STEM: Engineering, Physics, Electronics, Programming Hands-On Course Intermediate

This is a sequel to the Beginner Course of the same name. This course will follow the same format as the beginner, but go deeper into more components and concepts.  

This course is a deep dive into understanding of design concepts with physics, electronics, (and eventually computer control in the advanced course). We will be using weekly real world hands-on projects, designed mostly by the students themselves, to demonstrate principles and concepts of electricity, physics, and computers. We will be moving slowly, giving plenty of time for discussion and questions to make sure the concepts are fully understood. The goal here is understanding of how things work, and how parts work together to create a whole, utilizing things like physical gears and levers and motors, driven by electricity, controlled by electronic components like switches, accelerators, resistors, batteries, and eventually adding in computer control of those devices. 

This is not a simple "follow these instructions and build this thing" course.  The students will be expected to design and build their own projects to the requirements given and using the principles discussed in class. To do this will require full understanding of the concepts  and principles of engineering. 

At the heart of the course is the kit called "LAB-BOX" which contains the electronic components  and connections. The initial "pilot" kit was purchased in the beginner course (a requirement), so for this course we need the expansion kit to bring it up the full "class kit".  In addition there will be extra materials required to complete each project. The extra materials should be readily available around the house or a local hobby or hardware store and deciding on these materials is part of the design process of engineering. 

In this course, the learners will build relationships with each other and the teacher. Group discussions and brainstorming is a key component, followed by individual activity and creation between live classes.  The class size is kept relatively small to foster more relationship and more individual attention for all. 

There are three levels in this series of courses.  This is the intermediate course, where we dive deeper into more advanced components and concepts of engineering. Then finally the advanced kit, that brings in a computer controller to add computer logic and programming to the final 10 weeks.  Each 10 week course is purchased separately and requires an expansion to the original LabBox Kit.  All together the three courses give 30 weeks of total instruction across an entire year on a common and expanding theme.

In the background of the official three main projects, each student will be expected to create a "secret class project" of their own design, to be unveiled in the final class on week 10. This is where more advanced students can really shine and explore on their own beyond that we do in class. 

General Course Flow:
There will be three major group projects within the 10 week course, plus one private "secret class project".  Each major project will start simple, and then expand in additional phases, just as engineering often happens in the "real world". The initial designs must be sturdy enough to withstand change and improvement in subsequent phases. 

For each major project:
First Week:
     Introduction of initial project
     Explanation of new components and concepts
     Discussion on design concepts
     Commissioning of build time
Subsequent Weeks: 
     Review of initial designs
      Introduction of next project phase
     Explanation of new components and concepts
     Discussion on design concepts
     Commissioning of build time

Outline of the Course Projects:
Week 1: Introductions and First Project : Catapult
              Begin First Project - Build a working catapult frame using a servo motor
              Concepts of physics (force, mass, inertia), motors, triggers              

Week 2:  Demonstrate and improve design of the catapult
                Add an automatic timer and reset

Week 3: Demonstrate, Improve and Automate Catapult
                Add automatic triggers  (light, distance)
                Add Analog to Digital converter (comparator)

Week 4: Begin Project Two - Light target shooting game
               Concepts of light, motors, accuracy

Week 5:  Additional Phase
                    Make target moving
                    Adjustable time delay
                    Add rotating shutter
      
Week 6: Begin Project Three - Self Driving Car
               Concepts of distance sensing and control as analog

Week 7: Self driving car V2 
                 Add Digital control

Week 8: Self Driving Car  Additional                   
                Add fun stuff!  (lights, horn, etc)

Week 9: Secret Class Project
     Make Something! Use the skills learned in class to build a special secret project to be revealed in week 10

Week 10: Review Secret Class Projects
                 Q & A