Active learning ideas
The Evolution of Transport Engineering traces the journey of how people move across Ireland. From the horse-drawn 'Bianconi carriages' to the modern Luas and the rise of electric vehicles, this topic examines how engineering responds to the needs of a growing society. It aligns with NCCA SESE Geography (Transport and Communications) and History (Continuity and Change).
Activity 01
Stations feature different 'transport' challenges: reducing friction with rollers, the benefit of rubber tires over wooden ones, and the energy needed to move a load on a track vs. a road.
How has public transport evolved in Ireland?
Activity 02
On a large map of a fictional town, students must use string to plan a tram line. They must account for 'engineering' obstacles like hills, rivers, and existing buildings.
What engineering problems did early trams solve?
Activity 03
Students brainstorm three benefits and three challenges of switching all cars in Ireland to electric. They share their ideas with a partner to discuss the engineering needed for charging stations.
Why are we shifting towards electric vehicles today?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Electric cars are a brand-new invention.
Electric cars were actually very popular in the early 1900s before petrol engines took over. Discussing why they went away and why they are back now helps students understand how engineering is influenced by energy availability and cost.
Public transport is only for people who don't have cars.
Public transport is an engineering solution for moving large numbers of people efficiently and reducing traffic. Comparing the space taken up by 50 cars vs. one bus helps students see the 'spatial engineering' benefit.
Methods used in this brief
Famous Irish Engineers
Students research the lives and inventions of pioneering Irish engineers like Harry Ferguson and Charles Parsons. They will explore how their innovations had a global impact.
8 methodologies
Women in Engineering History
A study of trailblazing women in engineering, focusing on figures like Alice Perry, the first woman in Europe to graduate with an engineering degree. Students will discuss the historical barriers women faced in STEM.
8 methodologies