Title: Build a Hydroelectric Dam in Minecraft
Problem: A legal battle is currently underway in Southwest Alaska over a proposed hydroelectric dam project in the Wood-Tikchik State Park near Dillingham. There is no argument that efficient sources of power are needed in this region but as with all big projects, the battle is over the effect the project will have on the environment.
Importance: I am under no illusion that having my students create a virtual hydroelectric dam in Minecraft will have any impact on the real life issue but having them gain insight into the size of the project might have an effect on their opinions about big construction projects when they become adults.
Students: 1 4th grader and 1 5th grader; chosen because they are Minecraft experts and academically strong students.
Math: At this point I cannot cite specific standards but I'm certain measurement will be involved and possibly volume related to water flow.
Science: NGSS Standard HS-ETS 1-2: Design a solution to a complex real world problem by breaking it down into a smaller, more manageable problem that can be solved through engineering.
Engineering: Designing a dam.
Importance: I am under no illusion that having my students create a virtual hydroelectric dam in Minecraft will have any impact on the real life issue but having them gain insight into the size of the project might have an effect on their opinions about big construction projects when they become adults.
Students: 1 4th grader and 1 5th grader; chosen because they are Minecraft experts and academically strong students.
Math: At this point I cannot cite specific standards but I'm certain measurement will be involved and possibly volume related to water flow.
Science: NGSS Standard HS-ETS 1-2: Design a solution to a complex real world problem by breaking it down into a smaller, more manageable problem that can be solved through engineering.
Engineering: Designing a dam.
Technology: Minecraft resources that simulate real-world construction resources.
Sharing: Probably Powerpoint with screenshots of Minecraft.
Karen, I really like that you are using a problem that is real and relevant to your students. These issues are never black and white, and all solutions have positive and negative impacts as you say.
ReplyDeleteWill you choose a random world to have them create a dam in, have them build something in Minecraft that is approximately the same size as the proposed dam, or try to import the actual topography of the area?
This makes me think about the Pebble project... and modeling the size of the proposed pit and dam structure.
Karen, my advice would be to require your students to identify exact dimensions of everything, try to build some turbines, indicate what materials they will use, what the hydrostatic head is, the giga watts of energy produced, etc.
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