Every day you use products that make your life eaiser and more enjoyable.  Engineering design and a story can be found behind even the simplest of objects/inventions- the paper clip, paper, the pencil, the door knob, the zipper, the pop top can, the toothbrush, etc and the not so simple- the telephone, indoor plumbing, the windshield wiper, the radio, the internet,  plasma TV, the compter, GPS devices, the internal combustion engine, voice recogntion. etc,.

For your midterm assignment,  select a common object that you would like to learn more about and perhaps improve on at some point in the future

Format   In groups no larger than four  students, create a short video/ music video, animation, webpage, or podcast that can inform others about an object/ invention of your choice 

Requirements

• Length- Five to Seven minutes in duration

• Quality use of a technological medium- Revision must be in evidence (this means scripting, use of editing software, etc)

• Describes the story behind the object/invention:
• How and why was it developed?  
• Who was involved? 
• Is there a patent?  If so, who holds the patent? 
• How does the technology/device work? Explain the science in terms you can understand
• What difficulties needed to be worked out by the inventor and/or mass producer?
• What was the object/invention's impact on society?

• Explains the basic science behind the object/invention in terms that you and that anyone could understand (this means you'll have to do research and submit your references using APA format as well as talk about it in your own words)  

• Submission of a Reference List (If APA is new to you, see Ms. P.)

•  You will have a total of 5 class periods to work on this.  Other than that, you'll need to work with your group on your own time.  BRAINSTORM OVER BREAK!

  Progress Step # 1 Select a topic and format  and get it approved by Ms. P.

  Progress Step # 2 Collect your references  for your content and submit in a word document to Ms. P.  listed in APA format

  Progress Step # 3 Submit a bullet point list on content that will be contained in your project

  Progress Step #4 Take a short quiz as an individual- Oral/written based on your research and content 1/21 or 1/22

  Progress Step #5 Make an electronic copy of your product or let Ms. P have access to where your work is posted THIS IS DUE NO LATER THAN 1/28/10

• Burn a hard copy for Ms. P, but work once assessed by Ms, P., it may be posted to iTunes or You Tube with your permission

Assessment

• Content Knowledge and Your Ability to Convey  Technical Information to a Lay Audience- 70%  
• Quality Use of Format and Craftsmanship- 20 %
• Creativity- 10%