専門カリキュラムを動機付けとした機械系学生による小学生への教育奉仕活動

抄録

A synthetic engineering seminar, one subject of the major curriculum of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Yamaguchi University, motivated three undergraduates to carry out voluntary instruction to primary school students. Three educational winches, a uni-shaft winch, a two-shaft winch, and a three-shaft winch, were designed and produced in the seminar. The second and third winches function with 1/3 and 1/8 gear reduction ratios. Consequently, the first winch gives the highest lifting speed while the third winch lifts the heaviest load. To encourage interest in science and machines, a voluntary course was held by three undergraduates using those produced three winches : 158 Kami-Ube Elementary School students residing in Ube-city, Yamaguchi prefecture attended the course on March 4, 2003. A post-course survey showed that 90% of the children were impressed by the course. More than 50% of the children were interested in science and machines. This fact leads us to discuss the subject of building a major curriculum including voluntary instruction or service to the local community.