I uploaded some more project examples in the Art Metal section.
With less than a month left for this semester, students are busy trying to finish their final projects and assignments. Having gone through the full semester, I have better ideas how to administer the course. There are projects I don't want to do, and projects I would like to do, plus more background information needs to be given before we really get into projects.
Most students hate to do theory, but these students don't understand that in order to build something, you need to know what tools to use. You won't know what tools to use if you don't know what materials to use. You won't know what materials to use if you don't know what the plan calls for. You won't know what the plan calls for until you design it. You won't be able to design it if you don't know how to draw it. You won't know how to draw it if you don't understand how things look. You won't know how things look if you don't learn the basics.
It's simple really.
But every single class, every single year... "When are we going to start making stuff?" ** sigh **
Over Christmas I was able to spend some time with the Metalwork 9/10 curriculum. Instead of a multitude of handouts (and hours of my time on the photocopier), I am organizing a booklet as I did with electronics, where everything was in the booklet, and students would work out of the booklet. This makes it easier for students to work ahead, and makes it easier for me to teach to a variety of learning styles and rates. It also makes it easier to teach mulitiple classes within the same block, as seems to be the case these days of budgetary restraint (I have five classes in one block, three in another).
As I did with my electonics courses, I start with the first course (Level 1) and try to make a solid, quality foundation on which to build. This makes it easier for the students in later years, as the framework has been set and the basic skills have been learned. This Level 1 course (Metal 9/10) is also the same course I use for all grades with students who have never taken a metal course before. A student who has never taken Metal before, may sign up for Metal 12. I would put them through the Metal 9/10 curriculum and call it "Level 1" - yet they receive credit for Metal 12.
Initially some students don't like the idea, but the older students tend to find the Level 1 course just as challenging as the younger kids do!
Nothing much to report here. I made a rear strut tower bar for the Sentra as I had been reading that the B13 chassis is indeed rather flexible. Watching video footage of the Sentra suggested that there were some odd camber angles happening in the rear suspension on course.
As suspected, the bar made a minimal difference.
I have also ordered polyurethane motor mount inserts as the front and rear mounts are going soft. Cheaper than buying OEM, and should be a bit easier on the drivetrain. Apparantly these inserts will also reduce wheel hop. They should be here within the month.