Building tools, resources, and spaces to enable accessible, integrated learning experiences
At Olin College, I teach Introduction to Mechanical Prototyping, a course that builds first-years’ experience in the fabrication spaces and introduces them to the basic elements of mechanical design.
During my first team project, I observed that the off-the-shelf components I provided were not presented in a way that allowed students to view all available options at once. If students were not familiar with a component already, they were unlikely to use it and certainly would not know to ask if we had it.
Creating a “store” that allows students to discover new components
I reorganized the materials into a “store” format, where students could explore shelves and drawers to discover all the items I chose to stock (above image). I also built an accompanying living inventory online where students could browse all components and key specifications and request additional items (left image).
This physical and online resource combination greatly improved students’ experiences, and I noticed increased usage of the less familiar items. I am continuing to expand this list as I add new and different items to the physical store.
Upcoming initiatives for continual improvement
Developing Guided Discovery activities that will allow students to experiment with simple hardware and generate their own knowledge of basic mechanical design elements. I plan to open-source our tools, so check back soon if you’d like to use this!
Reimagining how our standard classroom could become a multi-purpose “shop classroom” designed for hardware prototyping. I envision a space where faculty could address 50 students before breaking out into small groups for project work. Basic shop tools and machines will border the room, allowing for quick fabrication operations.