I’ve added more images to the plan. There are examples of flexible spaces, modular furniture, multipurpose space, multipurpose furniture, forward thinking shelving ideas, and inspirational pieces. Hopefully enough to get the creative juices flowing and opening our minds to the possibilities that lay before us.
Oh CAD, how I have missed thee…
Completing this tutorial brought me back quite a few years to when I did CAD more often. I’ve used a number of CAD programs but never TinkerCAD before. The basics are the same across the lot though. I completed the steps for Key Ring, Letters! as laid out by TinkerCAD and then went back and did it using the drag and drop text for my own name. All in all, it was pretty simple. The devil is always in the details for CAD so the less variation you’ve got, the better – ie. use the text instead of individual letters to be sure they are all the same relative size and position. Unless, of course, variation is what you’re after. I would consider that personalization or artistic licence, not lack of skills! Regardless, I think TinkerCAD is great for students to gain the basic skills needed to understand what would be required to actually make a product, even if they don’t plan to CAD it out themselves. It can also allow for a quick design and make cycle if our library has a 3D printer in house. The lessons involved in creating something tangible make a greater impact. Lastly, as each student has their own account, they can move along at their own pace following a set tutorial or working on a personalized project. The fun is endless! As is the inspiration available through the search function. 🙂
So how do you get there? How do you get down to the roots so you can actually try to fix things?
I started with a bit of learning, research, and collaboration. My TL course had us focus on the design process, the role of makerspace, and collaborative learning spaces. We brainstormed ways to use and improve our library. We collaboratively came up with a list of questions to ask staff and students when seeking input for a possible library redesign. Seven questions were chosen from the list to create a survey. Here’s mine. The results of the survey were analyzed to determine three common ideas. These ideas were reframed in a positive light on how to improve the library for the betterment of the students, in order to increase your chance of buy-in and funding from administration.
From the points above, a design challenge statement was created:
Redesign a library that is warm and inviting, with comfortable seating that will encourage readers and users to spend time in the facility, incorporates collaborative space with diverse programming for everyone, and houses a large collection for the students and staff of the school.
A recent read of Applied Design, Skills and Technologies: Design Thinking & Human-Centred Design Thinking by Sandra Averill and Stacey Bernier (also available on issuu platfom), brought me back fifteen years to when I studied Industrial Design (product design).
Design thinking
Human-centred design thinking
I have used the processes depicted above and described by Averill and Bernier many times in the design of products, but also apply it to other areas. The fact that this process is being introduced to students of all ages is fantastic. It gives students a process and strategy for solving problems in any area of life. The focus on human-centred design fosters the develop of empathy in students and ensures that the results will be user-friendly.
A recommended read to find out more!
The book also provided a link to a video describing a school’s student expedition project. The students are exposed to a problem and then they work interdisciplinarily on it over the course of the year. Their example was to create a device to harness natural energy. It would be fantastic to use this model for all students. Purpose drives enthusiasm and opens pathways. Establishing a team of teachers committed to the same focus would be brilliant, and beneficial for the students’ learning.
Patricia's Learnings 