Week 5

Assignments

Option 2: Use any of the tools presented in the master class (see Tools to create 3D shapes with laser cutters below), and create a 3D object using any of the joint techniques presented: finger joints, stacking… You can use either a CAD tool to build your 3D object, or you can use any of the tools to build objects such as boxes.py. Put all the parts together, and snap a photo. If needed, don’t be afraid of using e.g. glue.

Show a picture of your creation in your learning diary. You can add a few pictures and a short explanation of the process if you like. I use the laser cutter to create a box with six pieces. The website I used was Makercase which was an interesting experience using the CAD program it has. I faced some challenges with the cutter since it wasn’t cutting at the beginning, so after some trials Ericka helped me by adding power and repetition to the printing and then worked. I used the red box to avoid seeing the laser cutting.

Answer the following reflection questions: How can your press-fit / 3D object be used in education? How could other teachers use it?

I would use press-fit or 3D objects to create models or specific prototypes. In my first try I was creating a 3D model of a rolly polly which is an animal that rolls into a ball to study a unit about biomimicry. It would take more time than expected to create that’s why I decided to move to a box, but definitely could be a great learning experience. Also it could be used to create parts of machines.

How could you integrate it into an activity that aligns with your curriculum or standards?

As we are learning the artefacts that we can create through a laser cutter or any other machine need to have a connection or a purpose since students are learning from the artefact they are creating or the teacher is creating. In my case I use the NGSS standards to work the Engineering Design Process that I integrate with other academic standards. Right now I am thinking that it would be very enriching to design 3D Mayan Pyramids.

Have you ever built an education portfolio? Why or why not? What could be the possible advantages?

Not yet but I would love to do it and learn how to make one that fits into a fab lab teacher experience besides the one I am creating now as a diary.

**When you execute a learning activity, how do you evaluate its success? How do you keep track of possible modifications or improvements? Do you include them in your education portfolio or learning diary? **

I see different components in objective and subjective ways. First of all, how students are learning through the experience and process. I use rubrics, summative assessment, I do many observations and interviews while my students are working. An interesting fact is that since I teach the same students from 1st to 5th grade, when they get to that last grade in LS I used to have an informal talk and ask them: which one or ones were your favorite and meaningful project during LS? and they start recapping the ones that had more impact explaining why.

Process

• Steps followed
• Photos / screenshots of key stages
• Challenges and solutions

Reflection

• Key learnings
• How it applies to your teaching / context
• Next steps or improvements

Tools

• Tools or software used
• References or tutorials followed