Secondary ONE - 2015 - "A (Simple) Wood Note Holder (Starter) Project" & Drawing Practice

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For 'N' and 'O' Level students looking for the complete Design Journal self-help links please click here or scroll down to "Design Journal 2015 | Complete Set of Post links for Design Journaling from Beginning to the End".

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Welcome to "A (Simple) Wood Note Holder (Starter) Project" for my 2015 Secondary ONE classes. Here I share my planning processes and what my students get to do from beginning to the end. 

If there must be a Lower Secondary Coursework to be done, I always like to begin with building the necessary skills and competency before the designing phase actually begin. Many students dread the Idea Generation stage because they struggle with drawing. When it comes to Development, students struggle again because they have no experiences of the challenges and limitations on working with tools and materials. Therefore could not develop their ideas meaningfully. Come the realization phase and the students are smacked with another completely new sets of skills which they had never acquired. As a result students had to learn alongside making attempts on their actual hand-in project. There is hardly any room for risk taking, making mistakes and learning from them.

In my class, I prefer to have my students experience making. To have a feel of the tools, machines and handy-skills required of their final individual project through kicking off a simple project. To prepare my students to be more competent and confident for the Idea Generation and Development phase, I get my students to learn and practice basic drawing skills.

PART A: First off "A (Simple) Wood Note Holder (Starter) Project"

Fig. 1

What you see in the image above (Fig. 1) is a mini note holder which I planned according to the necessary skills I wish my students to experience and learn in advance, and in turn to be useful before they begin Idea Generation. There is no way any student can appreciate design if he did not know first how materials are processed or how relevant tools are being used. Only when he had the experience, the designing stage can be done with its limitations and challenges in mind. 

Students get to learn the following skills as they make this project:

1. Marking out. The image named as Fig. 2 below is an example I drew on the white board. The blue lines are added along the way as I show my students the stages of marking out on their piece of block. I draw on the board, then demonstrate on my little block. Students can refer either to the board for the marking positions or they can take a peek at my block once I am done. There is no need to mention any dimensions when I get my students to mark out. I simply use geometries. I say 'half of this'. Then 'another half of this', etc. as they mark out.
2. Shaping (I). Students took turns to use the scroll saw to cut out two curved slots. I took this opportunity to explain why I designed the slots to be 'curved' instead of straight slots for holding a piece of paper in it.
3. Shaping (II). A few steps forward, students learn to make use of a piece of Glass Paper (Sand Paper) to not only smooth the surfaces along the grain, they learn to use the glass paper alongside with blocks and/clamping on a vice to create curved edges to improve the overall aesthetics.
4. Drilling. Due to time, I fixed the 3mm drill bits and adjusted its drill depth in advance. I then explained how a drill bit is fixed, how I get the depth of the hole fixed, and the relevant stuffs about drilling. Students get to use the drilling machine to drill a 3mm hole by learning to secure their work piece on a vice accurately, and in turn securing the vice with a F-Clamp. 
5. Finishing (I): Students learn the names of the sand paper and the different grades of them. How to make use of other objects to achieve sanding in different parts and in various obstructed surfaces, etc. They'll learn about sanding along the grains and why it is preferred that way.
6. Finishing (II). A few steps forward (again). Students learn the value of finishing their project either with (spray) paints or with Lacquer. I explain to them the process of finishing and when it is best done.
7. Wire Bending: This may not be a critical skill in making. However, the students will learn about dexterity, hand-eye coordination to bend a piece of wire into the shape that is required - that will hold a piece of paper secure.Similar skills can be transferred if they wish to include wires in their personal projects later on.

Fig. 2

PART B: Drawing Practices

Fig. 3 shows a (WIP) sample set of progressing drawing skills which I planned to introduce to my students.

                             

Fig. 3

This will be a simplified drawing competency building for my Secondary One students this year. More updates later when I begin teaching them in class. That will be from week 4 onward. Basically the following are the steps:

Students learn progressively:

1. Drawing parallel lines in all directions. (Fig. 4).
2. Drawing parallel lines varying distances in all directions and all variations.(Fig. 4).
3. Drawing blocks of various shape and orientation. Bearing in mind parallel lines. Bearing in mind also first off are light guide lines, followed by heavier lines to lock in shape.(Fig. 4).
4. Drawing double parallel crosses. In preparation for Orthographic Projection placements. Double up as more practices for line drawing.(Fig. 4).
5. Drawing in a block in Orthographic Projection.(Fig. 4).
6. Drawing Oblique blocks in all possible sizes and orientation.(Fig. 4 & 5).
7. Drawing Oblique miscellaneous shapes (Triangles, Rectangles, Squares, Octagons, etc.) in all possible sizes and orientations. Bearing in mind (again) parallel lines.(Fig. 5)
8. [TEST] Drawing "A (Simple) Wood Note Holder" in Oblique. (Fig. 6).
9. Making use of Oblique principles to draw complicated objects. (Fig. 7).
10. Transforming Oblique into 1-Point Perspective Drawings. (Fig. 8).

Note: The baseline is that the slowest group must at least be competent up to skills shown from Fig. 4 to Fig 5a and able to draw the note holder show in Fig. 6. Steps 9 & 10 (Fig. 7 & 8) onward should be reserved for classes that has proven to be ready for more and for fast learners only. 

      Fig. 4 

  

Fig. 5 

                                                                                               

Fig. 6


    Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Ideally, once both Part A and B are completed, students will be more equipped and ready to tackle the requirement to sketch in the Idea Generation Phase, and have better ideas on 'how-to' develop and 'how-to' plan to make their idea and how much time is required. If the students already know how long it will take him to create a certain form using a certain method through the practices, he will be able to keep that in mind, and develop his idea according to his time allocated and how quickly he can finish them.

Till then, leave me a note if this is useful. Feel free to provide feedback or email me if you need any clarifications.

Classroom worksheets for 'Basic line work confidence and oblique drawing worksheet for upload' can be found here:

Please email mrdanielsos@yahoo.com.sg for a copy + terms and conditions for use.

Design Journal & Prototype | Complete Set of Post links for Design Journaling

To all 'N' and 'O' Level D&T Students, 

If you do find my blog and reading this now, you could be wondering how you should begin. I know this because I have already received a few emails from students asking from what do to with the 'N' and 'O' Level theme, what project they should do related to the theme, how to start, etc. 

If you are reading this now and have the same questions just mentioned, may I suggest you scroll further down this post and click on point #2  Theme: Definition + Exploration & Study. This will give you an idea how to begin your project with the theme that you have received before you email me for help.

It is important to tackle coursework in a consistent manner with a deliberate conviction to do quality work. 

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A) Being consistent means to keep up to the planned schedule. 

B) And quality? We have quality when we repeat the evaluation and improvement process, with or without help, until we believe that further attempts at improvement are not worth the effort. At this time, we believe we have done what deserves to be called quality.

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Know the design process inside out. Have the conviction to identify and solve real problems. Good problems need not be complicated. Good solution need not be difficult or complex to realise. Begin with a good and realistic Project Schedule and stick to it. Get your teacher's help, consider their suggestions for you.

This year I've decided to layout all previous links to complete your Design Journal, rather than updating them along the way like in 2014. This post you are looking at now is an updated version that was last posted on 3rd October 2014. 

Without further ado, the following are links extracted from within this blog that might be helpful for starting and ending your project:

Project Starters and Essentials

1)   PROJECT SCHEDULE and Design Activities, and 

2)   Theme: Definition + Exploration & Study

Design Need and Opportunity

3) Understanding Design Needs (Cheat Sheet HERE).

4) Understanding Design Outcomes

5) Understanding Design Needs & Opportunities and How to Write Them

6) Research Outlining and Research Techniques

7) Design Brief

8) Design Considerations and Constraints (or Limitations)

9) Design Specifications

Idea Generation and Development

10) Idea generation and Idea Generation Techniques

11) Concept Development (or Refinement) and General Making Processes

Presentation Boards and (Towards) Realisation

12) Working Drawings

13) Production Schedule

14) Presentation Drawings and Presentation Boards

15) Realisation and General Making Processes

Note that some of the links may take you to a lower secondary write-up on the same topic. However the ideas within are not far from the techniques you need to be competent in when you do a graduating class coursework. For other helps, visit the labels on the right hand side. Or simply type in the 'search' bar. You'll find it on the top right. If all else fails, email me.

All the best.

mrdanielsos.

Drafting a 'Design & Make' Lesson for Lower Secondary D&T

A glimps of my work-in-progress and the way I think and plan my work.

(Draft) and designing a 10 week Design & Technology lesson for a brand new class for a brand new semester. 

Tasked to teach a class of Secondary Two Normal (Academic) - 14 year old kids for the coming semester. 

Students will be attempting to design and make a Smart Phone Holder in the context of a suitable souvenir for the Singapore Zoological Gardens. 

The basic structure for the holder will be similar for all students but one can expect lots of animal shaped inspired designs. It will be a very tight 10 session or less.  Hope it will turn out ok. 

Since this is posted, feel free to try it out or use it for yourself if you wish but don't forget to drop me a courtesy note if you do.

To Make Progress you Need a Focused Mind to Look Out

Keep your eyes open and your mind focused on looking out for things and issues related to your theme and you'll automatically find. It's the same with the subsequence progress of your coursework. If you keep your mind focus and thinks about it often, you will get somewhere naturally. 

Anyways this voucher from Manhattan Fish Market above was found in my mailbox today. I browsed through the pages and liked the 1-for-1 deals. However it's the inner first page that caught my attention more than the rest. 

It's about observation and identifying a critical issue of how many family (or friends) behave in meal outings whose hands could not stay away from their phones. 

What's a gathering for if everyone is so glued to their smartphones. It's a nice piece of solution they have there. A fun way to encourage  family interaction rather than each staring into their smartphones. An entertaining way to keep hands off the devices and start having real family time. To top it off, the value-adding catch comes with an incentive to be rewarded with a SG$5 return dining voucher. But with one simple condition.  The box must remained untouched where all the phones will be kept in throughout the meal. Though it's a strategy to bring customers back again, it has nevertheless tackled an important issue about what family time should have been.

Idea Generation, Refinement and Development

"How to do Idea Generation? How to do Design Development?" These are some of the most commonly asked questions other than the general 'What to do?'.

It is simple actually. For the both of them, focus on getting the functionalities right first. i.e. get your product to work first. By generating and introducing lots of interesting concepts for it to work. Refine and evolve them until you get the best solution. You get instructions for Idea Generation and Development from your list of Design Specification that speaks about the requirements for the project. Build models if you need to test assumptions on how certain features should work. For each of your proposals, take time to evaluate them in terms of practicality and usability w.r.t. the target user you have in mind.  Practicality can be in terms of whether it could be feasilbly made in the school workshop or if you have the skills to make it. More importantly if the target user or if you yourself will use it (in public). Will it be awkward to use? WIll it be complicated to operate? etc. If so think about how it can be simplified in the next few sketches.

Once that is done, you can further simplify your concept - work on simplifying jointing methods. If a change of material can fasten the making process and still function just as good, change it. Work on shapes and forms for enhanced aesthetics and appeal factor.  Decide on the number of parts and dimension them. Don't forget ergonomics and safety. Development for easy maintenance and durability can take the form of material choices and jointing methods.

Always make sure the functions can work first at the idea generation stage. And work on the details in the development stage. Solving every problem you can anticipate. Then develop on everything else in any order. And you'll still end up a decent project.

It will be a big mistake if you work your sequence backwards then work out how to make it work with materials and tools already in your hands in the workshop. This is the consequence of not sufficiently developing the idea and start making for who knows why. And then realised there are lots of mistakes and/or end up solving problems along the way.

Last tip - Work on your idea/concept one feature at a time. One joint at the time. You can only do one thing at a time. And soon you will be ready to combine all these individual decision along the way into one. And there you end up a complete product. Knowing exactly how you will make it.

Once you reach this state, go ahead to plan your Production Schedule. Get your working drawings up. And your Presentation Drawing to have a feel of how your project might be like in the real context. Next, go peacefully and make your product come to life.

P.S. Do not take my sharing as a definite prescription on how you should complete Idea Generation and Development. Take it as a reference and a guide. Think through and be convinced about the steps and sequence I mention. Make your own plan. And then ... DO.

Cheers. 

Mr Daniel Lim

Knowing that you have arrived at Design Development

When you start to look at the individual parts and connections, on details and confirming best choice materials and jointing methods, on optimum sizes and drawing out dimensions accurately, at the same time refining ergonomics, shapes, forms and colors to achieve maximum beauty and usability, you know, that you have arrived at the design refinement and development stage.

Students' Reflection on Design & Technology - Secondary TWO Express (2013)

Students' Reflection on Design & Technology - Secondary TWO Express (2013)

It had been a tiring 2013 with two graduating O Level classes under my charge on top of a couple of lower secondary classes. I had to give consultation priority for graduating students in most of all my afternoons after 430pm because all classes had extra lessons everyday from 230pm till 430pm. D&T had extra lessons too but once every two weeks for an hour or less is too little.

My Secondary Two and Three classes did not have the luxury to see me for consultations as often as they wished after school hours.  In most of their reflections, quite a number talk about 'little communication', or commented that 'time is too short' and 'wishing to have more time with the teacher'. A few holidays and school programs that fall on official class times added on to the lack of time. My two weeks In-Camp-Training in July added more misery.  However, I was blessed to have eager Secondary Two students who even though did not get to see me as often as they could, most of them managed their work well. They could rely on the posts and tips I uploaded in Facebook or in this blog to complete their work to a good standard.

My Secondary 3 cohort were weaker academically compared to their peers but they picked up real fast - especially in terms of attitude towards quality work. Though they too did not get to see me often after school, they have improved a lot in terms of self-discipline, self-motivation and taking ownership on being responsible for their successes.

The designjournalsos blog becomes a necessity where students can refer to and hopefully gain some momentum on their own whenever I cannot be reached. This will also help keep their coursework up to date and with good standard.

Making process of the Lady Bug Tea Light Holder - Shaping to Dry Assembly.

This publication shows the making process of the Lady Bug Tea Light Holder - from Shaping to Dry Assembly. This includes tools involved. It is assumed that marking out and general shaping is completed. 'Finishing' is not included.

Dining Accessories Project 2013 by my 2E3 and 2E4 students (Semester 1)

 2E3

2E4

My students of 2E3 and 2E4 have been with me for the past 14 weeks or so working on their individual Dining Accessories Project and this is the result of their time with me. All of them are designed and made by the students under my guidance and facilitation. Great students this year with lots of interesting solutions. We have a range of toothpick to napkin holders, chopsticks to cutlery holders, feedback forms and menu holders and from customer tips to tea light holders. The theme given to the students is 'Innovative Premium Dining Storages' for high class restaurants.

I hope they had a great time with me as I do have a wonderful time with them. Next semester I will see the next half of the class. Let's see what they could come out with.

Fish Note Holder - Design Refinement and Development Demonstrations

The two links are demonstrations on a 'Fish Note Holder' featuring the following topics: 

• Design Refinements and Developments 
• Working Drawing (based on ratios rather than on dimensions) 
• (Simple) Presentation Drawing 
• A Pictorial Presentation of the Making Process. 

Design Refinement and Development + Working Drawing + Presentation Drawing

Making Process (Realization)

Quote

"The inherent messiness of the creative process means that at any time, they can, do, and probably should overlap. Such is the modus operandus of the creative mind: discrete categories often give way to creative continuums." From 'Idea Stormers', Bryan W. Mattimore