Module 2. Week 1.¶

Student-Centered Learning Approaches - The Useless Box¶

We’ve often built a Useless Box in Year 11 technology lessons. You need an Arduino, two servos and a switch. The idea is to build a box that switches itself off as soon as it is switched on. Something like this: - The Useless Box](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGCW8xftdOA )

The case has already been made by hand, but manual production does not allow for as sophisticated a design as digital production. Cases have also been 3D printed, but this process is time-consuming, expensive, imprecise and does not allow for errors, as the entire case would have to be printed again immediately. This is where the laser cutter comes in handy.

I used the Hingebox on boxes.py and adapted the dimensions for the Arduino. I then designed “towers” for the servos of the Useless Box. The tower on the edge has the opening for the servo a little further up to make it easier to open the lid. The tower in the middle has the opening further down so that it can operate the switch (the design is not yet functional):

The design with labeling

To experiment, I cut the box out of cardboard: The final cut

1. How can your press-fit be utilized in education? How could other teachers use it?¶

This is a simple case that can be used for anything. The towers for the servos are a good idea if you want to operate something with a servo. Snap fit can do anything, it is very useful to build 3D objects in 2D. It can be used to teach students different joining methods and deepen their knowledge of CAD.

2. What has been your experience using Project Based Learning / Problem based learning in the past? What were the main challenges? How can DF support Project Based Learning / Problem Based learning?¶

The Useless Box is a project-based learning unit that I have been running and developing for two years. Project-based learning is an opportunity for learners to learn to organize themselves and work creatively. They can set their own pace. They realize all the time that the process counts more than the result, so they can delve into the theory based on their interests. The challenge here is to guide the learning process and adapt it to the curriculum.

3. When organizing DF activities with kids, What are the aspects that you think should be prepared beforehand? What aspects can be improvised?¶

The teacher should have the deepest possible understanding of the machines and the design software. He should think about which tools the students can use and procure the necessary