(1723) ONE MILLION LIGHTS: SOLVE AUTHENTIC PROBLEMS THROUGH ULTI-AGE STUDENT COLLABORATION, INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING, AND 3D PRINTING. ENGINEERING AND HUMANITY MERGE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BRIGHTER PLACE

摘要

There are many real-world problems waiting for solutions and many students wanting to solve realworldproblems. Students can harness their creativity, collaborative skills, and knowledge of scienceand engineering to solve many of these problems. Students from Preston Middle School in Colorado,U.S.A. and students from Riverview High School in New Brunswick, Canada are working together toengineer a sustainable light source. The two schools are partnering with students in the DominicanRepublic and Uganda to understand the challenges faced by living without access to safe and reliablelight. These four countries each have specific and vital roles to the success of this mission.Students truly value and learn from one another's cultures and life experiences, and digitalcollaboration allows students to appreciate each others' schools and homes. They share knowledgeabout how lack of access to light limits learning opportunities and divides neighbors who have anddon't have light after dark. Riverview High School specializes in designing a renewably-poweredlighting system. Preston Middle School specializes in engineering a 3D printed case to house the light.Students at the CHAT House (Care and Hope through Adoption and Technology) in Uganda andstudents in the Dominican Republic are using the prototypes, documenting and sharing field research,and will be distributing the final product to their family, friends and neighbors.High level STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) entrepreneurial thinking occursbecause all students are motivated by authentic human needs. Students donate their time, strength,intelligence and energy. Collaboration happens during traditional school time, but more often outsideof school hours because of time differences. Students learn, create and refine asynchronously throughblogs, video, photos, brainstorming and suggestions. One Million Lights truly incorporates alldisciplines and requires every voice to achieve success.From industry and academic professionals, an open-sourced circuit and 3D printer file are available forthe light source. Anyone in the world can print the light shell and assemble the electronic components.Schools, communities and businesses can send their newly-manufactured light to a globalhumanitarian organization (yet to be named) for distribution to families around the world who do nothave access to reliable, clean, safe light.International Technology, Education and Development (INTED) Conference participants are invited tobecome part of this incredible journey where science and humanity merge to improve the lives ofeveryone involved. Turn on the science and humanitarian light in your students as they turn on light inother parts of the world: together, we can produce One Million Lights!