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Task Description
Students were tasked with developing a ballista system with popsicle sticks, rubber bands, tape and cotton. Students were to design with limited resources and time in mind. Through building, testing and modifying the design together, students learnt to work with an engineering mindset and to work as a team.
Student's work
Group Reflection
We encountered plenty of difficulties and challenges working as a team. For example, because of a lack of trust, we did not share enough information with each other. Building the design was frustrating because our first design failed to launch the cotton. But after changing our design, we got it to work.
If we could decide on doing something differently, we would add more rubber bands and tape to stabilize the ballista more and launch the cotton further. The most enjoyable part of the project was when we managed to solve the problem and launched the cotton successfully. That felt really good.
Teacher's Comment
The STEM group were able to carry out the whole project very well. Students found it hard to work and cooperate as a group at the start of designing and during the first built of their ballista. However, they learnt to trust each other and were willing to share more ideas and information along the process. Thus, at last they were able to build a design that could successfully launched the cotton. The group faced different challenges but were able to work as a team and overcome the problems. Overall the STEM group worked cohesively to design and built a successful ballista.
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