Shark Tank
In a junior high class modeled after the TV show Shark Tank, students embark on entrepreneurship by developing and presenting their business concepts. The process begins with each student or group brainstorming innovative product or service ideas. They then create thorough market research to identify their target audience, counterargue competitors, and assess the feasibility of their ideas. This research phase is crucial as it provides a solid foundation for their business plans.
Following the research, students move on to the development stage, creating prototypes or detailed plans for their products or services. They also work on crafting a persuasive pitch highlighting their ideas’ unique selling points, the problem they aim to address, and the potential market impact. The objective is to convince a panel of “investors,” composed of their teachers, to support their venture.
The presentation day is the culmination of their efforts. Each group presents their pitch to the panel, showcasing their prototypes, business plans, and marketing strategies. They must be prepared to answer challenging questions from the teachers, demonstrating their understanding of the market, financial projections, and strategies to overcome potential obstacles. The teachers evaluate each presentation based on creativity, feasibility, and the overall quality of the pitch.
“This life-skills class helps to prepare students for adult projects and will benefit them for high school preparation.” – Dr. Antolik
This Shark Tank-inspired class not only educates students about entrepreneurship but also helps them develop essential skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork. By simulating a real-world business environment, the class prepares students for future endeavors, instilling a sense of confidence and innovation that will benefit them in any career path they choose.
EDC-RG
The EDC RG class, which stands for Engineering Design Challenge with a focus on Rube Goldberg machines, is a fascinating course where students get to engage in hands-on engineering projects. One of the key projects in this class is the pumpkin drop, which takes place in the fall. The other significant project is the Rube Goldberg challenge. Rube Goldberg was known for creating overly complicated machines to perform simple tasks, much like the elaborate sequences you might see in cartoons.
In this challenge, students are tasked with creating their own Rube Goldberg machines. The idea is to design a complex contraption that accomplishes a straightforward task, such as knocking over a glass of water to water a plant. Each group of students works on this same final task, but the way they build their machines is entirely up to them. This allows for a lot of creativity and innovation.
The class strongly emphasizes using simple machines in Rube Goldberg devices. Students may include levers, pulleys, ramps, and other fundamental mechanical components, organizing them in different sequences to reach the desired goal. This exercise aims to demonstrate how uniquely each group can tackle the same challenge by applying their knowledge of simple machines and engineering concepts.
“Incorporating critical thinking creates complexity for students and develops a more interactive experience.” – Mrs. Myers
Overall, the EDC RG class is a unique and engaging way for students to learn about engineering design and problem-solving. It encourages teamwork, creativity, and a deep understanding of mechanical concepts, all while having a lot of fun building these intricate machines.
