Designing Bridges

Students learn about the types of possible loads, how to calculate ultimate load combinations, and investigate the different sizes for the beams (girders) and columns (piers) of simple bridge design. Students learn the steps that engineers use to design bridges: understanding the problem, determining the potential bridge loads, calculating the highest possible load, and calculating the amount of material needed to resist the loads.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Authors: Christopher Valenti, Denali Lander, Denise W. Carlson, Joe Friedrichsen, Jonathan S. Goode, Malinda Schaefer Zarske, Natalie Mach

Ohio Department of Education Computer Science

This computer science webpage features information supporting each part of Ohio’s educational system: Ohio’s Learning Standards, the model curricula, assessments and additional resources to help teachers in their classrooms.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Author: Ohio Department of Education

Ohio Department of Education K-12 Computer Science Webpage

This computer science webpage features information supporting each part of Ohio’s educational system: Ohio’s Learning Standards, the model curricula, assessments and additional resources to help teachers in their classrooms. Click on each section of the graphic below to explore how these components work together.

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: Ohio Department of Education

Ohio Cyber Reserve

Contact for the Ohio Cyber Reserve

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: John Wiseman

Introductory Computer Science in Ohio

Now that computer science learning standards have been approved for development in Ohio, come find out more about where you can get computer science background and professional learning from the Ohio Ed Techs.

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Computer Science in the Classroom

COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR YOUR CLASSROOM: OHIO’S STANDARDS is designed to help teachers in grades K-8 better integrate the learning standards for computer science. Computer science is becoming as essential as math and writing for our future workforce. The project highlights lessons from teachers who are bringing computer science concepts to their students in various innovative ways. Live Q & A Doc:

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

What Is a Program?

Students are introduced to the basic concepts of computer programs, algorithms and programming. Using a few blindfolds and a simple taped floor maze exercise, students come to understand that computers rely completely upon instructions given in programs and thus programs must be comprehensive and thorough. Then students learn to program using the LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT software. They create and test basic programs, first using just the LEGO NXT intelligent brick, and then using basic movement commands with the LEGO NXT software on computers. A detailed PowerPoint® presentation, plus a worksheet and pre/post quizzes are provided.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Authors: Pranit Samarth, Riaz Helfer, Satish S. Nair

Competitions

This page will list information about competitions as they relate to the OC2 and Cyber security.

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: John Wiseman

Kismet

In this video segment adapted from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, researchers in the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory working to engineer smarter robots are now building a machine that interacts socially with people.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Authors: Argosy Foundation, WGBH Educational Foundation

References to Find Mentors

Mentors are very valuable to your cyber club. Having individuals with subject matter expertise in information technology and cyber security will help your club focus on knowledge and skills attainment.

Material Type: Primary Source

Author: John Wiseman

Ask an Engineer

Explore some of the wonders of modern engineering in this video from the Sciencenter in Ithaca, New York. Hear a diverse selection of engineers explain how things work.

Material Type: Lecture

Authors: Argosy Foundation, WGBH Educational Foundation

How Do You Make a Program Wait?

Building on the programming basics learned so far in the unit, students next learn how to program using sensors rather than by specifying exact durations. They start with an examination of algorithms and move to an understanding of conditional commands (until, then), which require the use of wait blocks. Working with the LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT robots and software, they learn about wait blocks and how to use them in conjunction with move blocks set with unlimited duration. To help with comprehension and prepare them for the associated activity programming challenges, volunteer students act out a maze demo and student groups conclude by programming LEGO robots to navigate a simple maze using wait block programming. A PowerPoint® presentation, a worksheet and pre/post quizzes are provided.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Authors: Pranit Samarth, Riaz Helfer, Satish S. Nair

NOVA Labs

This lesson is designed to allow students to learn about and protect against different Cyber Threats. Please see attached Resource: NOVA Labs Lesson Plan for lesson details.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Randy Tucker

Passwords

This lesson is designed to teach students about threats to passwords and safe password practices. Please see attached Passwords Lesson Plan document for more. Note that this activity may take longer with younger students. 

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Randy Tucker

Starting a Cyber Club

The Cyber Club Toolkit is designed to hep schools and other civic organizations create and run cyber clubs in Ohio. The toolkit will include cyber security activities, career resources and other links to help students understand how cyber security impacts everyone and that there are significant current and future employment opportunities in this field. Many of these materials will be created by Ohio educators, industry partners and government agencies and will be available for school, after school clubs and other youth organizations in Ohio.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: John Wiseman

Rotary Encoders & Human-Computer Interaction

Students learn about rotary encoders and discover how they operate through hands-on experimentation. Rotary encoders are applied in tools to determine angle measurements and for translations of angular motion. One common rotary encoder application is in a computer's ball-type mouse—the ball itself is a type of rotary encoder. In this activity, students experiment with two rotary encoders, including one from a computer mouse and one created using a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT kit. They collect data to define and graph the relationship between the motion of the rotary encoder and its output.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Authors: Chris Leung, Janet Yowell, Paul Phamduy

Flow Charting App Inventor Tutorials

Students design and create flow charts for the MIT App Inventor tutorials in this computer science activity about program analysis. In program analysis, which is based on determining the behavior of computer programs, flow charts are an important tool for tracing control flow. Control flow is a graphical representation of the logic present in a program and how the program works. Students work through tutorials, design and create flow charts about how the tutorials function, and present their findings to the class. In their final assessment, they create an additional flow chart for an advanced App Inventor tutorial. This activity prepares students with the knowledge and skills to use App Inventor in the future to design and create Android applications.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Authors: Brian Sandall, Rich Powers

Program Analysis Using App Inventor

In computer science, program analysis is used to determine the behavior of computer programs. Flow charts are an important tool for understanding how programs work by tracing control flow. Control flow is a graphical representation of the logic present in the program. In this lesson, students learn about, design and create flow charts for different scenarios, including a game based on the Battleship® created by Hasbro©. In the associated activity, Flow Charting App Inventor, students apply their knowledge from this lesson and gain experience with a software application called App Inventor. This lesson and its associated activity can be stand-alone or used as a launching point for the Android Acceleration Application unit or any lesson involving App Inventor.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Authors: Brian Sandall, Rich Powers

Shaundra Bryant Daily

In this video from Science City, Shaundra Bryant Daily, an electrical engineer, describes a software program she developed to help girls reflect on their emotions, and how her two passionsí_í_íŹscience and danceí_í_íŹare connected.

Material Type: Lecture

Authors: Partnership for a Nation of Learners, WGBH Educational Foundation

Curiosity Killed the App

Students gain experience with the software/system design process, closely related to the engineering design process, to solve a problem. First, they learn about the Mars Curiosity rover and its mission, including the difficulties that engineers must consider and overcome to operate a rover remotely. Students observe a simulation of a robot being controlled remotely. These experiences guide discussion on how the design process is applied in these scenarios. The lesson culminates in a hands-on experience with the design process as students simulate the remote control of a rover. In the associated activity, students gain further experience with the design process by creating an Android application using App Inventor to control one aspect of a remotely controlled vehicle. (Note: The lesson requires a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education NXT base set.)

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Authors: Brian Sandall, Rich Powers