College Events
Gippsland Tech School Design Challenge
Over the last two days of term 1, ten students were privileged to take part in a STEM program run by the Gippsland Tech School. The five pairs of students were challenged with one of two real-world problem solving tasks:
How to improve the design of crutches? or
How to prevent falls in hospitals?
This event was hosted here at the College with a guest presenter from the Gippsland Tech School, Jess Cook. Students worked with Jess and a number of other Tech School teachers who were working with students in Maffra, Swifts Creek and Mallacoota, connecting via video conferencing. They also heard from people who face these problems in their daily lives to understand the human impact of poorly designed crutches and of falls. They took part in master classes to learn new skills and applied all that they’d learned to designing a solution for their allocated challenge. The teams then had to 'pitch' their solution to Industry Partners – Latrobe Regional Hospital and Latrobe Community Health Services. The Industry Partners, Gippsland Tech School teachers and our own BSC teachers were all really impressed with the team work, problem solving skills, communication skills and innovation of our students! We even managed to win 1st and 2nd prize in the Improving Crutches challenge and 3rd prize in the Falls Prevention challenge! A huge congratulations and thank you to everyone who made the event possible, but particularly to our fantastic students who made the most of the opportunity!
If any students are interested in taking part in future STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths integrated problem solving and design skills) events, please register your interest with Pam de Geus at the College Library.
Photos:
Alex and Ryan: Alex and Ryan won 1st prize for their innovative improvements to a standard crutch. Their design includes a stopper that converts into a tripod to allow crutches to stand when not in use e.g. sitting at a café; a stair helper – a foldable extension with an extra stopper to spread the weight and stabilise the crutch on steps; and a hook so that people using crutches can have a drink bottle in easy reach!
Anabelle and Pippa: Anabelle and Pippa busily designing their system to prevent falls: an array of sensors worked into your clothes from toes to trunk, that detect when your centre of gravity moves into a dangerous position and causes fibres to lock up to prevent you from falling.
Angus and Ryan: Angus and Ryan constructing their physical prototype of their new and improved crutch design, complete with shock absorption to prevent the ongoing wear-and-tear to muscles and joints in the arms and back for people who need to use crutches for potentially their whole lives.
Charlotte and Paige: Charlotte and Paige won 2nd prize for their crutch design, which included improved grips and cuffs to improve the comfort of the crutch, and modified ferrules (the rubber stoppers on the bottom of crutches) to better prevent slips.
Hannah and Alexis: Hannah and Alexis won 3rd prize for their work in Falls prevention in hospitals. They argued that falls are inevitable, what we need to do is to minimise the injury risk when falls occur. They designed an incredibly practical solution: padding for the surfaces in a hospital room that someone with a high falls risk might hit during their fall. They considered the hygiene and cost-effectiveness in their designs and included removable and washable covers and magnetic attachments for the cushions so that they would be easy to install and remove.
GTS Design Challenge: The ten students who took part in the challenge enjoying a hard-earned brain break with Pam de Geus.
Clay Target Practice
Bairnsdale Secondary College wishes to thank the the Bairnsdale Branch of the Australian Clay Target Club for not only hosting us on Wednesday night but giving out team some very valuable coaching.
Photos: Jordy Neville, Nathan Risely, Travis Risely, Lincoln Guthrie, Axel Seignor, Hendrick Eveleigh, Will Anderson and Dylan Capobianco.
