The Bemidji State University School of Technology Art and Design is always coming up with innovative ways to teach. Last week it was literally sink or swim.
Students in Dr. Michael Lund’s Engineering Problem Solving class were challenged to build and race a boat using only $50 to spend in Home Depot, an hour to shop, and 4 days to design and build with what they had. The task: build a one-person craft that can float, maneuver, and outpace the other teams on a short water course along the shore of the campus.
Design materials used included rigid foam, plywood, plastic, expandable foam, plastic bags, hand tools (including a shovel for a paddle), and a few other strange and wonderful items from the aisles of the big box store.
Many different approaches were taken in the design/build phase. Some teams worked to create rigid paddleboard-style designs, others focused on floatation bladders, while one team zip tied and glued together a plywood canoe (of sorts).
All hands were present for the launch and race afternoon on Friday, Sept. 9. An audience of professors, teams, BSU students, and passersby watched and cheered as the race began and the integrity of the teams’ designs became clear.
It was a clear win for the 4-inch white foam surfboard complete with twin keels and a 1×4 pine kayak paddle, which took and held an early lead. Other teams in the pack experienced setbacks brought on by lack of steering, waterlogging, and, well… let’s just say structural failures.
Everyone had a fun time at the waterfront near (or in) the Lake Bemidji water, which is still warm for now. In the end, a lot of evidence was also gathered to take back to class and reflect on. Thanks to Dr. Lund and his class a warm fall afternoon became a visceral and valuable learning experience that helps prove the adage, “never let school get in the way of your education”. It’ll be fun to see if any new and improved crafts take to the water in November!