Design Challenge
Full STEAM Ahead At Carmel School!
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) are a part of our IB Approaches to Learning in the classroom as well as blended in transdisciplinary themes — encouraging creative thinking and problem solving.
From the use of AI-powered technologies, to genetic engineering and modification, to technologies developed to combat climate change, Grades 6 to 10 are looking at Innovations that have changed life. Leading up to the three day whole-school Design Challenge, classes from across the disciplines are looking at technological innovations that have shaped our world.
The Design Challenge
Design Challenge 2024
This year’s design challenge aimed to push the boundaries of students' skills and abilities. While previous challenges focused on speed, the Cableway Challenge emphasized control. Students were presented with a scenario set in a future world where populations were forced into mountainous terrains, relying on aerial transport to meet various needs. With this context, participants were divided into three specialized categories. Despite the technical demands of the challenge, students rose to the occasion, producing exceptional and innovative solutions. This year's challenge proved to be the most successful yet, showcasing the remarkable creativity and problem-solving skills of the students.
Mr. Micah Donnoli, Head of Design
Student Reflections
Every year, the design department at Elsa High School organises a unique STEAM challenge for Grades 6-10. This year, from Monday 16 - Wednesday 18 December, Mr. Donnoli and Mr. November prepared a cable-car-themed challenge for us. We were placed in groups of 5-6 people and designed a gondola to achieve one of three objectives: rescue, tourism, construction. This was one of the most technical and difficult design challenges I have participated in.
We used an Arduino board for electrical tasks, motors and controllers for moving our LEGO Technic chassis, along with mixed materials for branding and aesthetics.
Throughout these challenges, we learned how to logically solve problems, collaborate with different people, and acknowledge the importance of the perspectives that each person provides. This year, there was much less instruction provided, which prompted students to be the ones asking for help and to think critically.
Although the event was challenging at times, it was very enjoyable, and everyone learned something--regardless of their contribution.
Ayla Grade 9
This year we were challenged to build gondolas, based on one of three categories: Rescue, Tourism or Construction. My team and I were part of the Tourism team, and we named our gondola the Cloud Cruiser. It imitated the design of the Peak Tram, as a more effective and modern mode of transportation which still embodied Hong Kong’s traditional roots. We faced our biggest hurdle with our motor, which was faulty to work in its initial stages. With some help from the teachers, my team and I were able to fix it. All in all, it was an exciting experience, which geared us up for the end of term.
Trisha, Grade 10
Design Challenge 2023
Elsa High Section’s annual Design Challenge took place in February, hand-in-hand with the Elementary and Preschool STEAM activities. Elsa students were tasked with designing, making, and pitching an airboat capable of navigating terrain to simulate delivery of rescue supplies. Unique to this year's challenge was access to First-Person-View (FPV) wireless cameras and head-worn displays, as well as the specification that their designs must use upcycled packaging materials as hull components. This technologically forward and eco-friendly approach encouraged innovative engineering and promoted sustainability.
Pre-K to Grade 5 participated in a challenge centered around disaster relief operations, in line with their High School peers. This engaging activity empowered students to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills.
Situation
Step into the shoes of real-life heroes in this Design Challenge centered around disaster relief operations! A devastating flood has left an entire community stranded, with no means of transportation. Your task is to design and construct an airboat capable of navigating through floodwaters, debris-filled streets, and reaching isolated areas to provide essential supplies and rescue stranded individuals. Are you ready to make a difference and be part of a life- saving mission?
Challenge
Get ready to engineer innovative airboats that will restore hope and save lives in times of disaster! In this challenge, you will create a First Person View (FPV) remote control airboat using only reused packaging materials as the building material. This eco-friendly approach not only demonstrates your engineering skills but also promotes sustainability by repurposing materials.
Your airboat will be capable of navigating a treacherous obstacle course, made up of land and water! It will also be instrumental in delivering aid packages, rescuing stranded individuals, and ensuring their safe passage to security. Let your creativity and resourcefulness shine as you embark on this mission of compassion and environmental responsibility!
Student Reflections:
Peter, Grade 9: Coming into this year's Design Challenge, I did not know what to expect. When it was revealed that we were meant to build an Airboat, I was surprised. I expected it to be difficult: how were we going to be able to build a vehicle that goes both on water and on land and can transition between them? Thankfully, we were provided with a starting kit, which we could then build upon.
My Team and I divided into two initial roles, one group working on the Product Pitch and one team working on the Airboat. At the start, when we just had to build the kit, we split off into teams. However on the second day we all worked on building the airboat and contributing all of our ideas to create the team's Airboat. Some challenges with my team specifically was the weight of the Airboat. Our Airboat has an elongated front and pontoons on the side, like a catamaran. However, due to the use of lots of material, our Airboat was significantly heavier than other team's airboats. We changed and modified our airboat to have a slicker bottom and removed unnecessary weight from the front of the boat to counteract this conundrum.
My Highlight of the week so far has been seeing our work culminate into a final product. Seeing our airboat being able to slip and slide on the track and float on water has been amazing. With all projects, seeing your vision finally come to life is an amazing feeling.
Lili, Grade 10: An atmosphere of immense excitement and anticipation led up to the Design Challenge, and it only continued throughout the whole experience! My initial reaction to the Design Challenge brief was nervousness but excitement as I’d never heard of what we were making or its incredible purposes. The challenge was to create an airboat that could skim above the water and pass through debris and other obstacles. We were given a starter kit that gave us a base for our design, but the details and design were entirely designed by the students.
We faced several challenges throughout the creation process, including our boat's design being too heavy or our presentation and pitch not being detailed enough. Our group took time to communicate and adequately assign roles to solve all of our problems, which helped us create a boat that we were proud of and brought us all closer together as a team. My personal highlight of the week was the first test of our boat, as the suspense and slight worry only made the boat's success in being able to move all the more exciting.
Trisha, Grade 9: This is the first time I’ve ever taken part in a Design Challenge. I was quite excited to collaborate with students across grades to learn about each other's strengths and interests. I think I was anticipating the end of the challenge, just to see how well we could do in the challenge. Through discussing we figured out everyone’s strengths. I researched about the boat, and made a couple of sketches with my teammate, and we gave them to the others to build. Overall, we had a great balance between the building, researching and presenting part of the project. When the final Airboat was brought inside the auditorium, freshly coated in spray paint, I felt nothing but pride. My team had really pulled it off!
Cedric, Grade 9: I was really excited and eager to participate in the challenge and push myself and think outside of the box. The challenges we faced in the beginning was how we should make our airboat since everyone had their unique ideas and we were contemplating about which would be the best for us with the limited resources and time we have. The highlight of the week for me was the second day of our build and testing day. I was really excited and nervous about testing our airboat for the first time but it turned out way better than we expected and even others! We were the fastest on track and the only one that managed to get over the pond.
Design Challenge 2022
The Elsa High School Design Challenge began on Thursday 15 December. Students in the MYP were joined by our Grade 11s - forming 21 design teams in total - to complete this year’s challenge. Teams are organised by School Houses to heighten the stakes!
The Situation: In the near future, we will be combining the technology of old and new to develop efficient and autonomous goods transport systems. Healthcare and medical emergencies are prioritised when it comes to rapid response in urban areas, which is why we are calling on you for submissions of drone pod designs that can be used on a zipline network throughout Hong Kong. It is critical that pharmaceutical products and medical devices are moved safely and rapidly to the places and people that need them most. Help us create the future.
The Goal: Create a high-speed propeller propulsion transport pod that can rapidly move along a zipline and deliver a payload.
Peter, Grade 8: This was my first time ever doing the Design Challenge, I didn't know what to expect other than the fact that it was a challenge. We were tasked with creating a "Zipline Pod" capable of transporting medical supplies quickly and efficiently.
The highlight on Day 1 for me was collecting the materials and starting to build the "Zipline Pod"; my team and I put our plans into action and it was fun to see how everything fitted together. During the build process there were multiple hurdles we had to overcome, sometimes we did not have enough of one material or we could not decide on what would work best for our Zipline Pod, however after certain deliberation and working together to find a new comprisable solution we were able to work around our struggles.
Now after the Design Challenge is over, it was an enjoyable experience and it was great to plan, build and put our creation into action. Thank you to Mr. Donnoli and supervising staff for making it happen!
Lev, Grade 8: This was my first year of the design challenge, so I did not know what to expect. This year's challenge was to create a motor-driven zipline carrier, capable of carrying 50g. It is supposed to be built to transport the payload efficiently both up and downhill along a zipline.
My highlight on the first day was making the model. We made drawings and designs, and then we made them come to life, and for me, this was quite fun. The biggest challenge for our team to overcome was the weight of our pod. Testing our model was really exciting, but sadly I won’t be here for the races.
Talia, Grade 8: The Design Challenge this year was really fun and challenging. I really enjoyed working with my team! I think it was very interesting to make technology that could carry important and potentially life saving equipment and medicines around the city. We definitely achieved our goal which was to make a perfectly balanced zipline carrier that could go fast with a valuable load inside.
Some highlights were doing the presentation, finishing the actual product and doing the race against other teams. At one point our motor had broken and we lost our mini challenge cards; we had lost any hope we might win. Then we decided it wouldn’t help just sitting around so we got up and worked hard and fixed our product and we did well in the races. I thought it was a great opportunity for our whole class and I really enjoyed working with my team and I learnt a lot of things along the way!
Student Reflections
My highlight of the week so far has been seeing our work culminate into a final product. Seeing our airboat being able to slip and slide on the track and float on water has been amazing. With all projects, seeing your vision finally come to life is an amazing feeling. Peter, Grade 9
Our group took time to communicate and adequately assign roles to solve all of our problems, which helped us create a boat that we were proud of and brought us all closer together as a team. Lili, Grade 10