Solve a World Problem
Introduction
Introduction
For this project, we were given the task of identifying a problem that faces the world today, and solving it by using the engineering/design cycle process.
For this project, we were given the task of identifying a problem that faces the world today, and solving it by using the engineering/design cycle process.
My group and I identified lack of safe drinking water as our problem. Our solution was to build a quick, efficient, and easy-to-use water filter that could be used to filter water in places where unsafe drinking water was the only option to use.
My group and I identified lack of safe drinking water as our problem. Our solution was to build a quick, efficient, and easy-to-use water filter that could be used to filter water in places where unsafe drinking water was the only option to use.
Evidence of Work
Evidence of Work
In order to make the filter, the materials that we used were charcoal, gravel, sand, coffee filters, cheescloth, and empty bottles of water.
In order to make the filter, the materials that we used were charcoal, gravel, sand, coffee filters, cheescloth, and empty bottles of water.
Now that we had all the materials, arranging them would be the difficult part. After several combinations and attempts of trying different layers out, we finally arrived at the best combination that filtered the water most efficiently: (From top to bottom) Cheesecloth, gravel, sand, charcoal, and coffee filters.
Now that we had all the materials, arranging them would be the difficult part. After several combinations and attempts of trying different layers out, we finally arrived at the best combination that filtered the water most efficiently: (From top to bottom) Cheesecloth, gravel, sand, charcoal, and coffee filters.
This combination of materials filtered water the best, and although the water may look a little yellowish and murky, it is significantly cleaner and safer to drink than the original, dirty pond water that we collected.
This combination of materials filtered water the best, and although the water may look a little yellowish and murky, it is significantly cleaner and safer to drink than the original, dirty pond water that we collected.
For some before and after pictures, please see Slide 6 of our presentation above.
For some before and after pictures, please see Slide 6 of our presentation above.
Content
Content
For the content section, I will go over the Engineering/Design Cycle Steps and explain how we demonstrated them while building our project:
For the content section, I will go over the Engineering/Design Cycle Steps and explain how we demonstrated them while building our project:
1. Identify Need - In this project, our need was to provide safe, filtered water through a fast and efficient method of filtering to people in need of it.
1. Identify Need - In this project, our need was to provide safe, filtered water through a fast and efficient method of filtering to people in need of it.
2. Research Problem - Our research included finding several different government or institutional websites and accessing research papers on the global water crisis and what must be done to deal with it. We also developed our model from information and resources that we found online that explained the easiest and simplest ways to build a water filter.
2. Research Problem - Our research included finding several different government or institutional websites and accessing research papers on the global water crisis and what must be done to deal with it. We also developed our model from information and resources that we found online that explained the easiest and simplest ways to build a water filter.
3. Develop Possible Solutions - Due to our research and sources which we had consulted for an idea of how to turn dirty water into drinkable water, we brainstormed the idea of a filter along with some other variations of the model.
3. Develop Possible Solutions - Due to our research and sources which we had consulted for an idea of how to turn dirty water into drinkable water, we brainstormed the idea of a filter along with some other variations of the model.
4. Selecting Best Solution - Our best bet, especially considering the sources we had and our skill level, was to build a simple, yet effective biological water filter that could filter dirty water as it was poured in.
4. Selecting Best Solution - Our best bet, especially considering the sources we had and our skill level, was to build a simple, yet effective biological water filter that could filter dirty water as it was poured in.
5. Construct Prototype - After we gathered our materials, we began constructing our first prototype and later experimented with placing the layers in different places to see how effectively it filtered the water. This step definitely took the most time and was the most challenging.
5. Construct Prototype - After we gathered our materials, we began constructing our first prototype and later experimented with placing the layers in different places to see how effectively it filtered the water. This step definitely took the most time and was the most challenging.
6. After we built a model, we poured in dirty water to test out how well it had filtered it, and made some slight modifications here and there to better the quality of the filtered water.
6. After we built a model, we poured in dirty water to test out how well it had filtered it, and made some slight modifications here and there to better the quality of the filtered water.
7. Communicate Design - After making some modifications and changes to the prototype, we prepared a presentation on Google Slides (shown above) to inform our classmates and teacher about what purpose the model serves and how it can help solve the global drinking water crisis.
7. Communicate Design - After making some modifications and changes to the prototype, we prepared a presentation on Google Slides (shown above) to inform our classmates and teacher about what purpose the model serves and how it can help solve the global drinking water crisis.
Reflection
Reflection
During this project, I felt that I was challenged positively by having to design and build a water filter that takes dirty water and cleans it through a natural filtration process. In this group, I felt like I was in the position of the leader and planned out the project and decided who is going to bring what, and I am happy that my group was also supportive and always engaged in work. I was also happy with mine and my group's overall attitude of resilience and perseverance, when something wasn't working or going the way we thought it would, we always brainstormed what we think went wrong and took steps to fix it. During this project, I feel my leadership and character were one of the reasons why our idea succeeded.
During this project, I felt that I was challenged positively by having to design and build a water filter that takes dirty water and cleans it through a natural filtration process. In this group, I felt like I was in the position of the leader and planned out the project and decided who is going to bring what, and I am happy that my group was also supportive and always engaged in work. I was also happy with mine and my group's overall attitude of resilience and perseverance, when something wasn't working or going the way we thought it would, we always brainstormed what we think went wrong and took steps to fix it. During this project, I feel my leadership and character were one of the reasons why our idea succeeded.
That said, there are some skills I feel that I can definitely improve on and develop to strengthen my team working skills. For example, one thing that I felt I could definitely have done better was to communicate more efficiently with my group mates, especially when they were not able to come to school because they were sick. Rather than just ignore them, I could've filled them in on what we did that day and what our plan for tomorrow was.
That said, there are some skills I feel that I can definitely improve on and develop to strengthen my team working skills. For example, one thing that I felt I could definitely have done better was to communicate more efficiently with my group mates, especially when they were not able to come to school because they were sick. Rather than just ignore them, I could've filled them in on what we did that day and what our plan for tomorrow was.
One other thing I can improve on is management of time. Often, during our project, we spent long amounts of time doing things that we should have done faster and more efficiently, such as grinding up chunks of charcoal, and finding items in the prep room. This resulted in us having to rush towards the end of the week to meet the deadline and at times compromising with the quality of work that we did. Next time, I feel when we have time-consuming plans for our project, I as leader should divide the work better and make sure that everyone has a part in the process to avoid wastage of time and effort and promote everyone in the group to collaborate equally to our process.
One other thing I can improve on is management of time. Often, during our project, we spent long amounts of time doing things that we should have done faster and more efficiently, such as grinding up chunks of charcoal, and finding items in the prep room. This resulted in us having to rush towards the end of the week to meet the deadline and at times compromising with the quality of work that we did. Next time, I feel when we have time-consuming plans for our project, I as leader should divide the work better and make sure that everyone has a part in the process to avoid wastage of time and effort and promote everyone in the group to collaborate equally to our process.
Overall, this project was a fun, hands on experience in which we actually incorporated helping others around the world into the work we did, and I want to thank Mrs. Vogl and Mr. Williams for giving us the time and materials we needed to do so.
Overall, this project was a fun, hands on experience in which we actually incorporated helping others around the world into the work we did, and I want to thank Mrs. Vogl and Mr. Williams for giving us the time and materials we needed to do so.