Summerfield students hone in on laser lessons

Summerfield students hone in on laser lessons
Summerfield seventh graders are all learning hands-on lessons about lasers, thanks to a study unit taught by industrial technology teacher James Partridge.

“I want to make the kids technologically literate,” said Mr. Patridge. “I want them to be aware of the technology that we are already using, and that is around them all the time. I want them to learn the safety aspects of this technology as well as how it affects their lives.”

Mr. Patridge said he was at a grocery store one day and saw the clerk peering into the laser scanner. Aghast, he said, “Don’t look in there! It’s like looking into the sun!”

He said many people are unaware that “laser” stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.”

The students are learning about the application and technology of lasers. Lasers are used in many fields, including biotechnology, telecommunications, environmental, retail, surveying and construction.

Students are conducting six hands-on experiments, using lasers purchased by the Intermediate School District. Every station teaches a different concept about lasers. When Mr. Partridge is done with the lasers in his classes, they will be available for loan to other teachers and districts, complete with an idea booklet and information from Mr. Partridge for good lessons.

“The kids really get into it,” said Mr. Partridge. “It’s not an effort to keep them at their stations and working on the projects. They won’t have these learning opportunities if we don’t put the technology in their hands.”

He added, “They are able to connect the technology with the real world and so they understand it and see where everything fits.”

One of the most interesting experiments conducted by students is the creation of a mini light show. The students use a laser and two mirrors to create many different shapes on the wall. The students sketch these shapes as a way to record the results of their experiment.

In another experiment, students fill a jug with water. A hole in the jug lets water run out, and a laser beamed into the jug follows the water as it bends over the table and falls down. This helps students learn how lasers travel in fiber optic cables around corners.
Another group of students use a laser to transmit radio waves to a box with a photo diode, turning light energy into electrical energy. They hear music coming out of the box, and if the box were in another room, they could hear the music in there. Mr. Partridge said it is also possible to modulate television on a laser beam, as well.

Other fun activities included looking at the results of lasers passing through various substances, including tap water, and spraying air freshener and watching the laser beams travel through the air.

In addition to the lasers, students in the program also are using six computers in the lab to run a Mind Storm Legos robotics system. The Summerfield PTO purchased the Mind Storms system.

The students have to design the robot and use Legos to build it. Then, they program the computers to run the robots. They are graded on how well their robot performs in a maze.

Students used computers with a CAD system to design a tic tac toe game, and make it from wood. They also designed the lids for the games, which were designed to hold marbles. The students were graded based on how well their finished prototypes matched the drawings.

When they finished the games, they found the boxes were too small to hold nine marbles, so they had to do some problem-solving. Suggestions included using smaller objects, such as jelly beans, to play the game, or to make the boxes bigger.

Students got to use a power miter saw to make the games.

“We give the kids an opportunity to experience new things, like using power tools with proper safety precautions,” said Mr. Partridge.

In addition to their tests and projects, students are graded on their “employability skills.” Mr. Partridge determines how well they follow written and verbal directions, utilize self-control, and work as a team.

“I’ve had ninth graders come back here from high school and tell me that they learned a lot here. They can work as a team and do problem-solving, which has helped them,” said Mr. Partridge.

Mike Bolster is working as Mr. Partridge’s student teacher. He is going to graduate this spring from Eastern Michigan University, and plans to be an industrial technology teacher.

“He is always very well prepared,” said Mr. Partridge. “When he leaves here, he will have some real solid activities to take with him for his first teaching job.”

In turn, Mr. Bolster has taught Mr. Partridge about using 3-D drawing software on the computer.

Student teacher Mike Bolster explained how the laser can transmit radio waves as Summerfield Middle School student Nick Cousino checked the boxes with the photo diodes. The students visited many different stations to learn different aspects of lasers, and how they can be used in different applications.

Summerfield students hone in on laser lessons
Summerfield seventh graders are all learning hands-on lessons about lasers, thanks to a study unit taught by industrial technology teacher James Partridge.

“I want to make the kids technologically literate,” said Mr. Patridge. “I want them to be aware of the technology that we are already using, and that is around them all the time. I want them to learn the safety aspects of this technology as well as how it affects their lives.”

Mr. Patridge said he was at a grocery store one day and saw the clerk peering into the laser scanner. Aghast, he said, “Don’t look in there! It’s like looking into the sun!”

He said many people are unaware that “laser” stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.”

The students are learning about the application and technology of lasers. Lasers are used in many fields, including biotechnology, telecommunications, environmental, retail, surveying and construction.

Students are conducting six hands-on experiments, using lasers purchased by the Intermediate School District. Every station teaches a different concept about lasers. When Mr. Partridge is done with the lasers in his classes, they will be available for loan to other teachers and districts, complete with an idea booklet and information from Mr. Partridge for good lessons.

“The kids really get into it,” said Mr. Partridge. “It’s not an effort to keep them at their stations and working on the projects. They won’t have these learning opportunities if we don’t put the technology in their hands.”

He added, “They are able to connect the technology with the real world and so they understand it and see where everything fits.”

One of the most interesting experiments conducted by students is the creation of a mini light show. The students use a laser and two mirrors to create many different shapes on the wall. The students sketch these shapes as a way to record the results of their experiment.

In another experiment, students fill a jug with water. A hole in the jug lets water run out, and a laser beamed into the jug follows the water as it bends over the table and falls down. This helps students learn how lasers travel in fiber optic cables around corners.
Another group of students use a laser to transmit radio waves to a box with a photo diode, turning light energy into electrical energy. They hear music coming out of the box, and if the box were in another room, they could hear the music in there. Mr. Partridge said it is also possible to modulate television on a laser beam, as well.

Other fun activities included looking at the results of lasers passing through various substances, including tap water, and spraying air freshener and watching the laser beams travel through the air.

In addition to the lasers, students in the program also are using six computers in the lab to run a Mind Storm Legos robotics system. The Summerfield PTO purchased the Mind Storms system.

The students have to design the robot and use Legos to build it. Then, they program the computers to run the robots. They are graded on how well their robot performs in a maze.

Students used computers with a CAD system to design a tic tac toe game, and make it from wood. They also designed the lids for the games, which were designed to hold marbles. The students were graded based on how well their finished prototypes matched the drawings.

When they finished the games, they found the boxes were too small to hold nine marbles, so they had to do some problem-solving. Suggestions included using smaller objects, such as jelly beans, to play the game, or to make the boxes bigger.

Students got to use a power miter saw to make the games.

“We give the kids an opportunity to experience new things, like using power tools with proper safety precautions,” said Mr. Partridge.

In addition to their tests and projects, students are graded on their “employability skills.” Mr. Partridge determines how well they follow written and verbal directions, utilize self-control, and work as a team.

“I’ve had ninth graders come back here from high school and tell me that they learned a lot here. They can work as a team and do problem-solving, which has helped them,” said Mr. Partridge.

Mike Bolster is working as Mr. Partridge’s student teacher. He is going to graduate this spring from Eastern Michigan University, and plans to be an industrial technology teacher.

“He is always very well prepared,” said Mr. Partridge. “When he leaves here, he will have some real solid activities to take with him for his first teaching job.”

In turn, Mr. Bolster has taught Mr. Partridge about using 3-D drawing software on the computer.