches, truss, suspension, cable-stayed
• and more!

Your start up resources are:

1. Tension and Compression (watch movie abt Arch Bridges)
2. Forces Lab: Forces act on big structures in many ways. Click on the actions: Squeeze, Stretch, Bend, Slide and Twist to explore the forces at work and to see real-life examples)
3. PBS Bridge Basics
4. NOVA Beta Build a Bridge

Start your Process Journal today! You can use this template as a start-up document. Remember to record who makes the journal entry!