Tech Directions - November 2008 - (Page 9)

the news report Susanne Peckham susanne@techdirections.com DOE Announces Real World Design Challenge The Department of Energy has announced creation of the Real World Design Challenge (RWDC), an annual event that will give high school students (grades 9-12) the opportunity to work on real world engineering challenges in a team environment. Each year, student teams will be asked to address a challenge that confronts one of the nation’s leading industries. Students will utilize professional quality computer-aided design software to develop solutions and will also generate presentations that demonstrate the value of their solutions. The RWDC provides students with opportunities to apply the lessons of the classroom to the technical problems that are being faced in the workplace. It aims to foster creativity, critical thinking, problemsolving skills, and innovation. The precise nature of the Challenge will change from year to year, but the underlying design principles will remain constant. Each year, a new challenge will be issued focusing on a different area of engineering. This year’s Challenge focuses on aeronautics and energy usage. Students will compete against other teams within their state, with the winning team from each state receiving an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to participate at the National Event in late April, 2009. For more information, visit www. scied.science.doe.gov/RWDC/index. html or contact Sue Ellen Walbridge at sue-ellen.walbridge@science.doe.gov. (TARC). In taking part in the challenge, students compete for $60,000 in prizes and scholarships and a trip to next year’s international air show in Paris. Participants must design and build a rocket that will climb to 750' and stay aloft for 45 seconds. This year’s task is transporting the oneegg payload lying on its side rather than positioned vertically, mimicking the position of an astronaut. Students in grades 7-12 in any U.S. school or nonproﬁt youth organization are eligible to compete. About 7,000 students from across the country took part in the contest last year. Since TARC’s ﬁrst contest in 2003, almost 50,000 students have taken the challenge. A team from Enloe High School in North Carolina was crowned champion in 2008. F Team America Rocketry Challenge Registration Opens Registration is now open for the world’s largest rocket contest, the Team America Rocketry Challenge Susanne Peckham is managing editor of Tech Directions. www.techdirections.com NEWS REPORT 9 http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/RWDC/index.html http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/RWDC/index.html http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/RWDC/index.html http://www.intelitek.com http://www.techdirections.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - November 2008

Tech Directions - November 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct fromWashington The Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers Exploring Engineering—Pros Can Help Make It Real Challenge Students to Design an Energy-Efficient Home CTE Teacher Succession—Insuring a Smooth Transition Reservoir High’s TE Site Wins Web Site of the Month ACTE Convention and Career Tech Expo— Racing Toward Charlotte Hands-On Activities More than Fun

Tech Directions - November 2008

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