Team Members: Fernando, Lekha, Linda
// Goals for project, process, outcomes, photographs
Idea Overview:
We create modular pieces with which children make a race track out of. To make the game more engaging and competitive, we plan on making two sets for children to compete against their friends.
To make the race track, players will receive challenge cards that specify certain requirements that their tracks must fulfill. For example, they will be required to make the track with a particular number of pieces, or following a certain shape or size. The children will build their race tracks following these instructions, and later have a race to see who finishes first.
Goals:
Zoomer’s objective is to encourage the students to explore the design aspect of engineering and and emphasize the concept that any one goal may have multiple solutions. Zoomer gives the students a loose guideline through the challenge cards, and nothing else.
Process:
A laser cut challenge card gives the students a few limitations for their track (ie number of curves, number of overall pieces, general shape). The students then hand pick which pieces they wish to use as they build their track as they go. Once both students have completed their track, they each grab a marble and straw. Each student blows the marble from one end of the track to the other, and may not use anything else to move the marble. The student who gets their marble to the other end first wins.
There are three types of tracks: a straight track, a curved track with a leg on its left side, and a track that is the combination of a curved tracked and a straight track. For the third piece, the attached curved track has a leg on its left side. Each track has two engraved paths that are deep enough to hold a moving marble.
Outcomes:
Students seemed more excited after being told that they would be competing for a prize (toy car). The competitive aspect of the game was definitely the most enticing feature, as the students would visually focus all of their attention to the table as soon as they were told they would be competing. However, there were some students that were eager to disassemble their track and begin anew, using either a new challenge card, or an improvised challenge that was given to them.