8th Grade Prototype Design Project

This semester I challenged my 8th grade students to create a unique product that solved a problem. Once they created a concept, peer-reviewed ideas, and drew several models, students took to Tinkercad to create a 3D prototype. Many did not like the ambiguous terms of the project so I integrated several small projects about the design process. Students watched Ted Talk videos about the design process in various fields, learned how to use Tinkercad as well as researched Tinkerers from scientists and engineers to artists and musicians. The entire design unit lasted for 2 and half months, however I believe it was completely worth the time.

Here is a link to the project website.

To keep students on task and accountable in class, they were responsible for keeping a student design log where they kept track of their progress on the project. This was the part of the project that I graded. This is a link to the log template I provided to students.

Along with creating their original designs, the class was also responsible for collaborating in making a rubric for the project. Students decided how many points the final project would be worth and the categories that would be graded. The most important part to the students was effort, they wanted to be given credit for their time and energy they exerted into the idea. It was not as important to them that they were able to create a physical product.

They then graded each other's projects. Their final grade was determined by averaging out the students' scores.

To be honest, as a teacher, I feared that this project would never come to an end. There were days when I thought I had completely lost them, or that every single group had changed their minds on what they wanted to do. At times they had too many ideas or too many problems they wanted to solve. Some ideas overwhelmed me but I did my best to support anything they wanted to pursue. One student wanted to build an entire newly designed engine, I didn't understand all of it. I told him that we most likely would not be able to 3D print it, but he could do the designing in Tinkercad to share with his classmates and he did! Some students designed websites that describe their prototype ideas, most created the displays I have pictured here. It was completely worth it! Next time, I'll make sure to look at their design logs more often otherwise I am really happy with how this went. Their projects are incredible, this 8th grade class has some future inventors for sure!