1.2 Digital Fabrication in Education

DESIGN PROCESS

VINYL CUTTING

WEBSITE

Design Process

Structuring educational activities using a design process. The model includes an engineering design, design thinking and innovative, educational processes. Ask - Research - Imagine - Plan - Create - Test - Improve .... AND start the cycle all over again. This process is not linear, it moves and weaves to match the student’s learning and working process.

Consider the following steps: 1. Define a problem and expected outcome. 2. How have others tried to solve this problem? What tools are needed? Conduct research and ask questions.
3. Generate many ideas - quantity over quality. 4. Use computer aided desing tools to create models, choose materials and bring the prototype to life. 5. Justification - argue - provide results - reflect and evaluate - ensure it aligns with the project goals. 6. Reflect - step back adn critically examine design choices, effectiveness and identify areas of improvement.

STEAM IN OULU

Digital Learning Fabrication must support learning objectives! Integrate multidisciplinary education with soft skill goals.

Making Stickers

Making stickers may sound easy and unimpressive to those thinking this is a digital fabrication class … BUT … it’s not as easy as it looks! One must learn how to use a software that connects to the vinyl cutter sending the plans to the machine to produce the end product.

Making a Website

Students are tasked with using the URL on the GitLab site to create a website. Instructions given by Santi in class recording. Here is the result!

The Tools

Inkspace - free digital software used to design the final product.
Gitlab account Vinyl cutter - vinly or other materials - dental tool for ‘weeding’ - scissors, sticker backing

The Process

1. Designing using Inkscape
2. Set vinyl cutter with vinyl, lock in w/rollers and settings
3. Send image to vinyl cutter and print

The Outcome

Reflection

This process of Design Learning is a model that naturally draws multiple academic disciplines and interpersonal skills together. This type of learning is engaging and sophisticated.

It inspires me to try a Design Process in my classroom, incorportating a few subjects and transversal skills. The vinyl cutter is user friendly and takes up little space.

I could use the vinyl cutter to - Label the classroom; name tags, library, supplies, etc - Create a title or logo aligned with curriculum studies A Deisgn Lesson - We have a problem finding materials in the classroom. What do other people do to find materials in their classrooms? Brainstorm some ideas we could try. Create something that will help us to solve our problem and share it with the group. Evaluate the prototype and methods used in the process and finally reflect upon the final product.

Additional Resources

Walter Lewis - Physics LessonsWLPhysicsLesson Demonstrating this work with a pendulumWLPendulumLesson Vectorize using ‘vecteezy’ - Transfer photos (pixels) to digital image.

IDEAS: Make sticker name tags for desk, backpack hooks, lunch clips, lunch numbers, etc