Everyday Innovation Challenge

thingiverse

The Everyday Innovation Challenge is an exciting project designed for middle school Technology Education classes, where students focus on applying the Engineering Design Process through innovation and creativity. This challenge provides students with a chance to take common everyday items and give them a unique twist using 3D printing. Thingiverse is filled with examples of people who have redesigned products to add functionality, change their appearance, or simply for fun. The goal is to redesign something simple to practice the design process and gain experience with 3D modeling and printing. The model uploaded is an example of one student's project, where they combined a hairbrush and comb using 3D printing. Each student will create their own unique design, allowing them to demonstrate their creativity. The final product will depend on what students come up with, ensuring no two products are the same - that's the beauty of this challenge. Project: Everyday Innovation Challenge Objectives: - Utilize 3D printing technology to create a physical model or prototype. - Learn the basics of 3D printing and design using sketch-up (or another available program). - Apply the Engineering Design Process to redesign a common product. Audiences: - This project was originally developed for middle school Technology Education classes, but it can be adapted for high school or elementary students by adjusting the level of difficulty. - Students should have some background in the design program before starting this project; it's recommended that they practice and learn the program beforehand. Preparation: - Students should have experience with the design program before beginning the project. - Reliable computers are needed for designing, researching online, and 3D printing. - Teachers should understand 3D printing basics to guide students effectively. - Consider having students work in pairs instead of individually, as this can lead to higher-quality models. Steps: Step 1: The first step is to ensure students have a solid grasp of the Engineering Design Process, a set of steps that helps with problem-solving and design. Step 2: Teach students about 3D modeling programs (the ones used in class) and explain how 3D printers work. Step 3: Introduce the project challenge - take common items like coffee mugs or toothbrushes and find ways to innovate them using 3D printing. Show examples from Thingiverse but emphasize creating their own designs, not copying existing ideas. Step 4: Have students brainstorm and sketch out ideas, making sure they can explain their design process at the end of the project. Step 5: Have students create detailed drawings with measurements and labels to clarify what their final product will look like. This helps both teachers and students understand the thought process behind the designs. Step 6: Create 3D models using school-available programs, checking student progress daily to catch errors early. Step 7: 3D print the projects, then have students present their designs, explaining how they applied the Engineering Design Process and used 3D printing for innovation. Results: At project's end, each student should have a 3D-printed product they can explain through presentation. They should showcase their work from brainstorming to final product, demonstrating creativity, skill, and use of advanced technology in Technology Education classes.