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Design Studies Curriculum can be Connective Tissue for a Survey Course
Design Studies Curriculum can be Connective Tissue for a Survey Course
The Engineering Design Process is an excellent starting lesson as it can link to many other PAA curriclum in a survey course. Graphic Design elements feature heavily in this curriculum and depending on types of design problems your class is tackling and the 'build' resources you have you can link this to nearly any PAA curriclum like Computer Drafting, Robotics and Automation, Carpentry and Construction, etc.
Before you start designing and building a project with your students teach them about the design process and what makes a good and bad design.
This process then be included throughout the process of nearly any project you have the kids designing and building helping flesh out your middle years survey course.
It is nearly as important for something to look good as it is for it to work well. Complete this lesson with your students to get them familiar with some basic rules for making their designs look appealing.
NOTE: This lesson has relevance for many other PAA curriclum like Graphic Design, Information Processing, Drafting, Interior Design, Fashion and others. These are considerations for anything you make.
Make your own Logo using the Design Process and the 'Elements of Design'. Draw it in TinkerCAD and print it out if you have the capability.
This project challenges students to design their own mini golf holes while going through the entire design process. The structure of this assignment could be used on any variety of design problems.
Other Design Project Ideas
These are elaborate kinetic energy machines that allow students to solve a problem like cracking an egg or popping a balloon using their imagination and whatever resources are on hand at your school. Students may make their own 2D machine that works from top to bottom to save space OR a 3D version that takes up more room. Another idea is to choose to design a challenge where all students 3D machines work together.
There are also ties to the Robotics and Automation curriculum as they would connect to the design thinking modules.
Marble Roller Coaster
Marble Roller Coaster
Similar to the Rube Goldberg machines there is a chance to do some high level thinking, but not spend a bunch of money on materials and tools.
Design a Playground
Design a Playground
This project could be made as a prototype/model OR 3D printed and constraints like making it a theme like the example from TinkerCAD OR made for wheelchairs or those who may be blind or have limited site.
Exploring the TinkerCAD site there are many other design project ideas that could be explored and even 3D printed if your school has the capability.
Some Resources that May Inspire
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