Grade 8 - Control

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will:

design and construct a control device that senses, switches, or regulates
compare ways that various control devices work, and explain their applications
integrate electric, electronic, pneumatic, and mechanical control devices within a system
demonstrate an understanding of the concept of control by dismantling devices

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Control in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

All managed systems (e.g., communications, production, mechanical, pneumatic, electric, electronic) use control devices. Students are introduced to sensing, switching, and regulating devices by dismantling them. They demonstrate an understanding of control devices by building a product or system that incorporates one or more control methods.

Have students work in small groups to dismantle common devices (e.g., switches, valves, motion sensors) to learn how they operate. Provide students with formats that help them to focus on the function of devices.

Investigation of Control Devices

Description of the system:household light
Input:electricity
Output:light
Control Device:wall-mounted toggle switch
Operating Principles:electrical contacts are seperate or connected by movement of the toggle

Ask students to use print and electronic resources to research various control devices-their effectiveness and related problems. Have students present the research to their peers orally and using visual aids. Have students use the information gathered to design and construct a system that incorporates electronic, pneumatic, or mechanical control devices (e.g., burglar alarm, water-level controller, winker-blinker). Help students list design considerations (e.g., function, form, aesthetics, ergonomics) to include in their design brief. (See Appendices D and F for a description of design briefs.)

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

As students build and operate a variety of control devices, they demonstrate their abilities to identify the type of control used in a device, differentiate between input and output, and describe the roles of operating devices and feedback loops.

Observe

Students investigate a variety of discarded control devices from home, school, or industry and work in small groups to prepare a display for the classroom. Look for evidence that students are able to:
- categorize control devices (switches, sensors, regulators)
- identify inputs, outputs, processes, and feedback components
- identify components of control devices and their functions
- identify practical applications for these devices

Collect

Examine student-constructed systems that use a variety of control devices for:
- appropriate selection of control devices
- efficiency (i.e., do what they were intended to do)
- quality of construction and attention to detail

Self-Assessment

After students design and construct a control device, give them an opportunity to reflect on their learning. To focus their assessment, use prompts such as:
- How does your work reflect what you know about control devices?
- What was the most difficult challenge as you worked on this task?
- How did you deal with that challenge?