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Can-do engineering students go back to school

Monash engineering students have gone back to primary school to teach school students about the science and technology behind everyday phenomena.

One project this semester involved 13 engineering students teaching students at five eastern suburbs schools how to design and build structures made of cans of food for the Canstruction competition held in Melbourne in October. It was the first time the competition has been held in Australia.

The engineering students taught the school students about maths and engineering concepts including 2D and 3D shapes, design procedures, what makes a strong shape, angles, balance, and how to use the 3D computer drawing program Google Sketch Up.

In total, 30,000 cans of food were transformed into sculptures that included Bob Marley's face, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal and the Norwegian flag. After the competition, engineering students helped pack up almost 20 tonnes of canned food that was donated to the Salvation Army.

The can project was part of a Monash unit called the Schools' Technology Studies Project. The fourth-year elective unit is offered to engineering students by Monash's Faculty of Education.

Unit coordinator Robyne Bowering said the unit aimed to provide engineering students with opportunities to develop the interpersonal and communication skills that were essential for becoming a successful leader in the modern engineering industry.

   Engineering student Riaf Al-Harthy with Grade 3 and 4 students from Boronia West Primary School.
Engineering student Riaf Al-Harthy with Grade 3 and 4 students from Boronia West Primary School.

"These skills include being able to effectively communicate information to technical and non-technical personnel, leadership and organisational skills, problem solving skills, teamwork and how to be an effective life-long learner," Ms Bowering said.

So far this year 93 engineering students have worked with 2500 students in 54 primary schools and two secondary schools in hands-on science and technology projects.

Many projects students have worked on this year have had a Beijing Olympic Games theme.

Two mechanical engineering students taught school students about the science behind Chinese inventions including the compass, kite, trebuchet, wheelbarrow, rudder and paper-making by making models of each invention.

A civil engineering student taught school students about what made manmade structures such as The Great Wall of China and the Bird's Nest (China's main Olympic stadium) strong and viable. The school students then worked in pairs to design and construct a venue that would accommodate a sport of their choice at the 2012 Olympic Games.

For information on the studying the unit visit the schools technology studies project web page.