4.Digital Fabrication for students¶
Turning Sketches into Objects: Exploring Art, Design, and Technical Drawing
Practical Application:
Students will apply their understanding by taking objects from their daily environment, examining their projections, and drawing them in simple geometric forms.
This hands-on practice will reinforce the concepts of 3D visualization, the interplay of light and shadow, and spatial alignment in relation to coordinate systems.
Understanding Orthogonal Projections:
Students will learn to accurately depict orthogonal projections of objects, gaining a foundational understanding of how 3D objects can be represented in 2D space.
They will study the role of orthogonal projections in technical drawing and understand the importance of precision.
Exploring Light and Shadow:
Through hands-on exploration, students will observe how light affects the shadows and projections of objects, helping them recognize depth and dimensionality.
They will use light to project everyday items onto surfaces and learn how shadows change based on light direction and object placement.
Introduction to Coordinate Axes:
Students will gain familiarity with the coordinate axes, understanding how they are used in graphical representations and technical drawings.
By creating a physical model of coordinate planes, students will visualize and manipulate objects within these axes.
Foundational 3D Thinking:
The lesson will develop spatial reasoning by encouraging students to fold planes to create 3D forms.
By sketching simple geometric forms, such as cubes and prisms, students will build a foundation in visualizing and representing 3D objects on 2D planes.
Art and Design¶
Children will learn about transforming creative sketching into a real object, the features of technical drawing, the connection between art and design, Practical Application: o Students will apply their understanding by taking objects from their daily environment, examining their projections, and drawing them in simple geometric form. o This hands-on practice will reinforce the concepts of 3D visualization, light and shadow interplay, and spatial alignment in relation to coordinate systems. 1. Understanding Orthogonal Projections: o Students will learn to accurately depict orthogonal projections of objects, gaining a foundational understanding of how 3D objects can be represented in 2D space. o They will study the role of orthogonal projections in technical drawing and understand the importance of precision. 2. Exploring Light and Shadow: o Through hands-on exploration, students will observe how light affects the shadows and projections of objects, helping them recognize depth and dimensionality. o They will use light to project everyday items onto surfaces and learn how shadows change based on light direction and object placement. 3. Introduction to Coordinate Axes: o Students will gain familiarity with the coordinate axes, understanding how they are used in graphical representations and technical drawings. o By creating a physical model of coordinate planes, students will visualize and manipulate objects within these axes. 4. Foundational 3D Thinking: o The lesson will develop spatial reasoning by encouraging students to fold planes to create 3D forms. o By sketching simple geometric forms, such as cubes and prisms, students will build a foundation in visualizing and representing 3D objects on 2D planes.
ScopesDF link¶
Introduction to Orthogonal Projections
Gallery¶
I am opening the manipulative
planes xy, xz, yz
3d spase, projections
Reflection questions
How do you think digital fabrication improves the activity vs utilizing traditional methods? What is the extra value? I think digital fabrication is very useful for making lessons more engaging and full of hands-on experiences. For teachers, it’s helpful because you can create something directly for the lesson, especially for parts where students might struggle. Nowadays, children are more likely to remember and learn if they are physically involved. If they use extra tools and manipulatives, they will not only understand the concepts but also feel them. Spatial thinking will develop naturally, and students will be engaged not only intellectually but also through their senses.
What are some challenges you expect when you do the activity with your class?
I think the class will have students with different interests. Some will quickly grasp the ideas of technical drawing and orthogonal projections, while others may need more time. Some students will be more interested in using manipulatives to understand the principles of technical drawing and creating axonometric sketches, while others might be more attracted to light and shadow games. I can use manipulatives differently — for example, for those who enjoy magic and gamification, we can play a guessing game. By using light to show only one orthogonal projection, students can try to guess what the object is. For this purpose, I made frames instead of plywood planes for the projections.
What did you learn during the fabrication process?
As a teacher who started working with a laser cutter and vinyl cutter to create products directly for use in the educational process, I learned how powerful and flexible these tools are for customizing learning materials. They allow me to quickly design and produce exactly what my students need, making lessons more interactive, hands-on, and better suited to different learning styles.