project completed

My design was played with for a whole day at the school and was enjoyed by the entire class. The teacher thought it was great resource for the school. The students were sad for the number pegboard to leave and wanted to know when it was coming back. I have really enjoyed this experience, and by incorporating the blog not only can i use the blog to reflect on my work but the students can enjoy the construction process as well.

It's Kids Play

Two boys having fun with the numbers pegboard

Having some more fun

All children were filmed with consent from parents and teacher.

Drilling into acrylic

Drilling the holes into the acrylic number pieces for them to slide on the pegboard. To drill the holes i am using a drill press.

Creating the number parts.

Using Acrylic sheeting to make the number parts.

The sheet is cut into strips 12mm wide. Then the strips are cut into lengths.

Here is a closer look at the saw cutting the lengths of the materials needed to make the peg board.

This an area where you have to be very careful where you place your fingers.

After the lengths are cut i need to sand back the corners to a 45 degree angle.

This is done on a sanding machine.

Work has Begun

Work has begun on the pegboard component of my school resource design.

I am using plyboard for the base of the pegboard. A drill press is being used to drill the holes.

The pegboard if finished, i have rubbed bees wax into the pegboard to protect the wood and improve the finish.

Next i will work on the acrylic number pieces.

Change in Design

Here is the new design, i have added storage for the pieces when their not being used.

The design Journey has begun

My teacher has requested an educational game around literacy or numeracy. The teacher would like it to be game or puzzle based, to have a sense of fun while being tactile. I have come up with a numeracy game that involves a peg board system that would be approximately the size of an A3 sheet of paper. It will look like this.

From this peg board, children will be able to make numbers and simple equation. Giving them a multi sensory way of improving their numeracy. This design incorperates a puzzle, game feel as it can be used by one child at a time or a small group of children working together.

The board wi;ll be constructed from wood with wooden pegs. The number pieces will also be constructed from wood that will be painted to stand out, aiding in a sense of fun. All materials will be non-toxic.

Wed 22/07/2009 1:49 PM

What about...

A game such as noughts and crosses where chn place the noughts and crosses onto the grid

An painting easel wide enough to use with a wheel chair

A desk top puppet theatre to use with finger puppets (we have a free standing one which could give you an idea)

Large (we have small) wooden and wire bead maze for visual tracking and fine motor skills for our early learning chn

Piece of home corner furniture (ours needs replacing) eg fridge, stove and oven, sink or microwave

Dolls high chair

a 3 dimensional puzzle (I have an example of a boat)

shape and shadow matching 'puzzle' with or without a dice

Hobby horses

I have got a copy of last financial years catologue from Windmill Toys if you want to have a look - I don't think the new ones are available yet

Teacher

Sent: Thu 16/07/2009 10:25 AM

To: Teacher

Subject: design brief

Hi

Here is the design brief for the assignment I told you about.

Date due

Fri 21st August

Assessment task 2: Resourceful
Task description	Your task will be to visit a local primary school and identify a teaching aid needed in the early childhood department. In consultation with the school administration, classroom teacher and lecturer you will develop a brief that will be resolved by you. The teaching aid must be constructed from recycled, donated or reused materials, be resourceful! To enable your client to follow the progress of the teaching aid, you will develop an online web log of your design journey. This log will contain all verbal communication (with permission), video, images, sketches, descriptive text and formal drawings required to communicate effectively the progress of construction. You will need to submit; 1. A cover sheet with the URL of the web log. 2. The teaching aid.
Task length	800 Words Equivalent
Links to unit’s learning outcomes	Compose and execute a design brief. Illustrate the design process creatively using Information Communication Technologies. Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively to achieve outcomes.
Assessment criteria	Success of the resource against the stated aim. Construction, presentation and integrity of teaching aid. Resolution and presentation of web log. Appropriateness of web log for the stated purpose
Date due	Fri 2nd October

Hope it gives you some design inspiration.

Regards

Felicity

Today i had a meeting with the principal and it was decided that i should talk to an early learning teacher in regard to my design project to see what resource they would like me to produce.

I am going to have a meeting with the teacher to show my her my assignment brief, so she can start to think about the resource she needs for her students.

Going to the school tomorrow to meet with teachers in order to gain ideas about what they need.

Today is the first day of my journey. To create a school based resource for lower primary that will be used to educate and entertain children from kinder to grade 1.