From the K-6 G&T Co-ordinator

In Year 5 and 6 Extension Mathematics, we have been learning about the processes involved in renovating the High School Library, so we asked some UNSW Engineering and Surveying students to visit us and explain the use of equipment and the mathematics involved in planning buildings. The students, Hannah Pearce and David Phan, presented the measuring equipment that is used in modern surveying and discussed with the Emanuel students the need for accuracy.

Our students then participated in a hands-on activity involving groups using a personal GPS system, hiding objects for another group, then exchanging the GPS with the saved co-ordinates so that each group could utilise these to find the hidden objects. Much discussion was had about satellites and the effectiveness of a GPS.

We are most grateful to David Phan and Hannah Pearce for giving up their time to come and talk to us and for their engaging presentation.

Below are comments from some Year 6 students: 

• “When the UNSW students came to teach us about surveying I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to see how a surveyor works on a job. I found it interesting when they did a test to prove that the surveying machine is more accurate than a distometer or a tape measure. I learned that surveyors don’t just measure distances, they also work with GPS. I thought that the way they presented was very good and the way they answered questions was clear and meant that it was easy to understand.” Samuel G
• “I learnt how to use a GPS to mark the spot that I am standing in and then ask someone else to find that spot; about the engineering course at UNSW and that the more satellites a GPS uses, the more accurate it is. 
I wonder what percentage of satellites launched by Russia and America have succeeded and are still in space?” Dan Blecher
• “I was fascinated by the measuring equipment used in surveying and how accurate it is. I learnt about the engineering and surveying courses that they do at UNSW. I also learnt that there are 32 satellites around the Earth’s atmosphere.” 
Ethan Berkovic

Ms Colleen Elkins