Project Lead The Way Laboratory
Principles of Engineering
The following Project Lead The Way
laboratory design was developed by
technology education majors at Purdue
University as part of their IT: 471
course “Managing the Technology
Education Laboratory” instructed by
Dr. George E. Rogers
Project Lead the Way
Principles of Engineering Lab
Plan
Jason Kern, Darin Powell,
Matt Davis
Change to Enhance Student Learning
• Our students are entering a quickly evolving
and highly technological 21st century society
• Implementing PLTW with Principles of
Engineering
• Taking our older industrial arts type of lab and
turning it into today’s technology education
lab to better suit student needs
Relating Change to Standards
• With this lab enhancement we will be able to
reach farther and cover more of our national
technology standards
• Doing so we will be able to better prepare
students for their future
Relating to School Mission
• “Our students will receive an education that will give
them a step up on students from other schools
whether they choose to directly enter the workforce
or continue with their education,” is the school
mission.
• Restructuring this technology education classroom
shows our dedication to the school mission through
our willingness to provide students with the best
educational opportunities of the time.
Course Objectives
1. Define and name different types of engineering
2. Develop communication and documentation skills
3. Understand the design process
4. Explain engineering systems
Course Objectives
5. Define and explain statics and strength of materials
6. Recognize dynamics/kinematics
7. Determining engineering in reliability
8. Recognize materials and materials testing in
engineering
Learning Activities
• Research and report on engineering careers
• Working through the design process
• Learning simple machines and creating a Rube
Goldberg project
• Completing activities on a Pneumatic Trainer
& Hydraulic Trainer
Learning Activities
• Working through Fischertechnik assignments
with dc motors and creating a marble
moving conveyer system in link with
computer program
• Use the structural stress analyzer to
determine the strength of a variety of
materials
Equipment List
• Lap top computers
• Fischertechniks Kit
• Hydraulics trainer
• Pneumatics trainer
• Structural stress analyzer
Classroom Atmosphere
Acoustics
Porous ceiling tiles
Coloring
The chairs and room will be primarily blue.
The blue promotes a calm and appealing
feeling
Classroom Atmosphere
Lighting
The room will have a foot candle lighting of
70.
2 sets of switches for computer area and work
area, each including a dimmer.
Safety
-Traffic Lanes are not a big issue in this lab. There is
adequate room around every table/area for traffic flow.
- Color Coding is done according to OSHA standards
and regulations. First Aid kits are green, MSDS
containers are colored blue, and moving parts on all
major equipment are to be color coded.
Safety
-Safety Equipment – All students are to wear
safety glasses while working in the work table
area. The safety glasses are located near the
first aid kit in a red cabinet.
-MSDS sheets will be hung near the first aid kits,
and safety glasses, as well as a master copy
located in the teachers office. The MSDS book
is to be updated monthly with all materials used
in the classroom.
Safety
- Electrical – A preventive maintenance
program will be implemented to ensure all
electrical devices and outlets are safe. The
electrical column on the lab tables are for
ease as well as safety for students.
Facility Organization
-The lab is organized around the objectives
-For example, the Fischertechniks activities
will be stored inside the work tables.
-Other materials will be put in storage and
supplied to students as needed.
Facility Organization
-Inventory will be kept on a database program
that keeps track of all equipment and
consumables.
-All important information will be kept on the
materials and updated at the conclusion of
each activity and prior to each semester.
-Furniture inventory will be kept as well as
maintenance records.
Leading the Way In K-12 Engagement