This unit is meant to give you the freedom and flexibility to build something awesome! You’ve had a chance to see a lot of different programs, tools, machines, and ideas – now it’s your chance to turn those skills into a project of your own design. As we complete this unit, your job is to follow the engineering design process
- Make a plan for making something awesome
- Build it
- Communicate your process
You’ll start with the design brief that’s listed in Step 1, and from there get to develop and build whatever you want. Keep in mind the time constraints, and try to develop a project or idea that uses the tools we’ve talked about this semester. As always, we’ll follow the Engineering Design Process as we work through this final semester project:
- STEP 1: Identify your project, brainstorm, and design what you want to build
- STEP 2: Build your prototype!
- STEP 3: Share your work with others and write-up a final reflection
When you’re done, you’ll have finished your project and our semester!
The first part of this project is all about coming up with ideas. Sit down and think about all the things we did this semester – Autodesk & 3D printing, programming and robotics, lasers, G-Code, soldering, vinyl cutting, etc – and brainstorm a list of “cool things” you could make! Then, pick something! You’ll get the unit to design and create an awesome project using the tools we learned in class. Decide what you want to make, and then make a careful drawing in your notebook that includes dimensions as well as a materials list.
GRADING & PROCESS
Brainstorm a list of at least 10 possible projects and choose one
Make a very careful drawing in your notebook of what you want to build and include a materials list
Have Mr. Benshoof approve your idea
Once you’ve got a plan in place and approved by Mr. Benshoof, your next job is to build some kind of model, prototpye, or rendering of your idea. This couuld take many forms. If you have the time, maybe it means you’ll work in our Makerspace to build a physical prototype. Maybe your idea is better suited to a 3D model in Autodesk. Or possibly you’ll need to rely on good sketching techniques to carefully illustrate all the aspects of your idea. Work with Mr. Benshoof to figure out what the right next step is, and get building!
GRADING & PROCESS
Follow your plan and build your prototype!
Have Mr. Benshoof check-off your final prototype
The last part of any project is always to share your work with other people. Sometimes that will mean formal presentations, other times it’s more informal feedback sessions. For this project, we’ll take a day and share our work with the class and give each other feedback on our work. In addition, we’ll also write up a 1-page reflection in our engineering notebooks.
GRADING & PROCESS
Share your work with your class in our engineering roundtables
Write your project reflection in your engineering notebook
Have Mr. Benshoof confirm you written reflection
Part 1 Resources
Part 2 Resources
Part 3 Resources