Lesson Plan 3: System Requirements
Lesson Plan 3: System Requirements
Overview
Students will discuss what the major sub-systems and components of an aquaponics system are and identify the system requirements. They will also deliberate on how to structure their class organization in order to efficiently collaborate with other schools.
Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Effectively delegate roles and responsibilities within their own organization (classroom)
- Identify the need for group hierarchy.
- Identify the need for roles and the responsibilities assigned to those roles.
- Identify system requirements and needs
- Collaborating with other schools, identify the necessary subsystems and components of a complete aquaponics system:
- Identify relevant mechanical elements.
- Identify possible materials for production of subsystems.
- Identify environmental factors that can affect aquaponics system.
Materials and Resources
- Computers with internet access
- Modeling Materials:
- Foam board, balsa, plastic sheathing, PVC foam board, hot glue, tools
Standards
New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards
- Standard 5.4: Nature and Process of Technology
- Standard 5.10: Environmental Studies
- Standard 8.2: Technological Literacy
ITEA Standards for Technological Literacy
- Standards: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17
National Science Content Standards
- Unifying Concepts and Processes in Science
- Physical Science
- Life Science
- Science and Technology
- Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
Activities
- Assign student teams/roles within the class that will permit effective communication among other participating schools.
- Discuss the aquaponics systems needs and brainstorm list of requirements. Items for consideration include:
Needs
- Identification and description of stakeholders
- Operational environment (climatic conditions, availability of materials and supplies for building, operating and maintaining, number of people to support per unit, expected skill and knowledge level of the people who will be trained to operate and maintain the system etc.)
- Marketing and/or educational needs
Requirements
- System and subsystem components
- Location of the system
- Media/educational material
- Spare parts
- Tools
- Logistics of supplies
- Post the class-generated list of systems requirements to Collaboration Central for other classes to review and comment on or if there is already one draft Systems Requirement document posted, please comment or make changes to that document. Important: There should only be one Systems Requirements document that all classes contribute to and comment on. Once all classes have provided comments, the final document will represent the needs of the system.
- Identify and discuss sub-systems that may comprise the complete system. This can include but not be limited to the sub-systems below.
- Fish Environment
- Plant Environment
- Wicking Environment
- Seed Sprouting
- Mechanical system
- Pump requirements
- Lighting
- Plumbing
- Valves, filters, routing
- Structural
- Material testing for resilience and durability
- Energy
- Requirements for assorted mechanical/electrical systems.
- Logistical
- Technical Documentation formats.
- Drawings formats.
- Digital formats and requirements.
- As a class, select in order of preference the first, second and third choices for a sub-system that the class will be responsible for designing. Post the class list of suggested sub-systems and preferences for sub-system development to Collaboration Central. Review and comment on the postings by other classes. See if a compromise can be found in assigning or selecting what sub-system each group will work with; if there are some gaps or duplications in the assignments, the Project Leader may intervene and ask school s to take responsibility for specific ssub-system development.
Assessment
Students should complete and submit TBD