Knowledge+and+Nature

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And now for something different th﻿at should make the case for sound technological knowledge. If you want the photos, email me and I'll send them through. An underground garage (4.6m deep) was being built on south side of building and the excavated soil was placed on the north side (10m high). They dug right up to the base of the building then it rained. building experienced uneven lateral pressure from north to south. this resulted in a lateral force of 3000 tonnes, greater than the unreinforced pilings could take.
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Technological Modelling
Here are a few links that may provide some material for your students when introducing technological modelling.

BMW using vaious modelling processes in the development of their cars
The official design sketches and photosfrom the design development process of the second generation BMW Z4 roadster model. BMW clay modelling photos that are useful to show how different models serve different purposes More clay model photos that show the development of the whole model

And for the **graphics novices** amongst us, a BMW introduction to drawing... Hand drawing and sketching tutorials - a website that has links to the basics of drawing etc. For example:
 * Car drawing tutorial
 * [|Perspective drawing]

What is technological modelling?
[|Why make a model?] A one page overview of reasons for developing ideas through modelling.

[|Introduction] [|Tools and Equipment] [|Tools and Equipment] 2 [|Tools and Equipment 3] [|Tools and Equipment 4]

[|Sample Models] [|Card based models] good one for prototyping [|Architectural models] good for scale modelling [|Computer generated models]

[|Materials 1] [|Materials 2]

Nature of Technology
===The Secret Life of Machines === This is a series of videos developed by engineer and cartoonist Tim Hunkin that have been put into 10 min Youtube format for ease of access and classroom use. They were a television series from the 1980s but don't let that put you off. Each machine they discuss (I think about 18 common machines are explained) is explained in several key ways. I've personally used these as videos some time back and found them excellent. Having them on Youtube is an amazing step forward and will certainly be useful to those of you thinking about the new strands.
 * Youtube site with videos**
 * historical terms - a timeline of its development is done in an entertaining querky way that kids seem to really enjoy.
 * social impact terms - an explanation of the impact this machine has had on our lives - the social changes that have resulted from it's development as well as how we have changed it. The industrial revolution comes into the invention of the sewing machine for example - tailors destroying the mcahines for fear of work being taken off them.
 * the technology itself - the black box stuff. Exactly how does it work?

Home page for the secret life of machines
This website is really worth looking at. Each machine has a cartoon version of the material from each of the TV shows (see youtube above). The cartoons are really clever (see below for example) and precis the video so are another great way for students to think about communicating information. They can be saved for printing off and would be good additions to a classroom wall display. Acknowledged to Tim of course.



This short ad was developed as an Australian campaign for the VISA Debit Card. It asks - "what would life be like if technology never evolved? " http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EoGZbtxOHY This one could be really useful to unpack the nature of technology concepts around the **characteristics of technological objects** in terms of the evolution and why this has happened as well as their impact on our social and physical daily lives. The questions contained within the video could structure a whole lesson.

Maori Technology Have a look on this page, there are some good links to material relating to knowledge and nature

Beached Whale
Here's a funny video that may be useful to start a discussion around nature and knowledge. It was shot in the 70's (only in Amercia) and raises some interesting issues around the technological knowledge that was employed (obviously explosives, but what else?) and the social issues that were (or not) considered in the decision making process. If the problem occured today, what and who would we have to consider before making a disposal decision?

media type="youtube" key="hvha8N3a28U" height="344" width="425" And just in case you may have thought there was no historical precedent, this one was shot in the 30s. Is there really much difference apart from the lack of sound? And did they do a better job in the end? media type="youtube" key="iHPW7bO-iBg" height="344" width="425"