Stick house prototypes brought the project from theoretical to physical and allowed time for students to explore and think about construction.
Students
The Center for Leadership & Innovation is staffed by four Coordinators who co-design learning activities with any faculty member in the school, no matter the subject area or grade level. We look to collaborate on activities that exemplify our mission "to activate curiosity and give all learners space to try, fail, and succeed." The only requirement is that the activity must include at least two dimensions from 21st Century Learning Design.
Pigs were placed in each constructed house to further solidify the connection between theory and physics.
Stick and straw combinations reflected real-world possibilities.
Students designed, built, and tested houses made of different materials in our wind room. Here, straws and tape represent straw houses.
We want our students to develop into people who engage with big challenges with confidence and curiosity and a willingness to try, even if they’re not initially certain of what to do.
After reading multiple versions of The Three Little Pigs in their homeroom classes, kindergarten teachers partnered with the CLI to design a building challenge.
Capturing the natural tinkering tendencies of young children with rich and meaningful learning experiences is part of what makes working with them such a delight.
Kids who practice solving open-ended problems as youngsters are better at jumping into solving tricky problems later.
Students integrated humanities, science, and technology to create a comprehensive learning experience and incorporated Microsoft's 21st Century Learning Design.
Students translated their research findings into tangible 3D models, allowing them to showcase their understanding of the physical elements that make each national park visitor center unique.
Using both elements that they created and elements available within CoSpaces, students programmed interactions to share their research about their assigned national park.
Is there a better way to celebrate the students' technical prowess and solidify the link between digital design and tangible outcomes than with cookies and frosting?
The final, delicious step: the class transformed their digital designs into edible treats, testing their cookie cutters with real cookie dough.
Important iterations: cardboard prototypes shorten the iteration cycle and allow for low-stakes adjustments before final printing.
Important iterations: cardboard prototypes shorten the iteration cycle and allow for low-stakes adjustments before final printing.
After 2D cardboard prototypes, students transitioned their designs into 3D models with Tinkercad.
The second iterations of their habitats were stronger, meeting all the criteria, and were unique, three-dimensional, and stylish. The students took great pride in their creations.
The students used materials like hay, sticks, and recyclables to build their habitats.
A significant challenge was creating a three-dimensional structure. This task required them to manipulate materials, a concept that was initially difficult but ultimately led to exciting discoveries.
Learning Activity Portfolio
Alice Baggett, CLI Coordinator
Alice Baggett, CLI Coordinator
Jess Saulzallito, CLI Coordinator
Alice Bagget, CLI Coordinator
Ryan MacLeod, CLI Coordinator