Hands-On Learning in National Fluid Power Association’s Fluid Power Challenge

Sixty-four eighth graders and their teachers from the South Bend (Ind.) Community School Corporation participated in a National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) Fluid Power Challenge held at the University of Notre Dame on December 3, 2010.
By: Steve Sult, Daman Products Company
 
Dec. 20, 2010 - PRLog -- Sixty-four eighth graders and their teachers from the South Bend (Ind.) Community School Corporation participated in a National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) Fluid Power Challenge held at the University of Notre Dame on December 3, 2010. Sponsored by Daman Products Company, Inc., General Sheet Metal Works, L.L. Geans Construction Co. and Barnaby's Pizza-South Bend, the competition challenged students to solve an engineering problem using fluid power.

"The NFPA has given us a wonderful opportunity to impact education in our area," Larry Davis, President of Daman Products Company, said. "Through this competition, we witnessed the profound value that comes from learning through solving real-world challenges."

To prepare for the competition, 16 teams of four students each designed and built a fluid power mechanism to perform a specific task. The students used hydraulics and pneumatics to power mechanisms that picked up weighted objects and placed them on a platform. On the challenge day, they competed against other teams in a timed competition to rebuild their mechanism.

Engineers from the sponsoring businesses judged the teams' designs, teamwork, cooperation, technical skills and answers to quiz questions. Greene Intermediate Center received the Overall Champion Award. Four other teams were recognized as Design Champion, Teamwork Champion, Portfolio Champion and Team Challenge Champion.

Daman has fostered a strong commitment to harvesting the energy of leadership and innovation within education systems.

"We need more opportunities like the Fluid Power Challenge to help prepare students for the 21st century workplace," Matt Giloth, Daman Manager, Distributor Services - Standard & Custom Products, said. "Students used problem-solving and decision-making skills, teamwork and communication in this challenge. Those same skills are essential for the workplace today."

The NFPA Fluid Power Challenge exposes middle school students to a learning environment where engineering and math are fun. The competition encourages them to develop their teamwork and problem-solving skills, and it introduces them to careers in the fluid power industry. The NFPA hopes to encourage students to select more mathematics and science courses in their high school curricula and to keep their options open for technology-based post-secondary studies.

For more information about the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge in South Bend, contact:

Daman Products Company, Inc.
Larry Davis, President
larryd@daman.com
574-259-7841
L.L. Gean Construction Co.
Rocky Geans
574-255-9671
General Sheet Metal Works
Tom Sesterhenn
tom.sesterhenn@gsmwinc.com
574-288-0611
University of Notre Dame
Jay Caponigro
caponigro.2@nd.edu
574-631-9423
South Bend Community School Corp.
Laura Marzotto, Director of Career and Technical Education
lmarzotto@sbcsc.k12.in.us
574-283-7947
National Fluid Power Association
Carrie Tatman Schwartz
ctschwartz@nfpa.com
(414) 778-3347

Daman Products Co., Inc., founded in 1976, actively practices advanced manufacturing and marketing concepts to effectively provide value and service to its markets. It is primarily engaged in the design and manufacture of hydraulic valve manifolds and related products. For more information, visit www.daman.com.

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Daman Products Co., Inc., founded in 1976, actively practices advanced manufacturing and marketing concepts to effectively provide value and service to its markets. The company designs and manufactures hydraulic valve manifolds and related products.
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Source:Steve Sult, Daman Products Company
Email:***@sultminecreative.com Email Verified
Zip:46545
Tags:Manufacturing, Fluid Power, Hydraulics, Education, Math, Science, Engineering, Education Systems, Public Schools
Industry:Engineering, Science, Manufacturing
Location:Mishawaka - Indiana - United States
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