During conversations between FabLearn fellows, the question often arises as to what is actually meant by the term “cultural making”: is it an action linked to the culture of origin or is it a human attitude that is declined according to the context of belonging? Personally, I’m becoming more and more convinced that it is… Read more »
Tag: design
Forces Acting on a Structure – Golf Ball Drop Challenge
Based on Idea from INCOSE Table at the Detroit Maker Faire 2015 The Challenge Your tower must be designed to hold a paper cup as high as possible. This design must support the forces created when a golf ball is dropped into the cup. Design is up to your innovation and creativity. Time of 15-20 minutes,… Read more »
Simple Parts – Part III – Communication through Drawings
Reflecting – Looking at Drawings from Part I Task 1 Start with students back in groups from part 1. Return their drawings in the group folder from the first class. Have students take out just ONE drawing from their folder. Give students 3 minutes to try and re-create the shape from their drawings done during… Read more »
Simple Parts – Part II – Empathy and Communication
This activity is done in partners. You may choose to have students choose their own partners, or students may be required to find partners within the groups they had for Part I. The main setup for these activities is that partners must not be able to see each others’ work, and it is helpful (though… Read more »
Simple Parts – Part I – Reiteration and Defining the Problem
Introducing the Materials Show students the materials and explain classroom procedures for getting them, and also clean-up expectations. (eg. 1 person from each group come up, or 1 group at a time, or distribute buckets of materials to each group, etc.) Have the students in groups. CHALLENGE Build the tallest freestanding structure you can… Read more »
Design Lessons Using Simple Parts – Introduction
Introduction I have been experimenting this year with teaching concepts like empathy, reiteration, creative thinking, communication and collaboration, through a series of activities that use simple parts (or what my kindergarten colleagues often call “loose parts”). These activities lead nicely into an exploration of technical drawings and 3D design. They are written as if they… Read more »
3 P’s for Constructionist Learning
Studies show that a curious mind is fertile ground for learning, so combining the freedom of play and exploration with more structured learning goals is a more powerful formula than a 100% teacher driven approach to lessons (Gruber, 2014). If you can set aside your notions about what a classroom should sound, smell or look… Read more »
WIP 004: Getting Things Done
This week’s Work In Progress has a number of ideas for articles and designs that I managed to publish before uploading this post. The time from idea to product is getting shorter. I’m approaching publishing something every day or two which is a step up from my typical post every two weeks. Sylvia Martinez’s urgings to the… Read more »