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Simon Bennett wrote:
>
> Dear All
>
> There was a letter in last week's New Civil Engineer which I shall reproduce
> for you:
>
> "I support the suggestion made by your correspondent (nCE 7 June) that
> Meccano be adopted by schools to assist in the study of construction.
> Unfortunately it is my experience that teachers expect children to construct
> things using Lego, which although it has some merits, is absolutely hopeless
> for modelling structures or demonstrating mechanics."
>
> The writer provided his address so after a few hours to calm down I thought
> we might like to respond to this.
>
> What do you think?
My wife used to work for the American Society of Civil Engineers and to
the best of my recollection, that organization is really into using KNEX
for educational purposes. She did bring in LEGO for a 'play' area for a
bring your kid to work day and it was a pretty good success. I can ask
her more about the org's construction toy position if anyone is
interested.
-chris
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In lugnet.loc.uk, Christopher Tracey writes:
>
> My wife used to work for the American Society of Civil Engineers and to
> the best of my recollection, that organization is really into using KNEX
> for educational purposes. She did bring in LEGO for a 'play' area for a
> bring your kid to work day and it was a pretty good success. I can ask
> her more about the org's construction toy position if anyone is
> interested.
>
> -chris
If only the Institution of Civil Engineers had a 'construction toy
position'! In my opinion they do not do enough to promote civils amoing
schoolchildren and when they do (usually at the 14-16 level) they tend to
use spaghetti or straws for construction challenges. I guess because
they're cheaper. I would prefer it if they used toys that children recognised.
I am definitely interested in what the ASCE thinks.
Psi
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During my first year of Civil Engineering, we had a project of building a
model bridge using paddlepop sticks (Australian term), i'm not sure what
they're called around the world, but their the wooden sticks you get with
ice creams bought in packets.
Although I see merits in using Technic beams and joints as real life
construction models, the problem with these are that they don't represent
true life strenght of materials for weight etc.. Well unless you can afford
to build life size items with ABS plastic ;)
Now that I'm working on construction project, I use Lego for fun only, the
real things are no way near as fun although just as interesting.
Cheers
Santosh
In lugnet.mediawatch, Simon Bennett writes:
> In lugnet.loc.uk, Christopher Tracey writes:
> >
> > My wife used to work for the American Society of Civil Engineers and to
> > the best of my recollection, that organization is really into using KNEX
> > for educational purposes. She did bring in LEGO for a 'play' area for a
> > bring your kid to work day and it was a pretty good success. I can ask
> > her more about the org's construction toy position if anyone is
> > interested.
> >
> > -chris
>
> If only the Institution of Civil Engineers had a 'construction toy
> position'! In my opinion they do not do enough to promote civils amoing
> schoolchildren and when they do (usually at the 14-16 level) they tend to
> use spaghetti or straws for construction challenges. I guess because
> they're cheaper. I would prefer it if they used toys that children recognised.
>
> I am definitely interested in what the ASCE thinks.
>
> Psi
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In lugnet.mediawatch, Santosh Bhat writes:
> During my first year of Civil Engineering, we had a project of building a
> model bridge using paddlepop sticks (Australian term), i'm not sure what
> they're called around the world, but their the wooden sticks you get with
> ice creams bought in packets.
In the US we commonly call them Popsicle sticks, but that's actually a case
of trademark dilution, as Popsicle is a trademark for a brand of "paddle
pops". I think there is a generic name but I forget what it is. Note that
these sticks are narrower than tongue depressors which you also can get for
use in projects...
> Although I see merits in using Technic beams and joints as real life
> construction models, the problem with these are that they don't represent
> true life strenght of materials for weight etc.. Well unless you can afford
> to build life size items with ABS plastic ;)
Are you saying that real materials are stronger per unit of mass or weaker??
I sort of would have expected steel to be stronger!
++Lar
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> of trademark dilution, as Popsicle is a trademark for a brand of "paddle
> pops". I think there is a generic name but I forget what it is. Note that
Paddle pop is accually the brand name of a particular type of icecream.
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In lugnet.mediawatch, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> In lugnet.mediawatch, Santosh Bhat writes:
> > During my first year of Civil Engineering, we had a project of building a
> > model bridge using paddlepop sticks (Australian term), i'm not sure what
> > they're called around the world, but their the wooden sticks you get with
> > ice creams bought in packets.
>
> In the US we commonly call them Popsicle sticks, but that's actually a case
> of trademark dilution, as Popsicle is a trademark for a brand of "paddle
> pops". I think there is a generic name but I forget what it is. Note that
> these sticks are narrower than tongue depressors which you also can get for
> use in projects...
Paddle Pop is also a particular Brand as Jonathan has pointed out. I'm not
really sure what a generic term would be? I know other guys have had to
build bridges using balsa wood. The spaghetti usage must only happen at a
lower primary school lelvel, though I never had the pleasure of that..
> > Although I see merits in using Technic beams and joints as real life
> > construction models, the problem with these are that they don't represent
> > true life strenght of materials for weight etc.. Well unless you can afford
> > to build life size items with ABS plastic ;)
>
> Are you saying that real materials are stronger per unit of mass or weaker??
> I sort of would have expected steel to be stronger!
Per unit of mass perhaps. A beam made of ABS plastic would be a lot lighter
than a similar sized beam of steel. AS for which would be stronger, I'm not
really sure. I suppose that Steel would indeed be stronger. Whats cheaper?
thats pretty obvious that one..besides I don't know if Billund has the moulds.
Santosh
And I'm sure if the moulds did exist, the parts would never be available
here. (Sorry just had to put in the whinge for consistency) ;)
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In lugnet.mediawatch, Santosh Bhat writes:
> And I'm sure if the moulds did exist, the parts would never be available
> here. (Sorry just had to put in the whinge for consistency) ;)
LLC and LLW have some very large scale Technic parts, but I think they're
made of fiberglass rather than ABS, and no doubt have steel armatures.
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