THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605070161
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Education
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Ethan Edwards, an eighth-grader at Smithfield Middle School, has little idea what an indicator holder's exact function is, but he reckons it's probably a vital part of some machine, and he knows how to design it.
He designed one so well recently, in fact, that he won regional awards for his efforts and then state recognition at the Virginia Technology Students Association's competition held in Hampton April 19-21.
At the competition, Ethan was handed a one-dimensional drawing of an indicator holder. It was his job to interpret the drawing into three dimensions, and, using a computer, design it so it could be properly constructed.
``It's just something that I like,'' the youngster said, as he sat in front of a computer in his Technology 2000 class. ``There are CADD (computer aided drafting design) specialists who actually design cars. Somebody would come in and hand you a drawing, and you'd have to put in the dimensions so the car could actually be built.''
Steve Edwards, who teaches the class that just started at the middle school last year, was proud of his student, and so was the entire school. A marquee outside the school last week announced that Smithfield Middle School had a state winner in the TSA contest.
This year was the first time students from the middle school have competed in the technology competition, Steve Edwards said.
``The main objective of the class is to teach students problem solving in four areas - manufacturing, construction, transportation and communication,'' the teacher said.
Students in the technology classes currently are working with animation, sound waves, desktop publishing, robotics, aerodynamics and, of course, computer design.
Ethan Edwards competed against more than 700 students from across the state and came out a winner. He placed third in regionals to go on to state competition and also captured third in CADD at the state contest.
``The CADD competition is centered around having to show accurate dimensions and measurements for three views,'' the teacher said. ``The drawings can be very tricky. The students had to see things that weren't there in the original drawing and re-dimension them.''
Other winners at the regional level, held in March, were: Jonathan Spalding, Mike Weller, James Bowman, Greg Bew and James Stoup. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
Teacher Steve Edwards guided Ethan Edwards in the project.
by CNB