Digital Learning Can Be a Zoo!

Students at Northwest ISD's STEM Academy recently finished an extensive project across two classes to research, design, and create a functional zoo habitat for a specific type of animal.  Students who were enrolled in both Mrs. Goodwin's Biology class and Mrs. Garrett's Intro to Engineering and Design class used their knowledge from both subjects to informatively create their habitats.

Initial Hand Drawn Plans

Austin, a student who worked on the Elephant Habitat Project, said that "the design part of the project had multiple steps.  The first plans were hand drawn and then scanned in so we had a copy of them.  Then I used inventor to create the digital model of the habitat."  Inventor is a 3D modeling program that offers professional-grade 3D mechanical design, documentation, and product simulation tools.  Student's in Mrs. Garrett's class use Inventor for numerous projects throughout the year, including this one.  "I started by creating a general shape of the habitat, then cut into it with features like stairs, rails, and trees," said Austin.

The project had many parts other than the actual modeling aspect.  Students had to research many aspects of their chosen animal's living needs and incorporate those into their design.  Factors such as natural habitat, environmental niche, food web, behavior, adaptations, and limiting resources were all considered.  Groups created folders in Google Drive to share and collaborate on their project portfolios while completing their research.   "My favorite part of the project was designing the zoo habitat so it resembled a real habitat," said student Marla, who worked on the Harpy Eagle Habitat Project.  "We discovered things during our research that changed out initial designs.  For example, two harpy eagles in the wild occupy an area of over 20 square miles and they typically nest at a specific height.  Because of this, we had to change our initial design which wasn't large or high enough."

Austin agreed with Marla, saying that "concepts for our design were created over and over, including many drafts as we did research."  But not only animal factors had to be taken into account when creating their zoo habitat, as they had to ensure that designs accounted for humans visiting as well. "For example, the [Americans with Disabilities Act] requires that all stairs be between 30 and 50 degree elevation, so we had to take that into account as well," said Austin.

Elephant Habitat Final Project Portfolio

This project incorporated technology for in-depth research as well as informed design using cutting edge modeling software, allowing students to explore multiple facets of what it takes to create a real zoo habitat.  If you'd like to examine some of the projects in more detail, check out the links below!

Elephant Habitat Portfolio

Harpy Eagle Habitat Portfolio

Zoo Habitat Project Rubric

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About IT Online!

The Byron Nelson High School newspaper The Paw Print has taken off this year and found themselves in the clouds, or rather, THE cloud. By utilizing Google Docs and Google Drive this year in the classroom they have streamlined their writing and editing process and allowed for better management of their newspaper. Their teacher, Tammy Litchfield, has pushed the students to adjust to using this digital method of data sharing and editing. "The best thing is the immediacy of it," says Tammy. "Editing is instant, feedback is instant, and everything is expedited. We can get things done quickly and in real time."

Oliver, one of the newspaper's co-editors in chief, breaks down the process the students use when creating a new article. "First, the author types his story into a Google Doc which is shared with the editors and teacher. The copy editor then suggests grammatical and formatting corrections in the doc by making comments or highlighting errors. The author is notified by the document that it has been edited, so they fix any errors after discussing them with the copy editor. Then they notify the editor in chief that it is ready for review.  The editor adds content comments and addition edits and collaborates with the author to finalize the article. Once this process is complete the doc is then accessed by the design editor who places the finished article into its proper place using Adobe InDesign." The teacher can go in at any point during this process and interact in the same way, using Google Drive's comment system to leave suggestions and notify contributors.  As Oliver said, "It's way better than using email, the comments in docs are amazing and have really streamlined our process.  We can edit and work in real time. It's really a step forward to go fully online and better facilitate the process."

Not only has Google Drive revolutionized the newspaper's creation process, but it is also helping to facilitate their plans for having a fully online print version of the newspaper next year. Sarah, the section editor, just finished designing and creating the new Paw Print website that will host the online version of the paper next year. "The online version will be checked more than print and give us the opportunity to stay on top of the news," said Sarah.  Thomas, the Social Media Director, says that the online version "will sync with our Twitter account, @thePawPrintBNHS, so we can tweet out new stories as they are added."

The newspaper team here at Byron Nelson High School envisions a more interactive and modern type of paper, one that will be highly visible to students, teachers, and parents alike.  They have made some huge leaps forward in taking the paper to the next level digitally, and those improvements will continue into next year. With the Paw Print now in the cloud, the sky's the limit on how far they can go.

Designing an ER: A Medically Sound Project

We've all been to an emergency room at one time or another, either for ourselves or for someone else, and we all know what to expect: reception area, waiting room, medical facilities, etc.  But did you know that every last detail is painstakingly considered during the design of an ER, even down to the color of paint on the wall?  This is something that students at Byron Nelson High School recently discovered during their work on a project to design an emergency room from the ground up.

Students in the Academy of Biomedical Sciences (ABS) collaborated with students in the advanced Architecture class in order to create a 3D design of a an emergency room, taking into account all the medical and physical requirements that an ER needs to function.  The project began with the ABS students, who had to use their knowledge of medical sciences to plan an emergency room that would be streamlined and effective from a medical standpoint.  Using Google research tools, they figured out all of the necessary data, including measurements, medical hardware, furniture, facility necessities, etc.  "It was way more intricate than we were aware," said ABS student Matthew.  "Once we began researching we realized the level of detail was incredible."

In order to keep up with all the design ideas and collaborate with one another, one of the groups decided to use a Pinterest board as a tool.  ABS students Rasia told me that it "made it easier to see each other's thoughts and ideas; it helped us design the ER without having to meet all the time."  In addition to structural design, the group incorporated new technology advancements into their plans.  Breakthroughs such as facial recognition software and high tech wristbands for easier patient identification make for a better functioning ER, as shown in the group's Google Slides presentation:

Once the ABS students finished collecting data and design requirements, they sent the data along with basic sketches to the advanced architecture students.  These students then worked with the ABS group to construct a 3D computer model with their architecture software according to the specifications of the group.  Architecture students had to incorporate necessary changes to make the design more functional or to make it structurally sound.  Once the design was agreed upon, the 3D designs were rendered by modeling software.  These models, as well as the project in detail, can be seen on the architecture program's Standards Based Bulletin Board:

In the end, the project was a great success.  By utilizing useful tools like Google research, Pinterest, 3D modeling software, and Google Slides, groups were able to communicate and collaborate on a design for a newer, better emergency room. Students like Rasia walked away from this project with a greater appreciation not only for each other's classes, but also for emergency rooms and the planning that goes into creating one.  "With no limits to our innovations and designs I believe our team was able to execute to the best of our abilities... I was able to learn much more about an ER than I ever have, and I certainly have way more respect and appreciation into all the aspects relating to an ER and how they are made."

Students design logos for real-world applications

At Northwest ISD, we strive to provide real-world experiences for students to enhance their learning and ensure they are future ready. NISD's 1:world website was recently in need of a logo, and students in the Business Management and Entrepreneurship (BME) Academy were contacted to utilize their design and technology skills to design the new logo. Students were given the requirements, including the NISD Branding Guidelines, and used Adobe design software to provide several options to choose from. After a formal business meeting (ran by the student team leader), the chosen logo was provided in digital format to the 1:world webmaster. As a result, the logo was then incorporated into the website, which is seen by the NISD community, including students, educators, and parents. Not only does the 1:world website have a creative, student-designed logo, the students also have another digital product to add to their design portfolio.

The impact of the student-designed logo doesn't stop there. Due to the success of the 1:world logo, BME students are now working on a logo for an NISD campus library. The library logo will be displayed in the library itself, as well incorporated into a t-shirt design in which librarians will wear to represent NISD at a national librarian conference.

The next time you need a creative, digital product, consider tapping into the most creative resource we have available to us: our students.


For more information on NISD's 1:world experience for students, educators, and parents, please visit http://1toworld.nisdtx.org.

For more information on NISD's BME Academy, please visit http://www.nisdtx.org/Page/58348. 

For more information on all NISD Academies, please visit http://www.nisdtx.org/academies. 

Infographics: a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

What is an infographic?  Surprisingly, most people who know exactly what one is aren't even aware that it is called an infographic.  An infographic is a visual image that usually includes a chart or diagram in order to represent information or data.  By utilizing graphics to enhance the presentation of the data, an infographic taps into our visual system’s ability to see patterns and trends. But don't take my words for it, check out this infographic ABOUT infographics!

It's easy to see why infographics are so popular, and that's exactly why their use has become so widespread. Over recent years they have become increasingly common in mass communication and are seen everywhere from newspapers to the internet.  Mrs. Nolan, the Communication Applications teacher at Medlin Middle School, knows this and wants her students to realize it too.  That's why her students spent time this six weeks learning about and creating their own infographics.  Students were asked to poll their fellow classmates about a topic important to them, such as "What breed of dog do you prefer" or "What social media platform do you use the most?"  Students created a survey via pencil and paper and verbally polled the students in their class. The survey had to include specific data that can be seen in the instructions in the photo below.

  

Once they collected their survey data they had to take that data and use it with the website Piktochart to create an infographic.  Students not only had to choose what type of chart or diagram would be most helpful, but they also had to complete their own graphic design as well.  They were taught that infographics should be visually engaging, contain information that is easy to process, and should be supported by the content it is paired with.  This project allowed them to explore their artistic side as well as learn new way to analyze and look at data and communicate it to others. Check out some of their works in progress below:

At the end of the project, the hard work of the students was evident.  By learning to create these infographics the students have learned a new skill that will be helpful for both future classes and careers!  Check out some of the awesome finished products below (pictures and links), and remember, a picture is worth a thousand words... but an infographic is worth so much more!

Chocolate vs Vanilla | Piktochart Infographic Editor

Preferred Music Type | Piktochart Infographic Editor
Samsung vs iPhone | Piktochart Infographic Editor
Which sport would you choose to play? | Piktochart Infographic Editor

Breaking Bridges... All in the name of Science!

Tenth grade students enrolled in Engineering Design apply engineering concepts to design, build, and test model bridges. Students use two specific tools in their design process, one to help with the design process (before building the bridge), and one to test the structural integrity of the bridge (after building the bridge). Before bridge building begins, students use West Point Bridge Designer to "model, test, and optimize a steel highway bridge, based on realistic specifications, constraints, and performance criteria" (source).

(Image source: West Point Bridge Designer website.)

Students then construct their model bridges using balsa wood and glue. After construction is complete, students test the strength of the bridges by applying force using a Pitsco Structure Tester. The software attached to the instrument records the force applied so students can record the data as part of their observations. 

"Breaking" a bridge using the Structure Tester.

Software monitors & records force applied to the bridge. (This bridge peaked at 33 pounds.)

Students work together to test the structural integrity of their model bridge.

Noah, a student participating in the project, describes the process:

"We are testing to see how much force the bridge can take before it breaks. This will help us find a weakness. My team's bridge broke at 22 pounds, so we're going to modify our bridge. We could do this without technology but we would have to run a lot more tests to break it to test all the tension points to test how much force it can take." 

Video of bridge breaking (from STEM Academy Twitter)

Some students turned the activity into a friendly competition, seeing which bridge could withstand the most force before breaking. The sound of cracking of balsa wood never elicited so much excitement! 

Diversity in Design - 3D Models

The role of an architect is quite diverse. They have to be imaginative and creative and  have a vantage point that is both big picture and focused on attention to small detail.

Students in Mr. Taylor's Architecture Design class were given the task of creating a 3D model of a residence using Autodesk Revit. In addition to recreating a residence, students had to recreate all of the necessary views for a set of construction plans including a floor plan, elevations, section views, detail plans, and schedules. Students decorated the houses using furniture that they downloaded form revitcity.com. The final step was creating an animated walkthrough of the house to show a fully decorated residence.

John said that he learned a lot from this project and was able to build on what he learned in Principles of Architecture to recreate this project using new software. John stated that he enjoyed that fact that "Mr. Taylor gave us freedom to decorate and add elements that appealed to us".

While reflecting on this project, Melanie shared that she initially struggled with this project because she didn't want t learn a new software "Once Mr. Taylor walked us through the process of creating a set of plans, it made more sense and I was open to the idea of learning REVIT. I am so glad I did!"

3D printer makes student-designed products come to life

Having a classroom 3D printer is not only cool, it is technology which can truly transform student learning. An example of such a transformation is the Product Design and Development Project, conducted by STEM Academy Seniors in Mr. Jim Brown's Engineering IV class at Northwest High School. Given the Driving Question, "How can we design and develop a product that will satisfy a consumer need?", students worked in design teams to apply the product design and development process, along with the engineering design process, to design, create, and present a product prototype that will satisfy a consumer need. Using new product development stages, students evolved their ideas into physical prototypes using the 3D printer. In true STEM Academy fashion, at the conclusion of the project, students presented their prototypes to a panel of industry experts for authentic, real-world feedback.

Image source: http://store.makerbot.com/replicator2

The integration of technology in this project was not only to create their final products, but also in many steps throughout the project. For example, students used Nepris to video conference with TXS Industrial Design personnel, Excel Gantt charts for effective project management, electronic Pugh Charts for product concept selection, and SolidWorks 3D design software (a common software used in university Engineering programs) for digital product design. All these tools were used to allow students to collaborate, work as a team, meet deadlines, justify product design decisions, and create product designs that could be sent to the MakerBot 3D printer. Only then could the students' designs come to life.

Examples of student products

Bullet Buddy
A pencil for people who like to stand out in a crowd, the Bullet Buddy is the perfect ammunition  for the professional.  Convenience in a small container, it comes with a big eraser for the error-prone, a pocket clip for mobile storage convenience, and a built-in sharpener.

Link to complete Bullet Buddy student presentation materials is HERE. 

"We had to apply our knowledge of SolidWorks, a program that allows us to make components for the 3D printers. Similar to AutoCAD chamfering and filleting, you can mold the object however you want to." -Tucker Chaka, Bullet Buddy Design Team Member 

"What engineers do is make products better. Having this technology with 3D printers and the SolidWorks platform lets us to break down components to see how they work and improve upon them. Without technology, we would not have been able to do the project." -Christian Thomas, Bullet Buddy Design Team Member

Swirly Fork
The Swirly Fork was created to make the eating of noodles easier on the consumer.  The fork works by spinning when you run your fingers down the side of the fork.

Link to complete Swirly Fork student presentation materials is HERE. 

Z Case
Too many things to hold? Losing all your stuff? We have just the thing for you! The Z case can hold your stuff, reduce the amount, and protect your phone.

Link to complete Z Case student presentation materials is HERE.

"For engineering, you want to come up with stuff on your own to improve things, that's what engineers do. I was wanting to improve a phone case. There are already phone cases like I had, but I wanted to improve it to where it would become a mini wallet at the same time that won't be bulky." -Zi Lin Higbie, Z Case Design Team Leader

As each student design team presented their products at the end of the project, industry experts who served as presentation judges provided insightful feedback to students. In some cases, the prototypes were so well designed that they could be manufactured for sale to the public with only minor modifications.

Would you buy these products? If they needed further modification to meet your needs as a consumer, would you hire these students to create a product designed for you?

If you had access to a 3D printer, what would you create? Would it be something just for fun? Would your product satisfy a consumer need?

Additional Project Resources 

Project Overview & Requirements
Product Concept Proposal Grading Rubric
Engineering Research Grading Rubric

Blueprint Gone 3D

Written by Jacob Suchors, Ridge Hanson, and Brandon Fryer
  
     The Junior and Senior students in Mrs. DeLong's AutoCAD class recently completed their Guest House Project. The unique aspect of this project is that the students are designing a real house for a real client that is actually going to be built in Van Zandt County! The client that the house is being built for is Libby Turner, a woman who owns a plot of land in East Texas. When asked about how students reacted to having an actual client, AutoCAD teacher Mrs. Jacqueline DeLong, explains how, “By actually having a real client it motivated the students to work harder because each team wanted to see their design become a reality.”

    The students worked in teams of 2 to create the house. They used a more advanced AutoCAD program called REVIT, which allowed the students to show their design in 3D. Tucker Chaka states that, “I like Revit a lot more than the original AutoCAD because it makes everything so much easier…You can select Door, Window, Wall, etc. and place it wherever you want, whereas in AutoCAD you have to draw everything individually which makes things much more complicated and time consuming.”

    The project was designed to exploit each student’s talents in creating a home in REVIT. The situation was very real world with a real client and client wants. The students met with the client weekly and discussed ideas, the budget that was $70,000, and had the client check the progress of their designs. Having a real client added to the whole idea and helped prepare students for the real world.

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