Week 3

Assignments

Design and cut with the laser cutter an object that can be used in your classroom (e.g. to support any of your lessons, or as part of your infrastucture) This was my first learning experience using the laser cutter machine. I learned the basic elements like drawing in programs like Inkspace and Lightburn in order to download the images as SVG files. That took me a time, but I started learning and feeling familiar with the softwares. I decided to make an Engineering Design Process (EDP) wheel with wood in order to have a visual representation of the process and because my students would know in which part of the process we will be working on.

Document in the learning diary what you did and include two pictures of the final object (hero shot). Explain how are you planning to use it At the beginning of each class I give some instruction time based on the expectations, goals and reviews of each lesson. They like to know in which part or parts of the process we are working at. The design for this wheel is that I can move the arrow in different ways to show the process of the EDP. This is a simple artifact that will replace one I have made with carboard as a poster.

Answer the following reflection questions: Think on one or two educational activities in which you could integrate the laser cutter at some stage of the activity. Explain briefly the activity. Do not forget to clearly indicate the learning objectives. I am thinking in one activity I work with my second graders. It’s about Mayan Culture in which they have to make the model of a Mayan city (Tikal, Yaxá, Zaculeu, Iximché etc). It would be very enrichful for them to learn and design a Mayan pyramid considering that not all pyramids have the same geometry. Mayan pyramids, particularly, are based on rectangular prisms and squares. The design is really precise so a laser cutter will work perfectly by making a model and letting the students have the opportunity to observe different perspectives of those architectural pieces. The learning lessons would be: * Identify different characteristics of Mayan cities in Guatemala. * Identify geometrical patterns in the Mayan pyramids. * Design a Guatemalan Mayan city.

Reflect on your own practice. When you prepare a lesson activity what are the things that you take into consideration? What are the critical aspects? What additional aspects do you need to take into consideration if you utilize digital fabrication processes? There are different things to consider based on the use of a laser cutter. 1. The content (learning targets) 2. The standards to address 3. Amount of students and physical space 4. Amount of teachers involved 5. Lesson design that has to do with the activities and dossification of contents. For example, when the laser cutter is used for teachers to fabricate something for their student it is the teacher that needs to prepare the manipulative or the object and have it ready during the lesson. If the laser will be used for students and they will be involved, then will be important to make different activities to rotate in order, like making centers, to let them use the tool with active supervision. I am considering Lower School students. 6. Also the materials, evaluation and communication of the process.

Reflect on your past educational activities. How have you considered Socio-Emotional learning (or soft-skills) when preparing the activities? Could you provide some concrete examples? How have you changed your perspective on socio-emotional learning / soft-skill / horizontal competences after this lecture.

After the lesson I learned that using fab technologies with different design processes students have better and intentional opportunities to learn about the connection between their artifact, model or prototype and the effect that this has in the real world and others. In my case going back to the Mayan pyramids example, my students can have the opportunity to develop identity by feeling connected with their history or past as human beings. Also understanding the causes and effects of civilization in our country. I hope they feel proud of what Mayas had done as civilization and the scientific legacy they left. There is a strong social learning and social justice behind as a concrete example. It was one of my favorite lessons since the Design Thinking Process is something that I love to do with my students. Images:

Aquí comparto un video url: https://youtu.be/0GSxVxfJwKs