Morrill High School students in Mr. Folck’s Geometry classes have been busy doing 3D design projects. Students were tasked with either creating a new object to solve a problem or trying to improve upon an existing object. Once they settled on an idea, students used TinkerCAD to create a 3D object to solve the problem. Students then wrote papers outlining the problem being addressed, the proposed solution, the overall design process, and a summary and analysis of their finished product.
Students also got to see their creations come to life as their designs were printed on the 3D printer in the ZSpace Lab. After all the projects were printed, students gave presentations to the class explaining the problem they addressed and the solution that they came up with. While presenting, groups were able to pass around a scale model of their creation for their classmates to see.
Project ideas varied greatly, with some being very imaginative and theoretical while others were very realistic and practical. A few of the projects included a weed puller that grabs the roots, a locker organizer, a redesigned locker, extendable scissors, a water bottle holder, and a deployable bubble to avoid having to wear a mask.
Overall, students enjoyed the project and had some fun with it, even if their patience was tested at times. Most students gained an appreciation for the difficulty of visualizing and creating a 3D design, but also the satisfaction of seeing the end result. Students also increased their knowledge of the overall design process and picked up skills that will benefit them in the future.
