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Get Behind the Wheel

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Title:

Get Behind the Wheel

Posted by:

Curt Uebelhor

Date:

8/29/2009

Grade Level:

Middle School

Category:

Product Design

Subject Area:

Arts

Lesson Time:

450 minutes of classroom activities

Introduction:

Most middle school students are anxiously awaiting the time when they will legally be able to get behind the wheel of an automobile. This lesson uses that interest and the design process to have the students design a dashboard for a new car that will be marketed to the sixteen- to twenty-three-year-old new car market.

State Standards:

No State Standards available.

National Standards:

Visual Arts

Standard 1. Understands and applies media, techniques, and processes related to the visual arts
Standard 2. Knows how to use structures (e.g., sensory qualities, organizational principles, expressive features) and functions of art
Standard 3. Knows a range of subject matter, symbols, and potential ideas in the visual arts
Standard 5. Understands the characteristics and merits of one's own artwork and the artwork of other

Objectives:

Students will:

learn to identify a client’s needs and how to fulfill those needs
understand the basic design process
translate verbal ideas into visual images
develop and refine dashboard designs
learn how to articulate their design to their client

Resources:

computer

LCD projector

https://jalopnik.com/5059550/the-14-most-futuristic-dashboards-on-the-2008-paris-show-floor

Materials:

sketchbooks
graphite pencils
18” x 24” 90 lb. white drawing paper
colored pencil sets
18” rulers
handout with assignment details
new car brochures from car dealers
examples of student work (if possible)
print outs of images used in slide presentation for display

Vocabulary:

dashboard: a panel extending across the interior of a vehicle (as an automobile) below the windshield and usually containing instruments and controls
speedometer: an instrument for indicating speed
odometer: an instrument for measuring distance traveled (as by a vehicle)
design process: the steps taken to develop a design solution
brainstorming: the mulling over of ideas by one or more individuals in an attempt to devise or find a solution to a problem

Procedures:

Session 1: Review the Challenge
1. The teacher will introduce the project using the Research and Design Guide handout. The students will be designing a dashboard for a new vehicle that will appeal to the market group of sixteen- to twenty-three-year-olds of moderate to high income. Students will determine if vehicle is gender specific. Students will come up with a name for the vehicle and draw the dashboard as seen from between the front seats.
2. Teacher will present a slide show of cars and their dashboards from the 1910s to present and include future prototypes and examples from movies. A list of features of the vehicle as displayed on the dashboard will be generated by each student for their vehicle.
3. Grading rubric will be passed out and discussed. Students will be instructed to contemplate the assignment for the next day’s class. Examples of student work (if available) will be displayed.

Session 2: Investigate the Problem
1. Students will break up into pre-determined small groups to interview “clients” (fellow students) on their needs/wants in a vehicle.
2. If possible, students will listen to a short presentation by a former automobile designer and then interview the designer, if possible. This will be videotaped for other classes to reference.
3. If possible, students will listen to a short presentation by a local car dealer and then interview the dealer, if possible. This will be videotaped for other classes to reference.

Session 3: Generate Ideas & Edit and Develop Ideas
1. Students will individually brainstorm ideas for names and features of their vehicle, focusing especially on items that can be featured in some way on its dashboard and list these ideas in their sketchbook. (Lists will be turned in.)
Brainstorming ideas determined to have the most potential will be developed further. A prototype will be developed through rough sketches of the dashboard and a description will be written. (This can be assigned as homework if necessary.)

Session 4: Share and Evaluate Ideas (Two days)
1. Students will present short one to two minute presentations to classmates followed by a timed suggestion and critique period (comments positively stated). Participation in suggestion and critique period will be voluntary but ALL students will offer at least one comment during this time.

Session 5: Finalize Solution (Three days)
1. Students will use information gathered from suggestion/critique session to refine or reframe their ideas and will then draw their dashboard in pencil on the 18” x 24” paper provided. Following completion of the pencil drawing, students will use colored pencils to finish their vehicles. The drawing will be detailed and will include descriptions of specific features using arrows to indicate the corresponding areas of the drawing. The view through the windshield should help the “client” understand what type of environment this vehicle is best suited to or designed for. A typed list of the features will also be turned in. (Done outside of class.)

Session 6: Present Final Solutions (Two days)
1. Students will present a one to two minute presentation to the class highlighting their vehicles’ features on their large drawing. They will describe how and why these features will appeal to their client. The teacher will sum up the assignment and allow students to secretly vote for the vehicles they feel best met the criteria for the assignment, had the best visual drawing, and which vehicle they would purchase from the class selections. Winners will be announced at a later date and ALL work will be displayed with awards attached to individual winners.

Assessment:

Assessment will be done using the attached rubric.

Enrichment
Extension Activities:

Cross-curricular activities could include: writing advertising copy for an ad campaign for the vehicles; using the drawings along with other materials to produce video ad campaigns (commercials).

Teacher Reflection:

N/A.

Related
Files:

Uebelhor,Curt Get Behind the Wheel RUBRIC FOR GRADING ART.doc (Get Behind the Wheel Grading Rubric)
Uebelhor,Curt Get Behind the Wheel Dashboard History powerpoint.ppt (Get Behind the Wheel Dashboard History Powerpoint)
Uebelhor,Curt Get Behind the Wheel Student Dashboard Examples.zip (Get Behind the Wheel Student Dashboard Examples)

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