Inventor's Camps: Middle School Activity

Middle school students participate in inventor's camps in which they design and create a product.

Students work on computer aided design, electronics and teamwork in a typical Inventor's Camp. At left, an IVCC Leadership student helps a middle school girl learn Solid Modeling software to construct a box that will hold either an electronic buzzer or a light. In addition to learning how the software works and the principles of design, the student also experience the rapid prototyping machine (3D printer) in action as it builds a box. At the right, a boy assembles a buzzer or light to fit into the box. With help from IVCC electronic students on the Leadership Team, he will solder the electronic components. Before working with the wiring, he has already learned how electronic circuits work and used software to design his own circuits (see photo below).

In addition to hands-on CAD and electronics exercises, Inventor's Camp students also participate in teamwork exercises to emphasize the importance of good teamwork skills in engineering and engineering technology careers.


Dorene Perez helps students with the Solid Modeling software used to design the boxes that will house the buzzers or lights.	Jim Gibson explains electronic circuits and gives middle school students an opportunity to design their own in the electronics lab on campus.