Course Purpose: The purpose of the module is to expose students to civil engineering. Students will get hands-on lab experience characterizing different materials, designing a bridge using a PC based simulator, calculating the forces on each member of a truss bridge, and constructing a bridge from manila file folders resulting in a load to weight ratio greater than 100:1. Throughout the module, students will be utilizing their algebra, geometry, physics, presentation, and investigation and experimentation skills.

Module Designed For: This module designed to be used as one part of a one year (two semester) high school course on engineering fundamentals. Lessons substantially incorporate National and State algebra and physics content standards, California Investigation and Experimentation standards, SCANS, and California Engineering Technology standards.

Duration. The material is organized to be presented over six weeks. Teachers may compress or expand the material as desired.

Assessment Methods: Assessments are continuous and include class participation, homework, individual and team projects, and quizzes and tests.

Course structure: Over the six-week unit duration, 20% of the time is motivation to learn, 20% lecture and guided discussion, 40% activities, laboratories, and projects. The balance of the time, 20% is for evaluations and feedback.

Laboratory Description: All labs can be done in a standard classroom with some specialized equipment. (See Module Information for module costs.) Access to flat work areas is ideal for bridge construction.

Prerequisites: Algebra and trigonometry.

Textbooks and other resources: There is no text for the module. All material to teach the basic course is include in the course materials. Weeks 3 through 6 are based on Dr. Stephen Ressler's book, Designing and Building File-Folder Bridges. The manual is available to download from the module or a hardcopy can be purchased. (See Module Information for details)

Units and Lesson Summary:

• Great civil structures (Research and Presentation Project)
• Materials Terminology
• Materials Characterization Lab (Experimentation, Plotting Results, and Calculations)
• Bridge Design with PC Simulation
• Structural Analysis I (Trigonometry, Vectors, Equilibrium, and Reactions)
• Structural Anlaysis II (Free Body Diagrams, Force Calculations, and Static Determinancy)
• Bridge Construction
• Truss Factor of Safety
• Truss Characterization Lab (Testing Machine Theory, Experimentation, and Plotting Results)
• Weight Test Constructed Bridge

Specific Objectives: On completion of the course the student should have a fundamental understanding of: