Resources and Materials
Technology available for student use.
School Computers
Autodesk Inventor CAD Software
Autodesk Revit Architecture Software
Google Sketchit, if allowed by the school IT department
Microsoft Office (all products)
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Digital camera(s)
Video camera(s)
Audio-Visual equipment (projector, screen)
Students will have the choice of three different software packages to use in drawing up their Biomass Conversion Plant design on the computer. These choices are Autodesk Revit Architecture Software, Google Sketchit, and Autodesk Inventor CAD Software. Because the project is about creating an initial plant design each team will be allowed to choose which of the three choices that they use according to their preferences and what the team members feel comfortable with using.
When researching the topics in this unit, the students will be using the school computers which come with Microsoft Office products including, Word, PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer. When doing research on their home computers the students have the option to use other browsers such as FireFox and other word processing software. However, because the school computers are loaded with Microsoft software any work done at home must be done on software that is compatible with the Microsoft Office Suite of software. Teams will use the school printers will be used for printing the final project reports.
The school or teacher will provide digital camera(s) and video camera(s) for the students to use in preparing their final presentations. Students may also use cameras or video cameras that they have. The teams will use the audio-visual equipment already in the classroom for presenting their projects to the class.
Autodesk Inventor CAD Software
Autodesk Revit Architecture Software
Google Sketchit, if allowed by the school IT department
Microsoft Office (all products)
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Digital camera(s)
Video camera(s)
Audio-Visual equipment (projector, screen)
Students will have the choice of three different software packages to use in drawing up their Biomass Conversion Plant design on the computer. These choices are Autodesk Revit Architecture Software, Google Sketchit, and Autodesk Inventor CAD Software. Because the project is about creating an initial plant design each team will be allowed to choose which of the three choices that they use according to their preferences and what the team members feel comfortable with using.
When researching the topics in this unit, the students will be using the school computers which come with Microsoft Office products including, Word, PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer. When doing research on their home computers the students have the option to use other browsers such as FireFox and other word processing software. However, because the school computers are loaded with Microsoft software any work done at home must be done on software that is compatible with the Microsoft Office Suite of software. Teams will use the school printers will be used for printing the final project reports.
The school or teacher will provide digital camera(s) and video camera(s) for the students to use in preparing their final presentations. Students may also use cameras or video cameras that they have. The teams will use the audio-visual equipment already in the classroom for presenting their projects to the class.
Detailed List of materials and resources to support student investigations
General Supplies
-- Engineer's notebook
-- Pencil
-- Ruler/straight edge
-- Whiteboard/Chalk Board
Websites
Biofuel-Introduction Handout
-- Biomass Handling: All you wanted to know about biomass handling but were afraid to ask.
http://www.advancedbiomass.com/2010/11/so-you-want-to-build-a-biomass-plant/
-- Biomoass Plant example
http://inhabitat.com/diamond-patterned-green-biomass-plant-designed-to-blend-in-with-surrounding-woodland/
-- Aruna Electrical Works
http://www.arunaelectricalworks.com/biomass/BiomassGasifier.aspx
Videos
-- Fuel (A documentary) http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/fuel/trailer (full movie at http://www.hulu.com/watch/158468)
-- 300 Years of FOSSIL FUELS in 300 Seconds http://youtu.be/cJ-J91SwP8w
-- Biofuels, the Green alternative http://youtu.be/T_S7Q3Uede4
-- Biomass power plant http://youtu.be/GZ8PgGKUjqA
-- Small (Micro) Biomass Fuel Briquette Presses made from Wood http://youtu.be/Mt0QQe6Eetw
Materials and Supplies for Model
-- cardboard, approx. 9" by 13" size piece for each team
-- posterboard
-- paint
-- glue
-- tape
-- paper
-- Scissors
-- Pencils and pens
-- craft knives
-- other assorted materials that the students want to use to build a model of their biomass conversion plant. Examples include objects such as pebbles, gravel, grass, twigs, branches, toilet paper tubes, paper towel tubes, emplty oatmeal canisters and tissue paper.
-- quantity needed for these supplies will vary according to the number of groups in the class and the size of the final model.
-- Engineer's notebook
-- Pencil
-- Ruler/straight edge
-- Whiteboard/Chalk Board
Websites
Biofuel-Introduction Handout
-- Biomass Handling: All you wanted to know about biomass handling but were afraid to ask.
http://www.advancedbiomass.com/2010/11/so-you-want-to-build-a-biomass-plant/
-- Biomoass Plant example
http://inhabitat.com/diamond-patterned-green-biomass-plant-designed-to-blend-in-with-surrounding-woodland/
-- Aruna Electrical Works
http://www.arunaelectricalworks.com/biomass/BiomassGasifier.aspx
Videos
-- Fuel (A documentary) http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/fuel/trailer (full movie at http://www.hulu.com/watch/158468)
-- 300 Years of FOSSIL FUELS in 300 Seconds http://youtu.be/cJ-J91SwP8w
-- Biofuels, the Green alternative http://youtu.be/T_S7Q3Uede4
-- Biomass power plant http://youtu.be/GZ8PgGKUjqA
-- Small (Micro) Biomass Fuel Briquette Presses made from Wood http://youtu.be/Mt0QQe6Eetw
Materials and Supplies for Model
-- cardboard, approx. 9" by 13" size piece for each team
-- posterboard
-- paint
-- glue
-- tape
-- paper
-- Scissors
-- Pencils and pens
-- craft knives
-- other assorted materials that the students want to use to build a model of their biomass conversion plant. Examples include objects such as pebbles, gravel, grass, twigs, branches, toilet paper tubes, paper towel tubes, emplty oatmeal canisters and tissue paper.
-- quantity needed for these supplies will vary according to the number of groups in the class and the size of the final model.
Outside experts and where on the timeline that they would be involved
Building Contractor familiar with large scale, commercial building projects
-- timeline = sometime during the week where the students would be
working on finding out what kind of materials to use when designing
and building the biomass conversion plant
Local community planning commission member
-- timeline = sometime during the week when the students would be working
on where the biomass conversion plant would be located
and how it would be designed
People living in the local community
-- timeline = sometime during the week when the students would be working on
where the biomas conversion plan would be located and how it would be designed
-- timeline = sometime during the week where the students would be
working on finding out what kind of materials to use when designing
and building the biomass conversion plant
Local community planning commission member
-- timeline = sometime during the week when the students would be working
on where the biomass conversion plant would be located
and how it would be designed
People living in the local community
-- timeline = sometime during the week when the students would be working on
where the biomas conversion plan would be located and how it would be designed
Specific Examples of how students will be expected to identify and use resources in developing their project.
General resources for developing their project
-- Instructions will be given to the students on how to take effective notes and how to document the information that is given when guest speakers visit the class. The students will be encouraged to take notes keeping their list of questions and information needed to complete the project.
-- Instructions will be given to the students on how to research information on the internet and how to be discerning about the quality of the infomration that they find
-- The teacher should prepare the students to talk with community members(family, friends, coworkers) about a biomass conversion plant being built in the community so that they know how to document such interviews. One way to do this would be to work with the class as a whole to help them work the process of creating a questionnaire to use for this process. It is not expected that each team will use the same questionnaire, but the process that they use to create such a questionnaire should be the same.
-- The teacher will provide mini-lectures, activities, labs and demonstrations as needed for the students to understand what is needed about biomass/biofuel, research and documentation skills, engineering design, and presentation building skills. Students will be expected to utilize the information provided by the teacher to complete this project.
Resources specific to Objectives -
To achieve the following high level objectives objectives "The students will create a model of the biomass conversion plant that they have designed", "The students will create a presentation about their plant design and the process to design it and present it to the class", "The students will design a biomass conversion plant that can be built in a local community", and "The students will create a written report to substantiate and organized all of their research, costs, design plans and references" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- The teams will decide what design software they want to use to design a graphic representation of their biomass conversion plant
-- The teams will use Microsoft Word or equivalent software to compile the information gathered from subject matter experts and the internet about government regulations, community concerns, environmental concerns, building materials, and transportation into the final report for their biomass conversion plant design.
-- The teams will use Microsoft PowerPoint or equivalent software to prepare a presentation to be given to the class and shared with subject matter experts and school administrators.
-- The teams will use available materials to build a 3-dimensional model of their biomass conversion plant design.
-- The teams will use available software to create a presentation giving the highlights of their biomass conversion plant to the class and subject matter experts
-- The teams will use the audio-visual equipment available in the classroom to share their presentation with the class
To achieve the following objectives "The students will learn about government regulations impacting the design of a biofuel conversion plant" and "The students will identify concerns that exist in their community about building a biomass conversion plant (e.g. where to build it, or what kinds of jobs will be created as a result of the plant" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- A member of the community planning commision will be asked to talk about information that would affect the building of the plant. Suggested topics would include any local government regulations that would affect the plant design, state and federal regulations and the concerns or issues that the community has about the plant being built. The teams will be expected to ask any questions that they have about the subjects that the planning commission member talks about for clarification.
-- Students would be expected to talk with the people that they know in the community (family members, neighbors, friends) and document what they would have for concerns and possible issues with the plant being buil
-- Students would use their engineering notebooks to initially document all concerns and issues raised about government regulations and community concerns
-- The students will use the internet to research the information that they determined at the beginning of the project that they needed to know in order to design the biomass conversion project.
-- Use the internet to research how best to implement what is required to address the various regulations and community concerns affecting the design of the plant
-- Use the internet to research ways to address all of the concerns and issues that were raised by the community
-- Decide as a team the best way to address the concerns and issues that were documented through research on the internet and in the presentation by the building contractor. Note: the number of how many of the concerns and issues to address may have to be limited by the time frame for the project.
-- Implement the changes decided on into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design
To achieve the following objective "The students will identify concerns that exist in their community about building a biomass conversion plant (e.g. where to build it, or what kinds of jobs will be created as a result of the plant" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- A member of the community planning commission will be asked to talk about information that would affect the building of the plant. Suggested topics would include any local government regulations that would affect the plant design, state and federal regulations and the concerns or issues that the community has about the plant being built. The teams will be expected to ask any questions that they have about the subjects that the planning commission member talks about for clarification.
-- Member of the community planning commission will be invited to speak intitially through a phone call, followed up by a letter
-- Students would be expected to talk with the people that they know in the community (family members, neighbors, friends) and document what they would have for concerns and possible issues with the plant being buil
-- Students would use their engineering notebooks to initially document all concerns and issues raised when the speaker was talking, along with any information shared about the suggested topics
-- The students will use the internet to research the information that they determined at the beginning of the project that they needed to know in order to design the biomass conversion project.
-- Use the internet to research how best to implement what is required to address the various regulations affecting the design of the plant
-- Use the internet to research ways to address all of the concerns an issues that were raised by the community
-- Decide as a team the best way to address the top three or four concerns and issues that were documented through research on the internet and in the presentation by the building contractor. Note: limiting factor on deciding how many of the concerns and issues to address is limited by the time frame for the project. If this project were to take a longer period then all concerns could be addressed.
-- Implement the changes decided on into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design
To achieve the following objectives "The students will determine the best types of materials to contain the biomass in an environmentally safe manner" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- A local building contractor with experience in building large commercial projects will be asked to talk about information that would affect the building of the plant. Suggested topics would include building materials that could be used for the project and the process of building a large commercial project. The teams will be expected to ask any questions that they have about the subjects that the contractor talks about for clarification.
-- Contractor will be invited to speak intitially through a phone call, followed up by a letter
-- The students will use the internet to research the building material information that they need to know in order to design the biomass conversion project.
-- Students will use their engineering notebooks to initially document all information found about the types of materials used in building the plant and the information given by the contractor
-- Use the internet to research ways to address the concerns and issues that were raised by the contractor
-- Decide as a team the best way to implement the various materials that they have found information on.
-- Implement the changes needed into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design
To achieve the following objectives "The students will determine the best types of materials to contain the biomass in an environmentally safe manner" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- Students would be expected to research environmental concerns regarding building a biomass conversion plant to determine any needs, concerns and issues that need to be addressed in the design
-- Students would use their engineering notebooks to initially document all concerns and issues raised about environmental concerns and issues
-- Use the internet to research ways to address all of the concerns and issues that were raised by the community
-- Decide as a team the best way to address the concerns and issues that were documented through
-- Implement the changes decided on into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design
To achieve the following objectives "The students will identify the available options in their local community for transporting the biomass to the plant" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- The students will use the internet to research the types of transportation for the biomass are available their local community, examples include trucks and train.
-- Students would use their engineering notebooks to initially document all concerns and issues raised about transportation
-- Use the internet to research how best to implement what is required to address the any issues with the needed transportation
-- Decide as a team the best way to address the concerns and issues about transportation
-- Implement the changes decided on into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design
-- Instructions will be given to the students on how to take effective notes and how to document the information that is given when guest speakers visit the class. The students will be encouraged to take notes keeping their list of questions and information needed to complete the project.
-- Instructions will be given to the students on how to research information on the internet and how to be discerning about the quality of the infomration that they find
-- The teacher should prepare the students to talk with community members(family, friends, coworkers) about a biomass conversion plant being built in the community so that they know how to document such interviews. One way to do this would be to work with the class as a whole to help them work the process of creating a questionnaire to use for this process. It is not expected that each team will use the same questionnaire, but the process that they use to create such a questionnaire should be the same.
-- The teacher will provide mini-lectures, activities, labs and demonstrations as needed for the students to understand what is needed about biomass/biofuel, research and documentation skills, engineering design, and presentation building skills. Students will be expected to utilize the information provided by the teacher to complete this project.
Resources specific to Objectives -
To achieve the following high level objectives objectives "The students will create a model of the biomass conversion plant that they have designed", "The students will create a presentation about their plant design and the process to design it and present it to the class", "The students will design a biomass conversion plant that can be built in a local community", and "The students will create a written report to substantiate and organized all of their research, costs, design plans and references" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- The teams will decide what design software they want to use to design a graphic representation of their biomass conversion plant
-- The teams will use Microsoft Word or equivalent software to compile the information gathered from subject matter experts and the internet about government regulations, community concerns, environmental concerns, building materials, and transportation into the final report for their biomass conversion plant design.
-- The teams will use Microsoft PowerPoint or equivalent software to prepare a presentation to be given to the class and shared with subject matter experts and school administrators.
-- The teams will use available materials to build a 3-dimensional model of their biomass conversion plant design.
-- The teams will use available software to create a presentation giving the highlights of their biomass conversion plant to the class and subject matter experts
-- The teams will use the audio-visual equipment available in the classroom to share their presentation with the class
To achieve the following objectives "The students will learn about government regulations impacting the design of a biofuel conversion plant" and "The students will identify concerns that exist in their community about building a biomass conversion plant (e.g. where to build it, or what kinds of jobs will be created as a result of the plant" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- A member of the community planning commision will be asked to talk about information that would affect the building of the plant. Suggested topics would include any local government regulations that would affect the plant design, state and federal regulations and the concerns or issues that the community has about the plant being built. The teams will be expected to ask any questions that they have about the subjects that the planning commission member talks about for clarification.
-- Students would be expected to talk with the people that they know in the community (family members, neighbors, friends) and document what they would have for concerns and possible issues with the plant being buil
-- Students would use their engineering notebooks to initially document all concerns and issues raised about government regulations and community concerns
-- The students will use the internet to research the information that they determined at the beginning of the project that they needed to know in order to design the biomass conversion project.
-- Use the internet to research how best to implement what is required to address the various regulations and community concerns affecting the design of the plant
-- Use the internet to research ways to address all of the concerns and issues that were raised by the community
-- Decide as a team the best way to address the concerns and issues that were documented through research on the internet and in the presentation by the building contractor. Note: the number of how many of the concerns and issues to address may have to be limited by the time frame for the project.
-- Implement the changes decided on into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design
To achieve the following objective "The students will identify concerns that exist in their community about building a biomass conversion plant (e.g. where to build it, or what kinds of jobs will be created as a result of the plant" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- A member of the community planning commission will be asked to talk about information that would affect the building of the plant. Suggested topics would include any local government regulations that would affect the plant design, state and federal regulations and the concerns or issues that the community has about the plant being built. The teams will be expected to ask any questions that they have about the subjects that the planning commission member talks about for clarification.
-- Member of the community planning commission will be invited to speak intitially through a phone call, followed up by a letter
-- Students would be expected to talk with the people that they know in the community (family members, neighbors, friends) and document what they would have for concerns and possible issues with the plant being buil
-- Students would use their engineering notebooks to initially document all concerns and issues raised when the speaker was talking, along with any information shared about the suggested topics
-- The students will use the internet to research the information that they determined at the beginning of the project that they needed to know in order to design the biomass conversion project.
-- Use the internet to research how best to implement what is required to address the various regulations affecting the design of the plant
-- Use the internet to research ways to address all of the concerns an issues that were raised by the community
-- Decide as a team the best way to address the top three or four concerns and issues that were documented through research on the internet and in the presentation by the building contractor. Note: limiting factor on deciding how many of the concerns and issues to address is limited by the time frame for the project. If this project were to take a longer period then all concerns could be addressed.
-- Implement the changes decided on into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design
To achieve the following objectives "The students will determine the best types of materials to contain the biomass in an environmentally safe manner" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- A local building contractor with experience in building large commercial projects will be asked to talk about information that would affect the building of the plant. Suggested topics would include building materials that could be used for the project and the process of building a large commercial project. The teams will be expected to ask any questions that they have about the subjects that the contractor talks about for clarification.
-- Contractor will be invited to speak intitially through a phone call, followed up by a letter
-- The students will use the internet to research the building material information that they need to know in order to design the biomass conversion project.
-- Students will use their engineering notebooks to initially document all information found about the types of materials used in building the plant and the information given by the contractor
-- Use the internet to research ways to address the concerns and issues that were raised by the contractor
-- Decide as a team the best way to implement the various materials that they have found information on.
-- Implement the changes needed into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design
To achieve the following objectives "The students will determine the best types of materials to contain the biomass in an environmentally safe manner" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- Students would be expected to research environmental concerns regarding building a biomass conversion plant to determine any needs, concerns and issues that need to be addressed in the design
-- Students would use their engineering notebooks to initially document all concerns and issues raised about environmental concerns and issues
-- Use the internet to research ways to address all of the concerns and issues that were raised by the community
-- Decide as a team the best way to address the concerns and issues that were documented through
-- Implement the changes decided on into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design
To achieve the following objectives "The students will identify the available options in their local community for transporting the biomass to the plant" each team will be expected to do the following:
-- The students will use the internet to research the types of transportation for the biomass are available their local community, examples include trucks and train.
-- Students would use their engineering notebooks to initially document all concerns and issues raised about transportation
-- Use the internet to research how best to implement what is required to address the any issues with the needed transportation
-- Decide as a team the best way to address the concerns and issues about transportation
-- Implement the changes decided on into the biomass conversion plant design using the design software that the team selected to create the plant design