October 25, 2010

By: Don D. from Hillsboro, OR
Comments: 10

Posted By: Don Domes
On: 11/4/2007 6:42:12 AM

I have students who are designing full size solutions to Other 90% design opportunities. My Principal approved my use of an outdoor area at my high school to create a display similar to the one at the Cooper-Hewitt that we experienced during the summer 07 SDI. Our first projects are habitat and pumping water. The first habitat that will be built is a 6'x10' structure. I have told the students that it must be built for $350 or less. My Architecture students are currently building a balsa model to better evaluate there first idea. My Drafting students are designing water pumps. The students are really into the idea of designing actual solutions. The area we will use is also used by our Child Services program and the pre-school kids will "test" the durability of the student designs. Don Domes Hillsboro, OR

Posted By: Judith Stroman
On: 4/11/2008 5:33:47 PM

Wow! This sounds amazing. Would you be able to post pictures of the final results? I am an elementary/middle school art teacher and I am always looking for sample of projects to simplify for this level.

Posted By: Don Domes
On: 4/16/2008 3:44:21 AM

We are currently working with the Web class to get a web site up. The projects are moving along and the interest in the whole concept is growing from both students and our community. Our first structure has grown to an 8x10 anchor building that will have information and storage inside. I will post the web site as soon as we get something set up. Don Domes, Hillsboro

Posted By: James Iliff
On: 2/26/2009 3:21:07 PM

Someone asked this question at SDI to one of the presenters......How do we get authentic challenges, design problems that are real to the developing world, to our students? It would be great for designers and engineers working around the world to share the problems that need to be solved. Wouldn't it be great if there was a website where designers posted authentic design challenges for educators and students to look at.

Posted By: Bryan Smith
On: 3/1/2009 6:20:18 PM

I have some students that are working here in Portland with a group called Engineers Without Borders or EWB. They do projects all over the world. However, they are working with a local non-profit called Growing Gardens. Growing Gardens' mission is to teach low income residents how to start and maintain their own garden to increase the quality of the food that they have access to at low cost. The project that EWB is helping with is a low cost drip irrigation system. We just started this association, so I am very interested to see how it comes along.