While we have developed some Challenges for topics in sustainable technology (for example, ergonomic lighting), most of our Challenges address problems in optics and photonics, the practical use of light energy. If you need a problem on a different topic, the documents below will assist you to make your own, in either document or PowerPoint format.
This PDF file describes the process of creating a PBL Challenge in document form.
Challenge Design Guide-October 2014
This PowerPoint file includes directions and a template for creating a PBL Challenge to present in slide form. The link will download a zipped .pptx file that you can use as a template.
Make your own Challenge.pptx
Participant Designed Challenges
| Challenge | The Problem | STEM concepts |
|---|---|---|
| YouthBuild Providence | A student team proposes solutions to local problems of homelessness | Drawing blueprints, Creating a budget, Model building, Presentation skills |
| Under Pressure - B Harding KVCC | Troubleshoot and repair a leaking water heater for an angry customer. B. Harding, Kennebec Valley (Maine) Community College Energy Systems and Technology | Uniform plumbing code, thermal expansion, basic algebra and graphing |
| Forest products material strength design challenge_KSupan | In this challenge, you will be part of a team to design a series of scientific tests to evaluate the mechanical properties of a new forest product. K. Supan, Mechanical Engineering, Norwich (VT) University | Mechanical/physical properties of materials, Scientific testing methods, Nondestructive testing |
| WetSoil -K Creswell | “My soil doesn’t drain. How can I grow crops all season long?” K. Creswell, Kennebec Valley (Maine) Community College Sustainable Agriculture | Topology, soil properties |
