My reflection

• Using Tinkercad and the website tools, I created a money boat that can hold coins and other small items in real life. I designed it to be useful for storing money, and my boat was able to hold 42 cents while my teammate’s boat held 154 cents. The project helped me understand how digital design can turn into a real object. It also showed me how design choices affect how much weight something can hold.

• During this process, I learned how to make a 3D print of a money boat that could hold things and still be light enough to float. I learned how to design something strong so it could support pennies without sinking. I also learned how to adjust shapes and parts so they fit together correctly. These skills helped me understand how 3D modeling connects to real engineering.

• My project connects to the Innovative Designer standard from the seven class standards. I created something original that could be 3D printed, tested, and used in real life. This required creativity, problem‑solving, and trying different ideas until the design worked. It showed how digital tools can help bring new ideas to life.

• One challenge I faced was getting different pieces to connect correctly in Tinkercad because they didn’t always line up with my boat. I solved this by taking my time, trying my best guesses, and not giving up when it got difficult. It was also hard to find the right props and shapes to add to my design. Working through these challenges helped me become more patient and careful with my work.

• If I could do this project again, I would spend more time planning and add more details so my boat looked less plain. I would also make small changes to improve the design and make it look more complete. Another thing I would change is remembering to bring water and pennies so we could test the boats during the contest. These improvements would help the project run more smoothly.

• My project connects to the Engineering Design CTE program at Hastings High School, which includes fields like Agriculture, Business Management, Computer Programming, and more. Engineering Design fits my project because I used design tools, problem‑solving, and testing to create a working product. This project helped me understand how engineers think and create. It also showed how design and testing go hand in hand.

• This project also connects to careers in 3D design because I created a functional money holder that can be used in real life. A 3D designer creates objects that can be printed, held, and used for different purposes. My money boat shows how digital models can become real items that hold things or even be used in competitions. This experience helped me see how 3D design can be a real career path.