Technology, Engineering and Design Project Ideas

Remember now, I teach at the beach. I know, how cool is that. I get to see the sun rise every day on the ocean. So what better subject matter to draw than objects related to the beach. When testing studends on the type of line, shape and form, some students would mix up which ones were mechanical and geometric. since I started teaching sophomores that all have chemistry, they now give me answers like organic and inorganic! Yikes! Practing the use of Line: Practincing the use of Shape: Practicing the use of Form:

In an effort to get students to pay attention to detail, I have them enlarge this turtle image to the given grid using only color pencils. I forbid them to use a regular pencil to transfer the imagery. Some students start in one corner and move across the image while others start with the turtle and continue out from the center. No way is the correct way as long as the image is transfered accurately to the grid. I allow the students to start the activity in class and then ask them to complete the image within a week. No need to drag out the process. I let them keep the colored pencils that they start with and return them when they are done. Turtle Source: Wintner , Anita. Green Sea Turtle. Retrieved on 9/5/16 from        http:// physiologizing.blogspot.com /2013/03/living-life-at-sea-diving-physiology- in.html The results are astounding and range from eh to wow! This lets the students see what others are capable of and if they need to pay more atten...

I just mentioned photography, so I figure I better give you some insight to my approach with the students. One of my pet peves is when a students photographs their work or project with all kinds of noise in the background or even foreground! I have them start a slide deck on Google Slides and post their photos to a slideshow so that they have a place to put their shots and I can access the slide shows for assessing. I can add comments and redirect them in their efforts. Please note that I only have enough photography knowledge to be dangerous.  What I learned is mostly from Michael Miller, a local photogrpher, but don't blame him for any of my shortcomings. I start with the rule of thrids and send students off to take their first set of photos for homework. Again, they post these to their slide deck. Note that each of these sections below are images that you can grab and print on a full page as a handout.  I then talk about Macro Shots and send them off again to...

I have been teaching design elements and principles for years to develop the students background in design and provide needed content for the Visual and Performing Arts requirements, as our school does not offer art courses. I use a series of worksheets to get the students to practice the concepts, then they apply the concepts to photos they take. They use the photos and worksheets to start a portfolio of their work. I hope to develop a new set of design worksheets that link the deisgn principles and artchitecture. This particular activity if framed and hung in a window will act as a stained glass panel. Besides Frank Lloyd write, my other inspiration was from a sea snake that I gave a biomimicry lesson on. I will write about that activity in the near future. For now, I just wanted you to know why this panel looks like it does. Feel free to alter the assignment as you need to for your students. The purpose here was to introduce someone in Architecture, using a sea organism as ...

Designing a cookie cutter appears to be quite simple, but students will get the chance to use offset, mirror and other commands if they are new to the sofware you are using. Adding structure to provide detail to the cookie will challange even the best students. Students can do research to learn what makes an effective cookie shape. They can test their designs using cinnamon dough to create an ornament as long as they remember to puncture a hole in the top for hanging. Be sure you don't have anyone in the class with a gluten allergy. In that case, use a porcelain dough or air drying clay. Use this activity for student to write reflections on their design. Despite the simple design, you will be pleasantly surprised at all that your students can write about the cookie cutter. In a formal technically written document, discuss the following in 10+ paragraphs:   I.   Scope of the project. (10) What did you need to design? (The project entailed . . . ) keep in ...

These projects can be used as assignments for everyone or fillers for those that work faster that the rest of th class. Sell your students to do extra work as unique experiences and portfolio entries that all of the students will not have. 😉 Resource: Imgur. Whale, Whale, Whale. 2016 Blog 11/11/16. 

Starting the School Year in My TED Studio Each year I have 75 new student names to learn. For several years now, I have the students follow directions to create an origami name plate. They are welcome to use the name plate in the re st of their classes as well, but I insist that they keep it in their notebooks and put it out for the first few classes. Feel free to use this set of directions or develop your own. This activity allows me to see who my speedy students are and those that do not like to read directions. This allows the speedy students to work with others right away to help everyone gain success. The directions lack some direction in the final steps of the folds to allow for discussion on how to improve the directions, forcing the students to begin analysis of design, in this case the design of instructions. Until I can figure out how to embed the documents here correctly, use this link to get to my origami instructions. ~Wendy

I love creating a new project. I love the moments of project inception and the excitement of the research and gathering my thoughts to formulate the actual projects. In fact, I have so many written up that I have never used, that I decided to launch this blog to share these ideas with others to use.  Whenever I attend a workshop or conference, I am satisfied with the event if I walk away with one new idea. I have come to realize that I am not alone. all of the attendees are seeking ideas to take back to to implement with their students. I often get bogged down by all of the project ideas I have and get frustrated with not being able to use them all.  Over the years, I have tried to give many of my ideas a marine theme becuase of the nature of the school that I have been at since Septmeber 1998. I certainly know where the time went, writing up new projects! So without further delay, I will start sharing the pages, assignments and projects that I have for you all to use a...