techdirections January 2010 : Page 37

bright ideas for teachers Getting Tools Back Having tools borrowed and never returned by fac- ulty or students outside my program annoyed me. I solved this problem by requiring each person who EQUIPMENT RECEIPT DATE __ /__/__ I, ________________________, have received ______________________ (equipment name) from the Technology Department of Sheridan High School. I will return this item by __ /__/__ (expected date of return). I personally and unconditionally guarantee this item will be returned in as good condition as I am receiving it. If it damaged in any way, I will personally PAY ALL COSTS for repair. If lost or stolen while I have it signed out, I will PAY ALL REPLACEMENT COSTS. removes a tool from my lab to sign a receipt. Now, anyone who borrows a tool makes certain to return it.—Richard C. Banfield, Sheridan High School, Thornville, OH. Shrink Dowel Pins If your dowel pins fit too tightly in properly sized holes, it may be that excessive humidity has caused them to expand. A simple remedy is to dry them in a microwave oven. Place the dowel pins on a paper plate and “zap” them for two-minute intervals to keep them from scorching. A few minutes should bring them to proper size. After drying, seal the dowels in double plastic bags to keep them dry.—Galen R. Lesher, Red Lion (PA) Area Ju- nior High School. Driving Nails with Ease It is easier to drive nails and screws if you first dip them into linseed oil. Also, the oil forms a thin, tough coating around the nail or screw and pre- vents the wood from rotting, even if exposed to dampness.—B. Beck, New York, NY. www.techdirections.com Safety Poster Contest To enhance safety in my machine woodworking class, I have students design a safety poster. I give them a list of safety rules to study, and from it they choose one rule to We’ve often said that our readers are among the most creative and resourceful people in education. Well, now’s the time for you to prove it. email your classroom and lab tips, hints, and ideas to matt@techdirections.com with the words “bright ideas” in the subject line. Help pass along valuable ideas to your colleagues. develop into a poster. I allow two class days at the end of our drafting unit for work on the poster—any additional time needed is completed at home. I staple completed posters to the classroom walls as a safety reminder and to add some color to the walls. I then hold a poster contest, with 7th-grade students judg- ing 8th-grade posters and vice versa. The judging process forces students to read and study the safety rules once again.—Duane Swanson, with assistance from Tori Fred- rickson, Blatchley Middle School, Sitka, AK. Ticket to the Lab Before dismissing my students from the classroom to go to the construction lab, I require a “ticket.” For example, one day following a lecture/discussion and classroom activity concerning estimating roofing materials, I gave them the size of a yard barn roof and asked for the number of shingles necessary to roof the structure. The correct answer on a small piece of paper served as their “ticket” to the lab. This method really stimulated students’ interest in the problem-solving activity.—Bill Norris, Urey Middle School, Walkerton, IN. bright ideas 7

Bright Ideas For Teachers

Getting Tools Back

Having tools borrowed and never returned by faculty or students outside my program annoyed me. I solved this problem by requiring each person who Removes a tool from my lab to sign a receipt. Now, anyone who borrows a tool makes certain to return it.—Richard C. Banfield, Sheridan High School, Thornville, OH.

Shrink Dowel Pins If your dowel pins fit too tightly in properly sized holes, it may be that excessive humidity has caused them to expand. A simple remedy is to dry them in a microwave oven.

Place the dowel pins on a paper plate and “zap” them for two-minute intervals to keep them from scorching. A few minutes should bring them to proper size. After drying, seal the dowels in double plastic bags to keep them dry.—Galen R. Lesher, Red Lion (PA) Area Junior High School.

Driving Nails with Ease It is easier to drive nails and screws if you first dip them into linseed oil. Also, the oil forms a thin, tough coating around the nail or screw and prevents the wood from rotting, even if exposed to dampness.—B. Beck, New York, NY.

We’ve often said that our readers are among the most creative and resourceful people in education. Well, now’s the time for you to prove it. Email your classroom and lab tips, hints, and ideas to matt@techdirections.com with the words “bright ideas” in the subject line. Help pass along valuable ideas EQUIPMENT RECEIPT to your colleagues.

Safety Poster Contest To enhance safety in my machine woodworking class, I have students design a safety poster. I give them a list of safety rules to study, and from it they choose one rule to Develop into a poster. I allow two class days at the end of our drafting unit for work on the poster—any additional time needed is completed at home.

I staple completed posters to the classroom walls as a safety reminder and to add some color to the walls. I then hold a poster contest, with 7th-grade students judging 8th-grade posters and vice versa. The judging process forces students to read and study the safety rules once again.—Duane Swanson, with assistance from Tori Fredrickson, Blatchley Middle School, Sitka, AK.

Ticket to the Lab Before dismissing my students from the classroom to go to the construction lab, I require a “ticket.” For example, one day following a lecture/discussion and classroom activity concerning estimating roofing materials, I gave them the size of a yard barn roof and asked for the number of shingles necessary to roof the structure. The correct answer on a small piece of paper served as their “ticket” to the lab. This method really stimulated students’ interest in the problem-solving activity.—Bill Norris, Urey Middle School, Walkerton, IN.

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