End of Year Technology Projects
Final Activity for Tech Classes that Helps Summarize the Course
Jun 4, 2009
The end of the school year can be a stressful time for students preparing for exams. Technology courses provide a convenient platform on which to provide students with hands-on and research based review activities to help them review the material studies through the course. Each of the following projects can be modified and adapted to the material covered and age of the students involved.
Short Technology Projects
One project of short length is to have students create models of components they either studied or extensively used in class. These can be internal PC components, small devices such as a voice recorder or iPod, or even an I/O device such as a printer or keyboard. The devices can be made from any type of material; paper, cardboard, recycled trash or whatever creative items the student decides might work. The device should be labeled and include an explanation as to how the parts of the device work or interact with other devices. Arranging a mini expo of the models could be a fun way for students to share their work.
Another short length project is an article review. Choose some recent technology articles related to the course or allow students to choose from approved magazines or online electronic sources. Each student should then read the article and either prepare a one page summary or short presentation about the information they learned from the article. The summary should include references to material learned through the course.
A short project for less technical technology classes would be to clean computers in the school labs or on the teachers’ desks. This reinforces the need for care when working with technology and provides a service many school computers need since dirt and dust inside a computer and grime on keyboards and mice are a source of technology failure.
Longer Interactive Projects
When more time is available, or students are in more advanced or in-depth courses, a longer and more intense project might be useful. It allows students to spend more time with a larger variety of the material covered in the course.
One longer project is based on the short technology model project. It involves having students create detailed models of a PC. This can be done as individual or small group projects. It can also include having students create a model of an I/O device. Allow students to be creative as to the materials and designs they use and require them to include detailed descriptions of the parts.
Another potentially long term project would be to get a non-working technological device to work. It can be sabotaged by the teacher or be a donated piece with unknown problems. Students should keep a detailed lab book describing what they try and the results. Though the ideal situation would be for the machine to work when finished, it is possible this project might not have a successful ending. It is the process of troubleshooting that is being practiced.
Providing projects for students that summarize major parts of a technology class can be a fun way to review material and end the course. It is hands-on, interactive and provides students some freedom to study and be creative.
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