This semester our Year 8 Digital Technology students have been learning the Design Engineering Process
The Design Engineering Process involves problem analysis, research, innovation, prototype development and critical evaluation – a wide range of very important 21st century skills.
The students then apply this process and STEM to attempt addressing some major world problems in the areas of conservation, essential services, smart cities, and exploration. Many amazing ideas and innovations from the students surfaced at the end of the semester:
Emergency Directory Signals: A smart ambulance that sends radio signals to cars within the radius to direct them away safely to create clear pathway, creating a more efficient ambulance service.
Elderly Pal: To reduce death toll of helpless elderly at home, students integrates an AI companion into the smart watch band which detects unusual G-force indicating a likely fall and will alert authority to get help if potential danger is detected.
Smart Rider: The project involves the making of a hovercraft with can go on both air, land and water as a more suitable future mode of transport due to the rise of sea level and multiple flooding in city areas.
Life-Saver Band: Modernised city has people with suicidal inclination to wear the life-saver band which detects signs of suicidal thoughts and automatically activate strategies to de-escalate the suicide intentions, such as playing their favourite music or establish communications to distract them.
Electricity and Water Saver: Two groups of students separately made interactive apps that will provide instant feedbacks and reminders to users regarding their utility usage and allow them to remotely control devices at home to reduce wastage.
Rescuebot and Flood Flash: Remote-controlled robots that are able to participate in rescue missions by locating victims stricken and trapped in disasters using various sensors.
Garbage Classifications: A smart rubbish wheelly bin installed in every household that generates fines if wrong things are put into the bin and removes the fine when user has consistently done correct recycling.
Paper-Wise Bin: Students have created a paper wise bin which encourages paper recycling by showing how much of a tree has been saved through recycling and rewards recyclers by giving surprise congratulation messages and origami when a certain quota is reached.
Upon completion of the projects, many of our student teams participated in the Game Changer Awards – a competition that celebrates the innovation of young people as we move towards a more tech driven world by providing an opportunity for students who are interested in STEM, to create solutions to the worlds challenges, and compete at a state level. The event was also filled with various student activities and seminars that inspire students towards STEM.
On the day, our students have done an amazing job presenting their projects and some have even attracted much interests from the industrial sponsors who invited them back to present their projects again in their companies. The Rehoboth teams were also formally recognised for their excellence as we received the Best Presentation, Best use of STEM and the Overall Category Entry in the event. Congratulations to Shalom Mutendera, Sadie Olde, Richard Cai, Hkan Nan Maran, Isaac Lai and Nathan Budiman for winning these awards.
Let’s hear what the students have to say
‘The best thing about the whole experience was seeing everyone’s innovation. It was also very encouraging to hear peoples experiences with digital technologies. Something I took away from this experience was that everyone has a very different set of ideas and knowledge; if we as a generation combine our skill sets so we can change the world for good. I am so thankful that God has given me this opportunity to learn and improve my communication and problem-solving skills’ – Jaqueline Ardian
‘The Game Changer day was surprisingly quite fun. The best part of the day was probably being able to enjoy the day with my friends and that video we watched about the (effects of synthetic) drugs. I thought it was really cool how much I improved from the start. I realised that when I was talking to the judges I was talking out of memory and I wasn’t looking down at the slide show but I actually had memorised what I need to say. I am very thankful to all the teachers and speakers who were able to organise this and make it happen’ – Katie Wrener
‘The best thing on the Game Changer excursion was seeing all the creations/projects that people had made. And how all those that could better the planet in the future. I learnt quite a lot of things such as how to protect yourself when using social media and how drones could enhance our performances in the future. The things I want to thank God for, on that blessed day is that we all arrived safely to the competition and that we were blessed to compete with other teams. I also want to thank God that we could go to that competition and have our minds opened to see what great things other teams had designed and created’ – Hkan Nan Maran
‘The best thing that happened on that day was the judging of our projects and getting the feedback and socialising with other people about their projects. I learnt that STEM is much more than just coding robots and becoming a scientist. I thank God for the ability to create ideas and to execute them in a way that is pleasing to God’ – Samantha Ng
‘Going the Game changers event was a very interesting and fun experience. It felt like a chance for our ideas to be finally being heard and validated. The Judges were kind and offered advise on how we could take our ideas further. I leant new things about our day to day lives, and how technology is involved and how we can protect our information and privacy, while on the internet which I found very useful. Having people present and talk about STEM and how interesting and fun it could be, I have a new found interest and appreciation for STEM. I thank God for presenting such a great class and school for me to attend and share this experience with. Especially our teacher Mr Yu for supporting and comforting everyone in their ideas, plans and presentations’ – Shalom Mutendera
