Homework & News

I might need to change my approach to this course in some of the classes as some of the students are struggling to work through the process required if they are to be selecting their own projects. We will determine this over the next few weeks as we work through this process and I see how the students are progressing.

C & D  7, 8, & 9

• Students had no yet finished their personal item that represents them, finished it today.
• Once they completed this they began to work on continuing their individual design projects. There is a great deal of work involved in this because allowing students to select a project from multiple disciplines means that they are required to do a great deal of the exploration of their topic on their own. These are the following stages that they are working through:
  • Come up with a challenge, problem, topic, or idea.
  • Determine what they need to find out about their project, or learn, to in order to be able to do it. This may include: What are the best materials to use? What tools do I need? Do we have these tools? How do I use these tools? How do I put it together? What problems or things might get in the way of me being able to do this project.
  • Find answers to their questions and challenges
  • Come up with a rough design / sketch of their project including measurements
  • Make a list of all tools / equipment and materials that are required
  • Depending on the project the students may want to create a template or prototype to test their idea before moving on to creating it
  • Begin creating their project
• The students were given and asked to refer to this chart to help them work through the process.

As a result of budget constraints I am able to by limited materials for student projects. As a result if students are selecting larger projects or are requiring different materials they may be required to purchase the items and bring them to school. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.

Sincerely,

Mr. Lang

Construction & Design 7

• Student completed their design challenge to create an object that represents them.
• When students were finished they began thinking about their own challenge or project. They were recommended to look and follow the Design Thinking / CTF charts that they were given in the beginning of the year. The will need to keep track of all of their work in either a duotang, binder, folder, or in some other means to create a portfolio. They will also be checking in at each stage to ensure they are on the right track.
• Some of the students are struggling with the maturity required to tackle learning in this fashion and the freedom that it allows. If this poses a problem the course may take on another form to meet these needs.

Construction & Design 8 & 9

• Student completed their design challenge to create an object that represents them.
• When students were finished they began thinking about their own challenge or project. They were recommended to look and follow the Design Thinking / CTF charts that they were given in the beginning of the year. The will need to keep track of all of their work in either a duotang, binder, folder, or in some other means to create a portfolio. They will also be checking in at each stage to ensure they are on the right track.

C & D (Construction & Design) 7A

• As a result of the Terry Fox Run we only had 10 minutes for our class today and therefore we did not accomplish much.

C & D (Construction & Design) 7B & 7C

• We continued working on the design thinking challenge where we are creating an object, with restrictions of size, materials, and tools that best represents us.
• Those students that finished began thinking about what they would like to do for their first project. I suggested that they refer to the chart that I handed out the first day as it is an excellent tool to help them through the design process.

C & D (Construction & Design) 8

• We continued working on the design thinking challenge where we are creating an object, with restrictions of size, materials, and tools that best represents us.
• Those students that finished began thinking about what they would like to do for their first project. I suggested that they refer to the chart that I handed out the first day as it is an excellent tool to help them through the design process.

C & D (Construction & Design) 9A

• As a result of the Terry Fox Run we did not have class today.

C & D (Construction & Design) 9B & 9C

• We continued working on the design thinking challenge where we are creating an object, with restrictions of size, materials, and tools that best represents us.
• Those students that finished began thinking about what they would like to do for their first project. I suggested that they refer to the chart that I handed out the first day as it is an excellent tool to help them through the design process.

Construction & Design 7

• Today we went over how we as students can be more responsible and ensure that our forms and assignments are being completed and handed in on time.
• We then began a design thinking challenge that has the students trying to create an object that represents them. The design of the element is up to them though the restrictions are that it cannot be any larger than 8cm x 8cm x 4cm (the object just needs to fit within this dimension) and it must have their name and block on it. They have limited supplies they may use at the school but they may bring other items from home. The initial design stages are as follows:
  • Come up with your idea
  • Design your idea (sketch / drawing / written)
  • Determine the best materials and tools for the job
  • Check with Mr. Lang to approve the design
• The students were introduced to variety of hand tools including backsaws, coping saws, and utility knives.

Construction & Design 8

• Today we went over how we as students can be more responsible and ensure that our forms and assignments are being completed and handed in on time.
• We then began a design thinking challenge that has the students trying to create an object that represents them. The design of the element is up to them though the restrictions are that it cannot be any larger than 8cm x 8cm x 4cm (the object just needs to fit within this dimension) and it must have their name and block on it. They have limited supplies they may use at the school but they may bring other items from home. The initial design stages are as follows:
  • Come up with your idea
  • Design your idea (sketch / drawing / written)
  • Determine the best materials and tools for the job
  • Check with Mr. Lang to approve the design
• The students were introduced to variety of hand tools including backsaws, coping saws, and utility knives.

Construction & Design 9

• Today we went over how we as students can be more responsible and ensure that our forms and assignments are being completed and handed in on time.
• Students were given times to complete their design challenge from last class which was based around creating a prototype for something that would “make Tom Baines School a better place.” There were many cool ideas and it was awesome to see the students working together and using simple materials and tools to complete this task.
• We then began a design thinking challenge that has the students trying to create an object that represents them. The design of the element is up to them though the restrictions are that it cannot be any larger than 8cm x 8cm x 4cm (the object just needs to fit within this dimension) and it must have their name and block on it. They have limited supplies they may use at the school but they may bring other items from home. The initial design stages are as follows:
  • Come up with your idea
  • Design your idea (sketch / drawing / written)
  • Determine the best materials and tools for the job
  • Check with Mr. Lang to approve the design
• The students were introduced to variety of hand tools including backsaws, coping saws, and utility knives.

We officially got approval today to now be in, and start using the Construction and Design Studio. Take a look at our Twitter account as I posted a picture from this evening about what it currently looks like. I am continuing to work on the space and am using the feedback given from all nine classes to try and design it the way you suggested.

Construction & Design 7A, 7B, & 7C

• Today we worked in groups to try and design and create the tallest freestanding structure possible out of limited supplies.
• From this the students were asked to reflect on the task and to appraise their work and the work of their peers by answering the following questions:
  • What was your greatest strength when working on this task?
  • What is something you need to work on?
  • What worked on your tower? What did not?
  • What worked on other groups towers?
  • What did you learn from this task?
• The questions to not need to be answered through writing as students have an opportunity to express their learning in many ways.
• Please remember that you will need to have your course outline handed in, and also this reflection completed as your ticket in to class next day.

Construction & Design 8A, 8B, & 8C

• Today we worked in groups to try and design and create the tallest freestanding structure possible out of limited supplies.
• From this the students were asked to reflect on the task and to appraise their work and the work of their peers by answering the following questions:
  • What was your greatest strength when working on this task?
  • What is something you need to work on?
  • What worked on your tower? What did not?
  • What worked on other groups towers?
  • What did you learn from this task?
• The questions to not need to be answered through writing as students have an opportunity to express their learning in many ways.
• Please remember that you will need to have your course outline handed in, and also this reflection completed as your ticket in to class next day.

Construction & Design 9A, 9B, & 9C

• The students were given the challenge to design and create something that either “makes Tom Baines a better place,” or “makes the world a better place.” They worked through the design process and then began creating with limited resources.  We were all in varying stages of the challenge with some students just beginning and some almost finished. We will be visiting this next class before we move on to starting to consider our own challenges and projects.
• Please remember that you will need to have your course outline handed in as your ticket in to class next day.