Thinking Like Cowan

James Cowan was a celebrated watch and clockmaker in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the mid 18th century.(1) He was evidently a rather senior member of the Hammermen (metal-workers) Guild of Edinburgh. James was often called upon to judge the "essays" of those junior makers who aspired to enter the Guild as a freeman clock and watch maker. An "essay" -- "thesis", more or less -- described a clock or watch movement that was designed and made by the applicant. Perhaps some of these "essays" described some new innovation in Horology, for example, adding a new feature that compensated for temperature fluctuations. As such, we could ask, were the "Essay Masters" like James Cowan also teachers of horology?

James Cowan certainly had several apprentices indentured under his guidance. So, in this sense, James Cowan was definitely a teacher of horology -- the art and science of measuring time.

Horology was at the forefront of mechanical engineering. Mechanical clock movements made of metal preceded the steam engine by many decades. Like rotating steam engines, rotating clocks had a job to do. But clocks also had to do that job very accurately.

It would be interesting to learn what specific innovations came from the mind of James Cowan, watch and clock maker. Being affiliated with the Hammermen Guild, it would seem that clock movements -- (ie mechanisms, earlier made of malleable iron, and later) -- made of brass, were the norm in the eighteenth century. Around that time, the town steeple clocks ran for only 24 hours and only had a single "hour" hand. The energy to run those early clocks came from falling granite weights.

So, who was it that decided it would be fitting to make the rotating parts of a "grandfather clock" out of wood? Breaking with the brass works tradition was certainly a bold move.

Having SATEC Tech Design students design their own learning opportunities -- ref the 2008 Engineering Education conference -- had been very positive. As a Tech Design teacher with a decently-equipped wood shop for fabrication-learning, I must have been curious about wooden-works grandfather clocks in January 2011. For the grade 11 Tech Design exam in January 2011, I prepared a two hour open-book, on-line exam...

The Scenario – Relating Science, Math and Art to Technological Design

“Have Time, Will Tell”

Clocks are everywhere. Clocks perform a relatively simple task – to tell us what time of day it is. Once we know the time, we must make a decision – “what do I do next”?

You will design a learning opportunity that meets this challenge -- “Have Time, Will Tell” -- as outlined above. Part of your learning opportunity may be something that a science teacher will teach in science or physics class. Part of your learning opportunity may be something that a math teacher will teach in math class. Part of your learning opportunity MUST be something that Technology teachers will teach in Tech class. In tech class, the students must work as a group to design and build a “Grandfather” or “Tall Case” clock. How should the students “be organized” to achieve their goal? Your learning opportunity design may also include a portion that would be relevant in art class. Your learning opportunity design MUST address at least two of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math.

You must not copy / paste any information from the internet. If you find useful information, you must translate that information into your own words – summarize! Plagiarism will result in a mark of zero.

Using Inventor Pro, you must also produce a “version 1” very simple case of a “Grandfather” or “Tall Case” clock with which to illustrate your Have Time, Will Tell learning opportunity documentation. The clock case must be constructed of wooden parts. You will create multiple part files in Inventor, all fully dimensioned.. You must include at least one dado joint and at least one mitre joint in your clock case design. You will use Inventor’s Assembly mode to connect the case parts together. You will also output at least one drawing file of one part of your design. Note that you are not required to design any internal mechanical parts of the grandfather clock. The clock case will be an empty – but attractive and structurally sound -- shell.

Design Process Outputs from You

Marks Will Be Awarded for Producing the Following -- 60 marks total.

25 Marks for Thinking and 25 Marks for Application as indicated below.
And 10 Additional Marks for Communication of your ideas...

I was impressed with many of the exam submissions -- eg. the first line-item in the table below. So much so that I decided to actually go ahead and develop and teach this Tall-Case Clock project in senior technological design. Not immediately... it took some planning time. A few of the "input to students" documents are linked below.

My on-line Moodle quiz system was the "Knowledge of Concepts" starting point in my design-build learning activities. Altogether I had well over 1000 quiz questions in my Tech Design system.

STEAM_Luc_B_Technological_Design_Exam-w	-A 2011 exam submission -- well-done! So I decided to proceed with designing a pendulum clock learning activity
Mechanism_Innovation_Apr27_16.pdf	Mechanism and Innovation (Machines and Their Evolution – An Analytical Approach) -Do the Mechanism-Innovation Moodle Quiz -There is an assignment in the Pendulum_Clock.doc -The fundamental mechanisms. -Black Box Modelling – Simplify for Better Understanding -White Box Modelling – What`s Going On Inside? – How`s It Work? -Free body diagrams. -Deriving more complex mechanisms / machines. -Innovation – A Brilliantly Simple Automatic Transmission
Process_Control_Sept22_16.pdf	Process Control -Do the Control System Moodle quiz -Control System Terminology -Visual Representation of a Control System -Components of a System to Regulate Air Pressure
Pendulum_Clock_Sept28_16-w.pdf	Wooden-Works Tall-Case Pendulum Clock: Design / Build Project Mechanism, Control, Energy, Fabrication -Do the “Energy Control Application: Pendulum Clock” Moodle quiz. -Sub-System Identification – Simplify the Problem – Break it Down -Time / Project Management -- Plan -- A Goal a Day -- Reflect -The Evolution of an Innovation ... Meeting a Need – the Pendulum Clock
Pendulum_Clock_Quiz-w.pdf	Pendulum_Clock_Quiz-w.pdf
14_Inventor_2014_Gears_Oct17_16.pdf	Wooden Gears -One Way to Generate Gear Assemblies: Canned functionality that is not recommended -Wooden Gear Design: Practical Considerations for a Pendulum Clock -- Critical Thinking -"From the above observations – our critical thinking at work -- we will simplify our gear fabrication by designing a very simple gear profile for a tall case clock – our creative thinking." -A first crack at wooden gear design and assembly -Critically think about the pros and cons of the "first crack" approach
14a_Inventor_2014_Gears_HourMin_Oct20_16.pdf	Wooden Gears- 2 -Design Efficiency - Re-visit the pros and cons of the "first crack" approach -Overall Strategy for Wooden Gear Trains that is Modestly Flexible -Parameter-Naming Convention -Multiple Solids Design Strategy -- Master.ipt Part File -Drive1 Pair of Gears (4:1 Gear Ratio)
Inputs-TallCaseClock-Sept12_18.pdf	In this table is an outline of how I was helping those grade 12 Tech Design students become better learners, better thinkers and better problem-solvers. There is generally an on-line Moodle quiz corresponding to each “input” document in the table. The Moodle quizzes typically deal with the fundamental knowledge – although some quizzes force the students to make connections and to think critically.

The last time I taught Grade 12 Technological Design... here is a summary of student opinion regarding the “Wooden Works Pendulum Tall-Case Clock” project – in a completely anonymous survey...

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being “really awesome”,
how would you rate the “Pendulum Tall-Case Clock Design / Build” STEM Project?

Pendulum Tall-Case Clock Learning Experience [Names were not requested. No names were given]	Average / 10
The Clock was a good learning experience in terms of Problem-Solving using the design process and 3D CAD software	8.3
The Clock was a good learning experience in terms of improving individual Essential Skills and Work Habits	8.9
The Clock was a good learning experience in terms of team collaboration	9.0
The Clock was a good learning experience in terms of development and application of shop skills	9.1

Even though a clock was not fully assembled in class, in another anonymous grade 12 Tech Design survey that semester, “Mr. McCowan’s overall effectiveness as a teacher” was rated at “Excellent Minus” – i.e. far above average. I was pleasantly surprised. This “Wooden Works Pendulum Tall-Case Clock” design / build project was very rewarding for the teacher too.

I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching Technological Design to aspiring engineers and other aspiring professionals at SATEC. And I am more than satisfied that my teaching has made a very positive difference for many students.

(1) Old Scottish Clockmakers, John Smith, 1921, Oliver and Boyd. The Testament of James Cowan, watchmaker in Edinburgh, was registered in the Commissariot of Edinburgh in 1782.