By DEBBIE ROSEN
I.P. teacher combines technology and teaching
With oil prices on the rise and energy sources in the U.S. said to be running dry, along with more dependence on the Middle East for help, what's a country to do? Remain calm. Island Park eighth graders have the situation under control. Under the technological expertise of teacher Neil Swernofsky, students in the Lincoln Orens Middle School Exploratory Technology class got "wind" of a way to produce power.
Equipped with eight weeks of lessons regarding the impact of technology on people's lives, along with an in-depth discussion of an increase in incidents of asthma and allergies, students began to see the need not only for a source of energy, but a clean source at that. Teaching was put to the test when students were given the task of building a project based on the technology they learned in class. "Students had to design a product with the greatest amount of electricity powered by the wind of a simple blow dryer," said Mr. Swernofsky. "They learned about design, engineering, amps, volts, and resources that can provide our future with alternative clean sources of energy."
So, with the wind beneath their wings, a simple wood base, and a pamphlet of ideas on what their own projects could look like, the kids made it happen. Atop one box, stood a pinwheel shaped object designed by Ashley Aniano. With her data sheet in hand, she walked over to her teacher to test out if her wind machine would fly. Mr. Swernofsky hooked the project up to a meter, which read the voltage and amps given off. Then, Ashley took the hair dryer in hand and mimicked the wind. She turned it on. Nothing happened... it didn't move. Eyeing the base of her project and the rubber band attached, this student felt there was too much friction and asked if she needed for a pulley. Mr. Swernofsky suggested she extend the blades that comprised her pinwheel. Minutes later, Ashley's machine took off, giving off more than 20 volts and 20 amps.
"In some places of the U.S. like the Northeast, you could obviously use wind to make electricity," said Ashley. "I would use the energy from my project for machines, like an assembly line. Maybe those machines could produce sauces, salad dressings, or make dresses."
Fellow student Alex Maher took a moment before blurting out with excitement how he would put his energy to use, "I'd use this energy to run my own arcade," he said. Mike Clark wanted his to power a car.
Jessica Zivny said if people could get electricity from wind, they cold light their homes for free. Lisa Spina's design, looked like a paper towel roll cut in half. When she held the hair dryer or wind to her project it spun rapidly, clocking in at 22 volts with 25 amps to boot. "I'd use my wind turbine generator to power my house," she said.
With a degree in industrial arts and 27 years of teaching experience, 25 of them in Island Park, Mr. Swernofsky said he accomplished what he intended to do in the minds of his students... help change the world from an industrial nation to one that reflects information. He conveyed his idea to students through engineering and computers, showing what technology can have on the future of mankind.
Mr. Swernofsky's expertise and efforts landed him his most recent honor of being named a charter member of the New York State Educational Academy of Teaching and Learning. "I became a charter member by designing technology which follows state standards," he said smiling. "I'm the technology. The technology is me."
At the Monday, October 23, meeting of the Island Park Board of Education Mr.Swernofsky received a certificate of induction into the state academy. His induction was based on a sixth grade air filtration activity. The project integrated math, science and technology. He is also author of the college book entitled, "Technology at Work," and co-author of two other school text books, "Experience Technology," and "Technology Interaction."
