by OHS Torch Reporter, Lucas Smith
OHS Principle of Technology classes have built rat racers during class the last few weeks; under strict requirements students must build race cars then compete against one another in speed and distance.
The Rat Racer project is an extensive project used in class to show the steps of the Engineering and Design Process that students learn in the first weeks of school. This project teaches the students while letting them use the process first hand and experiment their ideas in groups.
Although the Rat Racer project is very extensive and challenging, students have the chance to put their creativity to the test. At the end of the project all students name their cars and put them to the test in a bracket style race where the winners advance.
OHS Senior Liam O’Rourke said, “Definitely getting our car to work was the way we wanted it to was the most challenging for me and my group.”
Drama struck the classroom project when students started racing one another for pink slips. Although no harm was done, a few groups cars were temporarily impounded by OHS Science teacher Mr. Rackauscus.
“My favorite part of this project is getting to really see how some of my students minds work, it's very interesting to see their ideas and problem-solving skills on paper and first hand when working with their prototypes”, OHS Science Teacher Mr. Rackauscus.
Students worked on their cars over the course of a couple weeks, making very small as well as very large adjustments to the cars to meet the requirements of the race. All adjustments made were important on race day in effort to earn the top spot on the bracket.
In the Second block Principle of Technologies class Senior Triston Ballinger and Juniors Nathan Schulz and Katie Adams took the gold in the Distance and Speed Races. Winning the Distance category in the 4th block class was Seniors Alex Switzer, Genna Vanwye, and Clay Bachman. Winning In the Speed category for 4th block were Seniors Collin Miller and Sara Rathbun.
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