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Teacher's Mission Statement
Community
Studies: Publications
Educational Resources
Historic Sites in Scarborough Heights
Links for Toronto Links
mccowan.org
Scarboro Heights Record
The Lowland Clearances
Table of Contents
Sources
Acknowledge-
ments
Scottish Diaspora Tapestry
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I am proud of what I have accomplished at SATEC@W.A. Porter CI in problem-based
STEM learning (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math).
Students under my guidance have spoken at five
Professional Engineers Ontario Engineering Education Conferences.
D.B. McCowan, 2018
The world is a complex place. Fifty years ago, an Algebra Professor told the
class that the
amount of knowledge in the world doubles every 7 years. In 2025, we could
probably say that "knowledge" doubles about every 7 minutes.
For a couple of decades now, the internet has been the go-to place for both
"new" knowledge and old knowledge.
Of course, much of the so-called knowledge now out there is mis-information, dis-information
or outright fake-news. And Artificial Intelligence is now dramatically compounding the problem.
Separating useful fact from nonsense depends on conscientious use of sound
analytical / critical thinking skills.
Some folk believe that "Thinking is just thinking".
"Thinking can't be taught" they will tell you. But Thinking can indeed be
taught. Developing solid
core Thinking
Skills is absolutely key in your learning.
And ... many people question the value of teaching history in school. In terms of
improving your critical thinking skills, history is probably the single most important course in
high school.
For example, in an uncontrolled manner, "new" primary sources become public knowledge every day, for example archival newspaper accounts. Some so-called primary sources could even be border-line "fake news" (politically-motivated pieces for example).
For your next history essay... in your random web-surfing -- all public knowledge,
by the way -- you are bound to find some of these accounts that use dated language and skewed perspectives. It is the job of educators to guide you in using your critical thinking skills to carefully evaluate such accounts. Educators will guide you to use your creative thinking skills to imagine and compose alternative perspectives that may (or may not) be judged as potentially more truthful.
Problem-solving and the design process go hand-in-hand. Indeed, the design
process is a sub-set of Problem-Solving. Solving "word
problems" gives many students serious trouble in math class. Following a proven
problem-solving process using core thinking skills is the key.
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First... Some Review
Introduction to Problem Solving
McCowan_Problem_Solving_Intro_Jan28_16.pdf
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Introduction to Problem-Solving
-- Goals, Fundamentals, Framework
-- Core Thinking Skills to Derive New Concepts and Solve Increasingly More Complex Problems |
| Types of Problems
McCowan-ProblemTypes_Jan28_16.pdf
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Five General Types of Problems to Solve
1 -- Single Step -Very common in Math Class (up to grade 9) -- one
decision needs to be made
2 -- Multiple Step: Exploration -- Common in Math Class by grade 10 --
more than one sub-problem
3 -- Analysis / Inquiry -- Assumptions are often necessary
4 -- Synthesis / Design -- Life's problems are a complex intertwining of
many disciplines or subject areas
5 -- Fabrication -- Tool-building or product-building -- open-ended
inquiry / design / build / assess
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| Design Process
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--Flow-chart overview
--Your output deliverables during each stage
--Some Design Process fundamental Q and A's
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Now an Old-Tech Straight-Forward Sample
Problem and Solution
Sample_Design_MetalFinder_Dec19_16-.pdf
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An introduction to the Design Process -- a sub-set of the Problem-Solving
Process.
--Identify the problem; state your goal
--Elements of technology to consider -- fundamental concepts --
Requirements of a potential solution
--What do I already know that may be relevant? (Recall thinking skill)
--Deeper analysis / critical thinking
--Imagining a potential solution -- the plan; sketch; CAD design
--Self-evaluation / reflection
The problem here: we don't want to damage expensive machinery because a
piece of metal nail or screw is buried in a piece of wood
Note:
The wood could have been salvaged -- previously used in a structure.
Or the piece of wood could have been from a tree that had a wire fence
growing into it
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| Thinking Like Murdoch: Wooden Horse on Wheels
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Thinking Like Murdoch (mid-18th century)
--Research / Design / Build Project for Senior Technological Design
--Scotland was a poor country in the pre-industrial revolution period
--Age of Improvement -- Innovation
--Millwright John Murdoch's “wooden horse on wheels” is believed to be the first human-powered vehicle in the western world.
--If the ordinary lower-middle class eighteenth century Scots could take a leading role in the age of improvement…so can our youth in this twenty-first century era of radical change.
--Millwright -- Make a sawhorse to help build things -- Ok, now build a moving
sawhorse
--Nine Fundamental Concepts of Technology
--Five Sub-Systems and their interfaces
--Self-Assessment -- Improvements for next time
--Anonymous student survey (names were not requested and no names were given)
-- 8.7 out of 10
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| Thinking Like Telford: First Suspension Bridge
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Thinking Like Telford (early 19th century)
--Telford's Menai bridge was, arguably, the western world's first modern suspension bridge -- a
remarkable innovation that was developed by an ordinary person
--Research / Design / Build Project for Senior Technological Design -- a
model of course!
--Anonymous student survey (names were not requested and no names were given)
-- 8.4 out of 10
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| Thinking Like Cowan:
Wooden Works Tall-Case Pendulum Clock
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Thinking Like Cowan (mid-18th century)
--Wooden Works Tall Case Pendulum Clock Design-Build Project
--Pendulum clocks were very early complex machines, a couple of centuries
ahead of the industrial revolution
--Anonymous student survey (names were not requested and no names were given)
-- 8.8 out of 10
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