Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
ENGINEERING IN SOCIETY
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ENGINEERING IN SOCIETY
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Subject: Engineering
Class: SHS 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 7
Grade code: 1.1.1.LI.5
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 1.1.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 1.1.1.LI.5
Theme: ENGINEERING PRACTICE
Subtheme: ENGINEERING IN SOCIETY
This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.
For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.
This lesson introduces the major disciplines within the vast field of engineering. We will explore what engineers in different fields actually do and, most importantly, the specific knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Understanding this is crucial because the phone in your pocket, the trotro you rode to school, the electricity in this classroom, and the clean water you drink are all products of different types of engineering. By the end of this lesson, you will have a clearer picture of the pathways to becoming an engineer and how their knowledge solves real problems in Ghana.
(Teacher's Note: Start with a 5-minute engaging activity. Ask students: "Look around you, right now in this classroom and outside the window. What do you see that was designed, built, or made to work by a person? A building? A fan? A light bulb? The road?" Explain that engineers are the creative problem-solvers behind almost all these things.)
The field of engineering is very broad, so it is broken down into different disciplines or branches. Each discipline focuses on a specific area and requires a unique set of knowledge. Let's explore some of the most common ones. A. Civil Engineering What They Do: Civil engineers are the master builders of our society. They design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain the infrastructure we use every day. They work on a large scale, shaping the environment we live in. Ghanaian Examples: The Pokuase Interchange and Tema Motorway Interchange (Transportation Engineering) The Akosombo Dam and Bui Dam (Structural and Hydropower Engineering) The Ghana Water Company Ltd. treatment plants (Environmental/Sanitary Engineering) Kotoka International Airport's Terminal 3 building (Structural Engineering) Unique Knowledge Requirements: Core SHS Subjects: Physics (especially Mechanics - forces, stress, strain), Elective Mathematics (Calculus, Trigonometry, Geometry), Chemistry (properties of materials like concrete and steel), Technical Drawing. Specialised Knowledge (University Level): Structural Analysis: Understanding how forces affect buildings and bridges to prevent them from collapsing. Soil Mechanics (Geotechnical Engineering): Studying the properties of soil and rock to ensure a stable foundation for structures. You cannot build a strong skyscraper on weak soil. Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics: Understanding how water flows, which is crucial for designing dams, irrigation canals, and water supply systems. Transportation Engineering: Planning and designing safe and efficient roads, highways, and railway systems. B. Mechanical Engineering What They Do: Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test machines, engines, and mechanical devices of all types. They work with anything that moves, from tiny components to massive machines. Ghanaian Examples: Kantanka Automobile assembly plant (Automotive Engineering) Generators and turbines at the Takoradi Thermal Power Station (Power Generation) Machinery at a factory like FanMilk or Kasapreko that fills bottles and packages products (Manufacturing & Automation) Air-conditioning and ventilation systems in large buildings like the Movenpick Hotel. Unique Knowledge Requirements: Core SHS Subjects: Physics (Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity), Elective Mathematics (Calculus is very important), Technical Drawing. Specialised Knowledge (University Level): Thermodynamics: The study of heat and energy transfer, essential for designing engines, refrigerators, and power plants. Mechanics of Materials: Understanding how different materials stretch, bend, and break under pressure. Machine Design: Principles for designing moving parts like gears, bearings, and shafts. Manufacturing Processes: Knowing how to shape and join materials to create products efficiently. C. Electrical and Electronic Engineering What They Do: These engineers deal with electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. They design systems to generate and transmit electrical power, as well as electronic circuits and devices from mobile phones to computers. Ghanaian Examples: The national power grid managed by GRIDCo and distribution by ECG/PDS (Power Systems Engineering). Telecommunication networks like MTN and Vodafone, including the cell towers (Telecommunications Engineering). Control systems for traffic lights in Accra or Kumasi (Control Systems Engineering). Installation of solar panels for homes and businesses. Unique Knowledge Requirements: Core SHS Subjects: Physics (Electricity & Magnetism), Elective Mathematics, Chemistry (for understanding semiconductor materials). Specialised Knowledge (University Level): Circuit Theory: The fundamental laws governing the flow of electricity in circuits. Electromagnetics: The study of electric and magnetic fields, crucial for designing antennas, motors, and generators. Power Systems: Analysing how electricity is generated, transmitted over long distances, and distributed to consumers. Digital Logic & Microprocessors: The building blocks of computers, smartphones, and all digital devices. D. Chemical Engineering What They Do: Chemical engineers apply principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and maths to solve problems involving the use or production of chemicals. They turn raw materials into valuable products through chemical processes. Ghanaian Examples: The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which converts crude oil into petrol, diesel, and kerosene. Water purification processes at the Weija Water Treatment Plant. Manufacturing processes for products like soap (Unilever), plastics, and pharmaceuticals. Food processing companies that create products like fruit juice or tomato paste. Unique Knowledge Requirements: Core SHS Subjects: Chemistry (is the most critical), Physics (for process control), Elective Mathematics. Specialised Knowledge (University Level): Chemical Reaction Engineering: Designing reactors to control chemical reactions safely and efficiently. Mass Transfer & Separation Processes: Techniques like distillation and filtration to separate chemicals from mixtures (e.g., separating petrol from crude oil). Process Control: Using sensors and control systems to monitor and manage large-scale chemical processes. Thermodynamics: (Similar to Mechanical, but with a focus on chemical systems).
Guided Practice (With Solutions)
(Activity: Engineering Discipline Concept Map) Instruction: Form groups of 4-5 students. Each group will be assigned one engineering discipline (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical). Your task is to create a concept map (or webbing diagram) on a large sheet of paper that explains the unique knowledge requirements of your assigned discipline.