Nurturing Future Engineers: Meta Dot RC Car Challenge Empowers Holm Glad College STEAM Tech Day

Program Overview

Program Name: RC Car Engineering Challenge Program
Duration: 16 weeks (4 months)
Partner School: The Mission Covenant Church Holm Glad College
Target Students: 120 Form 1 students

Educational Objectives & Learning Outcomes

Primary Learning Objectives

Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals - Understanding vehicle structure, power systems, and control principles
Physics Applications - Mastering mechanics, kinematics, and electrical engineering in practical engineering contexts
Problem-solving Skills - Developing systematic thinking and innovative solution design
Team Collaboration - Building effective communication and project management skills
Technology Literacy - Enhancing understanding and application of modern engineering technologies

Expected Learning Outcomes

Ability to independently assemble and tune RC vehicles
Understanding of basic mechanical engineering principles applied to real problems
Basic circuit analysis and troubleshooting capabilities
Ability to use data analysis to improve vehicle performance
Development of teamwork and project management skills

Curriculum Structure Design

Phase 1: Theoretical Foundation (Weeks 1-4)

Week 1: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

Class Time: 2 sessions (90 minutes)
Content: Engineering design process, basic mechanical principles
Activities: Engineering case analysis, design thinking workshop

Week 2: Vehicle Systems Overview

Class Time: 2 sessions (90 minutes)
Content: Chassis structure, drivetrain systems, suspension systems
Activities: Vehicle disassembly analysis, component function identification

Week 3: Electronic Control Systems

Class Time: 2 sessions (90 minutes)
Content: Motor principles, circuit fundamentals, control signals
Activities: Basic circuit experiments, controller programming introduction

Week 4: Physics Principles Application

Class Time: 2 sessions (90 minutes)
Content: Newton's laws, friction, centripetal force
Activities: Mechanics experiments, data collection and analysis

Phase 2: Practical Operations (Weeks 5-12)

Weeks 5-6: Basic Assembly

Class Time: 4 sessions (180 minutes)
Content: Chassis assembly, motor installation, circuit connections
Activities: Group assembly competitions, troubleshooting practice

Weeks 7-8: Performance Tuning

Class Time: 4 sessions (180 minutes)
Content: Gear ratio adjustment, center of gravity configuration, tire selection
Activities: Performance testing, data recording and analysis

Weeks 9-10: Advanced Modifications

Class Time: 4 sessions (180 minutes)
Content: Shock absorber adjustment, aerodynamics, battery management
Activities: Personalized modifications, innovative design implementation

Weeks 11-12: Testing and Optimization

Class Time: 4 sessions (180 minutes)
Content: Track adaptation, strategy formulation, team training
Activities: Mock competitions, team role assignments

Phase 3: Field Study (Week 13)

Factory Visit & Professional Exchange

Duration: Full day (6 hours)
Location: Local automotive manufacturing plant
Content: Production line tour, engineer discussions, career planning sharing
Objective: Understanding practical applications of engineering technology in industry

Ready

Phase 4: Comprehensive Application (Weeks 14-16)

Week 14: Project Preparation

Class Time: 2 sessions (90 minutes)
Content: Final tuning, strategy discussions, safety checks
Activities: Vehicle certification, technical documentation

Week 15: Competition Practice

Duration: Full-day competition (8 hours)
Format: Dual-track challenge race
Assessment: Technical performance, teamwork, innovative design

Week 16: Results Presentation & Reflection

Class Time: 2 sessions (90 minutes)
Content: Project summary, learning reflection, future planning
Activities: Results presentation, experience sharing

Teaching Methods & Strategies

Constructivist Learning Approach

Learning by Doing - Mastering theoretical knowledge through hands-on practice
Problem-based Learning - Driving learning through real engineering challenges
Peer Collaboration - Group cooperation to complete complex tasks

Project-Based Learning (PBL)

Real Problems - Course design based on actual engineering challenges
Interdisciplinary Integration - Combining physics, mathematics, technology, and engineering
Self-directed Learning - Fostering students' initiative to explore

Experiential Learning

Field Studies - Visiting professional engineering facilities
Expert Guidance - Inviting industry experts to share experiences
Competition Challenges - Motivating learning through competition

Resource Allocation & Logistics

Human Resources

Lead Instructors: 2 (Meta Dot Senior Engineers)
Assistant Instructors: 4 (Technical Support Specialists)
School Liaisons: 2 (Science Department Teachers)
Safety Supervisors: 1 (Laboratory Technician)

Equipment & Materials

RC Car Kits: 30 sets (4 students per group)
Tool Equipment: Screwdriver sets, measuring tools, soldering equipment
Testing Equipment: Stopwatches, rulers, voltmeters, ammeters
Safety Equipment: Safety goggles, gloves, first aid kits

Venue Arrangements

Theory Classroom: Multimedia classroom (capacity 120 students)
Workshop Space: Science laboratories × 4 rooms
Testing Venue: School hall (competition arena)
Storage Space: Dedicated equipment room

Fixing

Assessment Framework

Formative Assessment (60%)

Class Participation: 15% - Discussion engagement, question quality
Practical Skills: 25% - Assembly techniques, problem-solving abilities
Teamwork: 20% - Collaborative spirit, leadership qualities

Summative Assessment (40%)

Technical Report: 15% - Design concepts, data analysis
Competition Performance: 15% - Vehicle performance, strategy execution
Innovative Design: 10% - Unique modifications, creative thinking

Assessment Tools

Learning Portfolio - Recording learning progress and reflections
Peer Assessment Forms - Team members evaluating each other
Self-Assessment Scales - Self-evaluation of learning outcomes
Practical Skills Checklists - Objective assessment of technical abilities

Safety Management Protocol

Safety Training

Tool Usage Safety - Proper operation procedure training
Electrical Safety - Circuit operation precautions
Chemical Safety - Battery handling safety guidelines

Safety Measures

Supervision Ratio - 1:15 teacher-student ratio ensuring safety
Protective Equipment - Mandatory safety gear wearing
Emergency Plans - Accident response procedures

Hand Up

Program Results & Impact

Learning Effectiveness Data

Skills Mastery Rate: 95% of students met basic assembly requirements
Theoretical Understanding: Average test scores improved by 35%
Innovation Capability: 85% of students proposed unique design improvements
Teamwork: 100% of students completed group projects

Student Feedback

"Through this program, I truly understood for the first time how physics formulas from textbooks apply in real life. Seeing the car I personally tuned racing on the track - that sense of achievement is indescribable!" - Form 1A student

"The most memorable part was the teamwork process. We learned how to divide tasks, how to communicate, and how to support each other when facing technical problems. These skills are important for our future." - Form 1B student

Teacher Evaluation

"Students showed unprecedented learning enthusiasm in this program. They no longer passively receive knowledge but actively explore, question, and experiment. This is exactly what modern education pursues." - Science Department Head

Competition Results

Technical Innovation Awards

Total Laps Champion: Form 1A "Speed Gear" Team (40 laps)

Champion

Best Innovative Design: Form 1C "Tech Pioneer" Team (Detachable modular design)

Best Teamwork: Form 1B "Perfect Coordination" Team (Seamless task division)

Technical Track Fastest Lap: Form 1D "Storm Chasers" (15.41 seconds)

Fastest 1

Obstacle Track Fastest Lap: Form 1B "Gravity Controllers" (1 minute 13 seconds)

Fastest 2

Program Sustainability

Curriculum Integration

Incorporating RC car engineering into the formal STEAM curriculum as a core interdisciplinary learning project, providing the same learning opportunities for new Form 1 students each year.

Advanced Development

Form 2 Advanced Class - Introducing AI control and autonomous driving technology
Form 3 Research Group - Participating in inter-school STEAM competitions
Form 4 Internship Program - Collaborating with local engineering companies for internship opportunities

Community Outreach

Parent Workshops - Inviting parents to participate and understand STEAM education
Primary School Experience Camps - Providing preparatory courses for Primary 6 students
Community Exhibitions - Showcasing student works at technology festivals

Experience Summary & Recommendations

Success Factors

Systematic Curriculum Design - Complete learning pathway from theory to practice
Professional Faculty Support - Instructor team with engineering backgrounds
Adequate Resource Allocation - Comprehensive equipment and material support
Full School Cooperation - Active participation from administrative and teaching teams

Improvement Suggestions

Increase Female Student Participation - Design more diverse learning activities
Strengthen Career Connections - Invite more industry experts to share
Expand Assessment Methods - Include more creativity and soft skills evaluation
Build Learning Communities - Create student exchange platforms to continue learning

Promotional Value

This program successfully demonstrates how to transform complex engineering concepts into understandable and applicable learning experiences for students, providing valuable reference models for other schools implementing similar STEAM programs.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to The Mission Covenant Church Holm Glad College for their full cooperation. Group Photo

For inquiries about Meta Dot STEAM programs, please contact: enquiry@meta-dot.io

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