Rotary Technology Tournament 2012

Could you build a machine to separate coins into different denominations and count how many of each type there are?  That was the challenge presented to 20 teams from local schools and colleges in this year’s Rotary Technology Tournament.  For the foundation level, for competitors up to 14, this involved 1p and 2p coins with more denominations added for the intermediate and advanced levels for older students.

Competition was fierce in all the age groups and there was a wide variety of different approaches involving sliding and rolling and one machine that seemed to have been inspired by the TV show “Total Wipeout”.  The hall at Oaklands College was a hive of activity all day and at the end each team had to demonstrate their machine to the judges from local Rotary clubs and the Herts Engineers Lunch Club.  The day was organised by Hatfield Rotary Club on behalf of Mid Herts Rotary, and led by Rtn Frank Taylor.

Advanced winners with District Governor John Bromley

Foundation winners 

The Foundation winners' machine

Intermediate winners

The teachers' machine in action.

Teams were marked throughout the day on their planning of the task and had to produce a portfolio explaining their solution to the problem and how they had arrived at it. Construction of the machines demonstrated practical skills learned at school. When the marks were all totted up the winners in the Foundation section were Monk’s Walk School with James, Amy, Megan and Luke.  In second and third places were teams from Stanborough School and Onslow St Audreys. The Intermediate winners were also from Monk’s Walk: Georgina, Katy, Zak and Ben.  In both second and third places were teams from Stanborough School. The winners of the Advanced section were more students taught at Stanborough School : Nathan, Oliver, Jack and Chantal. Monks Walk School and Oaklands College were in second and third places. Students are all eligible to receive Crest Awards for their efforts.

Winners were presented with their prizes by Rotary District Governor John Bromley.  An excellent day all round, clearly enjoyed by the students and even the accompanying teachers; their team managed three different solutions and they demonstrated the best successfully to the judges, to prove they can still cut it!.