The Northwest Alliance for Computational Science and Engineering (NACSE) out of Oregon State University partnered with 10 schools (Lourdes Public Charter School being one) to increase the technology skills of the participating teachers and the use of technology in their classrooms.  Each teacher was provided a laptop computer, web camera, and classroom projector to facilitate their participation in this project. 

The teachers (Mrs. Duman) had to commit to two intensive summer workshops during the summers of 2007 and 2008.

The Lourdes students’ task was to design a shelter capable of withstanding both the Indian Ocean Tsunami and the storm surge produced by Hurricane Katrina. Student teams, like multi-disciplinary research teams, were responsible for investigating and designing the structure, running the simulations, modifying their structure and repeating the simulation until the shelter was able to withstand the disasters. The capstone was the construction of physical models of their shelters for testing at the Tsunami wave Basin located at Oregon State University.  Students saw first hand how accurately their computational models predicted what happens in an experimental lab.

 

 

 

 

On May 1st, 2008, our 6-8th grade class from Lourdes Public Charter School went to OSU for a field trip. Our entire school year led up to this!

 

Shapes

First, we used the Shapes software to make 3D creations. We made snowmen throw snowballs, teapots pour a drink, and angels beat their wings. Shapes was an exciting experience we all enjoyed

(Shapes is a computer program from OSU that is designed to get K-12 students interested in computers as a means to create something and teach students the Cartesian coordinates.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bridges

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   (WestPoint Bridge software is a hands-on

                                            problem-solving experience. Students learn

                                               about truss bridges and how they work.)

                                                     bridgecontest.usma.edu

 

       Then we built bridges with straws and paperclips. We tested their strength by seeing how many National Geographic Magazines each bridge could hold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tsunamis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before we went to OSU, we had to build our tsunami shelters. First, we designed them on the simulator. This consisted of 3D designs on the computer. The simulator showed us the stresses of our shelters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We built the shelters with small wood blocks and gel toothpaste to perfectly match our simulator design.

 

Next we tested our models in the Hines Wave Lab at Oregon State University.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Vislab and DNA Lab

Next, we used the West Point Bridge Designer to make bridges with as little stress as possible. This program helped us understand the stresses and techniques used to help  sustain a working bridge. 

We also covered a unit on tsunamis. We watched a film about the tsunamis in India and Sri Lanka on December 2004.

(“American Tsunami-Are We Next? “ by Discovery Channel)

 

 

 

While we were at OSU, we also  participated in a DNA Lab and visited the Visualization Lab In the Kelly engineering building. The DNA Lab showed students how DNA separates and clumps together. The VisLab showed students 3D images and visualizations. These included maps, small toys and pennies seen through parabolic mirrors.