An Ancient Computer, Now Recreated in Legos
Posted on January 9th, 2011 by axb
In 1901, a group of deep-sea divers discovered a Roman shipwreck near Antikythera, a small island off the southern coast of Greece. Among the treasures was a small rusted machine that once contained a sophisticated array of cogs and wheels. Now researchers believe they know the purpose of this mysterious device.
Filed under: K-12 Education News, Special Features | Comments Off on An Ancient Computer, Now Recreated in Legos
Tags: Engineering in History, History, LEGOS
Nationwide, the number of students taking AP tests has surged 50 percent in the last five years. For those who hope to attend selective colleges, it’s the norm. But when a Harrisburg, Pa.-area school district sought to introduce an AP course in ninth grade, some parents balked. 
PBS has introduced an online course to strengthen elementary teachers’ STEM strategies. Called Inspire Elementary Students with Engineering, it was developed at Purdue University to provide an early foundation in engineering. 
In this lesson combining math, engineering, and history, students in grades 6-12 learn about the ancient calendar system used by the Maya of Central America. Students construct a simple model of a calendar round, learning about prime numbers and the mechanics of these ancient devices.
NASA’s Web site “Native American Connections” focuses on images and activities that have been used by Native Americans for generations to explore Sun-Earth science. The site includes biographies of Native American members of the NASA community who represent a variety of expertise and cultural backgrounds.
NASA’s Website Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge contains a rich bank of material to help students, educators, and others explore the astronomical activities of pre-modern cultures. With separate sections for students and educators, the site contains lesson plans, web resources and links, interactive games, a timeline, and a photo gallery, as well as a showcase of Native Americans involved with NASA.
A new report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation recommends that student assessments be based on skills, such as reading for information, locating information, and applied mathematics, instead of content. In STEM subjects, students’ desired outcome should be improved skills in inquiry, design, and the understanding and use of symbolic language in math. 
A group of Delaware teachers participated in an initiative that pairs each one with a university expert in a particular course the teacher is offering. One teacher described it as “life changing.” Called the Yale National Initiative, the program creates a partnership between universities and high-need schools.
In a multipart activity, students in grades 5-9 discover different engineering disciplines and brainstorm how different engineering skills can be applied to local or world problems. This eGFI original class activity is based on the winning submission to eGFI’s innovative teaching idea contest.
