Engineering Projects is a STEAM-focused class with many elements that relate to the real world, including real-life data analysis, car manufacturing, and team development. These skills are not only a priority in the class but are overall skills that will allow you to be successful in every part of your life. This curriculum is put together by a nonprofit organization, Ten80. Who consistently puts together learning opportunities and experience to improve your RC racing skills.
Not too many students at IHS know about the class filled with real-life experiences and important learning opportunities. But for the students who have taken engineering projects, they say it’s one of the most unique and surprisingly valuable classes they’ve taken in high school. Many may look past this class as just another elective to skip out on real schoolwork. But in reality, engineering projects could be one of the most diverse and in-depth classes at Ipswich High School.
Engineering projects are a part of a competition that is run by Ten80. There are a total of four teams from IHS competing in both an online points race and a national racing competition over April break. This makes efficient team skills crucial for overall success in both these competitions. Max Emerson explained that his team “meets regularly to discuss shared goals as a team,” which has helped keep his team on track when it comes to completing tasks on time. As the Solar Storm team leader, Max explained how making sure everyone is being represented has been his topmost priority. “I’ve tried to fit everyone’s needs throughout the year,” he explained.
Another two-year participant in Engineering Projects, Will Totten, states, “I liked how everyone was invested and everyone wanted to win in the competition. Students took it very seriously.” Throughout this course, students are put into groups where their goal is an online points race to qualify for the national competition held by Ten80, which is the organization that makes it possible. Students build RC cars and help to design the car bodies for them. Also, doing tasks that Ten80 provides, like the driving challenges, helps the drivers practice for the competition. Finally, there are many presentations throughout the course that are shown at nationals, such as the Data-Driven Design, which consists of a project towards the theme of the year. This year it was renewable energy, so groups created forms of renewable energy to charge the car batteries.
Overall, if you are interested in any form of engineering and want to learn real-life experiences through a single class, Engineering Projects is the class for you. You will learn how to utilize materials, communicate with others, and work together as a team to reach a single goal.
