Josh Miranda
Physics Teacher
Revere High School
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3 levels of physics: AP, Honors, and College
Prep
Projects and activities for most units
◦ Start unit with in-class activity
◦ Follow up with take-home project at end of unit
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Paper describing EDP and blueprint along with
project
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In-class activity using straws and tape
◦ One class period to design, build and test
◦ Groups of 5 or 6 (classroom limitation)
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Unit project to build bridges out of toothpicks
◦ Students were given approximately two weeks
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In-class activity: launch a ping pong ball by
building a catapult out of craft sticks
(distance competition)
Unit project: launch a ping pong ball across
the room, over a wall, into a bucket
◦ Unlimited materials/supplies
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In-class activity: build a device with a
minimum of 3 steps to accomplish a simple
task using materials in the classroom
Unit project: at least 5 steps to pass a golf
ball around the room from machine to
machine
◦ Receive the golf ball from a height of 2 inches
◦ Deliver the golf ball to the next machine at a height
of 6 inches
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In-class activity: create a device to safely
catch a dropped egg
◦ 4 pieces of paper
◦ 5 straws
◦ 1m of tape
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Skipped unit project
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Mousetrap cars
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All classes
Strict design requirements
EDP more important
Covered multiple topics
Initial Design and paper
Redesign, paper and presentation
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Honors
◦ Initially science fair projects
◦ Design/redesign ongoing through the end of the
year
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Independent study students
◦ Two groups:
 Reduce energy lost through showerheads
 Design an RFID system for use in the school
Josh Miranda
Physics Teacher
Revere High School
CAD can be an effective tool for high school students in the
engineering design process when introduced carefully, and
given realistic expectations.
•Student Response to using CAD
•My Experiences
•Mastering CAD vs using CAD
•Expectations
• Students often find CAD intimidating
• Learning curve can be very steep for first-time users
• Can be viewed as the boring or tedious part of the
design process
• Good engineering can sometimes be lost in getting
the CAD details right
• My experience – mostly students involved with the
NU FIRST robotics team
oStudents from Boston, Brookline, and Revere
oRange from freshman through seniors
oMix of “veteran” team members and “rookies”
• “when can we stop CAD-ing and get to the fun stuff?”
• First time CAD users – sometimes a (strong) push is
needed
• Design details skipped to perfect aesthetics of design
Planning stage
CAD work begins
Design Review
Manufacture
Assembly
Final Product
• Mastering CAD vs Using CAD
• Students do not have to be experts to effectively use
CAD in design
• For a Capstone project or course, CAD should be used
as a tool – or method to solve a problem
• Students can start with only basic proficiency and
then learn more as necessary for their designs
• Students will not become CAD experts in anything
other than a CAD class
• Students should recognize when CAD can be used as
a tool to solve a problem and what CAD is capable of
• Even just effectively using the 2D sketch features to
adjust designs is a great start
• Most designs can be made using simple 2D sketches
to create 3D models and assemblies