Understanding Technology—and Explaining It to Others

Thirteen students from Weingarten High School gained fascinating insights into the world of plastics processing and electric mobility at RWU. They tried out technical processes for themselves and learned how to explain complex concepts in an understandable way.

Why does plastic ooze out from the edge of a freshly injection-molded bottle opener? Thirteen high school students from Weingarten High School explored this question in the workshops and labs at RWU. Accompanied by teacher Matthias Metzler, they were the first guests of the new workshop format “Explain It to Me!” The format was developed by Steffen Köhnlechner, a student in the Bachelor’s program in Automotive Engineering PLUS Teacher Education. In doing so, he combines technical understanding with the ability to convey complex concepts in an accessible way.

Shaping Plastic

At the injection molding machine in the workshop, the students manufactured their own bottle openers and examined typical defects in the process: What is the cause, and how can the defect be avoided? They then switched perspectives and explained to the other group what they had discovered.

Afterward, an electric vehicle awaited them on the roller dynamometer in the automotive laboratory. During a demonstration, the students observed how a vehicle’s power and torque are measured while the vehicle remains stationary on the dynamometer.

The workshop was led by Professor Dr. Thomas Schreier-Alt, along with laboratory engineers Ralf Hermanutz and Thomas Frei. The event was organized as part of a collaboration between RWU and Weingarten High School, coordinated on the university side by Heike Krumm.