Mechatronics, Engineering & Technology Units & Lessons
This site is a space to document and share my experience, resources and insight as a Engineering Educator & Mechatronics Engineering Instructor. My goal is to teach you technical stuff like Science, Math and Geeky Robot Stuff... This site will always be a work in progress. While I'm always working on Electronics and Engineering curriculum, lessons and labs for my SVCTE Mechatronics class. Teachers... I'm here for you... I’m a true believer in Opensource and creative commons licensing, I'll be sharing lots of Opensource and Creative Commons curriculum here. Be a Hero: Allow your content and software to be freely used, modified, and shared.
Web Site: WWW.STEAMCLOWN.ORG | Contact: TopClown@STEAMClown.org | LinkedIn: Jim Burnham | TikTok: STEAM Clown
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Ha, Ha, it's Summer 2025... I'm working on updating this web site, re-organizing, re-publishing, etc. But... my ADHD and ability to fucus on projects because other "shiny" projects keep getting in the way does not help... If you wanted to help shape my priorities, you could connect with me here on my "How To Support My Curriculum Development" page
6/2/2025 -Still Working...
3/1/2025 - Still working to update stuff. HA...HA... As if I will ever be done... You will have better luck by just going to the specific Units in the "Units" tab... My plan is to work on this site every Sunday for at least an hour... You still will find a few pages where I have a Title, and maybe a description... but then it's just a place holder with a page template framework... This is my ADHD and "Squirl" brain saying "hey, you should make a page with this information....". Let me know if there is a specific section, that is broken or unfinished, and you want it finished... contact me: through email TopClown@STEAMClown.org or LinkedIn
2/2/2024 - Like all my projects, this is a "Work in Progress", but I'm in the process of "Flipping" all my Unit and Lesson... I'm still working on this and there is a lot of work to do. Let me know (TopClown@STEAMClown.org) what lessons you would like to see done next.
2021 -2022 School Year - The was my plan all along, but then COVID-19 crashed the party, and all education got pushed into the "Distance Learning Pool"... Lucky I could kinda swim. Anyway, the updated and Flipped Units and Lesson Plans will show up organized here... Promises... I just have to find some time... and the 2021 -2022 school year is about to start... Wait... the 2022-2023 year just started... Time I need more TIME. If you have a question, suggestions, or want to get source, please reach out and introduce your self through email jim.The.STEAM.Clown@gmail.com or LinkedIn
I'm also going through an update to move my content to this Mechatronics Engineering Google Site and integrate it into the Canvas LMS that my school is using. So my goal is to create lessons that are presented here on this Google site, but also have presentations and PDFs on a Google drive, AND have class assignment content in Canvas and My Google Class Room... I'm still trying to figure out how to manage my "source". Lecture Presentations will tend to stay in Google Slides, and I'll have some content in PDF. Quizzes and Assessments will be a mix... sorry... I will probably be implementing most of these in Canvas first, and then porting them back to my Google classroom. (Edit: For 2022-2023, I'm going to work on getting content as published lesson on this Google site)
And, just for fun, here is a Curriculum Development Time Tracker, that I probably will only get about a 1/3 of my time tracked... just to show how much time Curriculum development really takes.
Welcome to Mechatronics Engineering. This class is a High School Engineering class. It counts as a Physics - Electromagnetic / Electronics - CA A-G d Physics
Mechatronics is a year-long, 519-hour Laboratory Science course focusing on the scientific principles of physics, energy conservation, electronic sensing, computerized data acquisition, and automated process control. This Mechatronics Engineering course is designed to introduce students to the growing field of Mechatronics. Mechatronics is a blending of electrical and mechanical engineering & design. It is a study of the design of "intelligent" systems in which mechanization and control, requiring sensing, actuation, and computation are combined to achieve improved product quality and performance.
In this inquiry-grounded, project-based learning course, students act as engineers, designing, analyzing, and building systems that automate industrial processes. Students will engage in interdisciplinary learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) through a hands-on, project-based approach. Students who complete this curriculum will have the understanding of mechanical and electronic systems.
Students will learn how to analyze and debug mechanical assemblies, motors and control systems. Students will learn the function of programmable logic controllers (PLC) and other programmable devices. Students will receive introductory level exploratory instruction on topics including proper use of hand tools, machinery tools, print reading, robotics, pneumatics, electrical control, basic concepts of mechanical and electrical engineering, computer-aided design (CAD), and real world applications of these concepts. Depth of knowledge will be demonstrated through a series of projects starting with research and initial design and culminating with the completion of a build project that is geared toward solving real-world problems. Class projects will include robotics, industrial automation, industrial process control, pneumatic, and electro-mechanical systems. Essentially, activities in this course include work-based learning that connects students to industry and the local community.
The focus of this program is to educate and train a new generation of students who understand both mechanical and electrical systems that make up an industrial manufacturing and robotic infrastructure. Mechatronics is designed to prepare students for employment in the manufacturing industry. Upon completion, students may be employed in Mechatronics and Electronics related career paths, in engineering, industrial packaging, maintenance, and robotic systems.
The content on this site may have been pulled from other open source sites, but typically the interpretation and presentation is primarily the Intellectual Property of Jim Burnham, - TopClown@STEAMClown.org at www.steamclown.org and the Student curriculum can be found under the specific Mechatronics Engineering Units section of this web site.
If you do use my material, and make changes, I would appreciate getting a copy... because if you are making changes, it means that you think there is a better way to teach this… and I would really appreciate understanding that. Please send me feedback on my Questions or Feedback form. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions or comment.
You also should keep and include my STEAM Clown Logo and Copyright in any derivative works you create. I would appreciate if you would include one of these images found on my Steam Clown License page and link it to www.steamclown.org
Content TBD