Lesson 1 Measurement The need for very accurate measurements during the design process goes back at least to the time of the great pyramids. The ancient Egyptians used the basics of surveying to build the pyramids. Clearly the concepts of measuring angles and lengths must have been well-developed at that time. In order to measure something, an essential feature is the use of a common measurement system. In the U.S. both the Metric (SI) System and the Standard (Customary) System are used. The rest of the world, including England, uses the Metric System. During this course students will experience opportunities to use measurement when sketching, or making a prototype and when using computer modeling systems.Students will also learn how to convert between the two measurement systems.
Lesson 2 Sketching and Dimensioning Cave paintings discovered in France indicate that human beings have been using pictures to communicate ideas for tens of thousands of years. The expression “one picture is worth a thousand words” is used in many places. In engineering and architecture, a picture is used to express a design idea, concept, or potential solution for a problem. Sometimes the picture is a simple sketch; other times it is a complex drawing. In this lesson students will practice orthographic and isometric sketching, methods widely used to communicate ideas. In addition they will learn the basics of dimensioning and annotating drawings.
Lesson 3 Designing for Production In this lesson students will learn how to transfer a simple hand sketch to a three-dimensional (3D) model on a computer. In order to get maximum benefit from this powerful tool, students will study the basic geometric shapes, such as cubes and spheres, and how they are combined to form complex geometry using the aid of the computer. Students will build on drafting basics by adding many essential features to their 3D models. They will learn to document, edit, and archive drawings as well as study techniques for adding features such as holes, slots, and chamfers. Finally, students will see that once they have created a 3D model of an object, the computer can show them the model from a virtually limitless number of viewpoints, greatly enhancing their visualization of the object. During the playground design project, students will have the opportunity to complete the design process by building a prototype, testing and evaluating their models, redesigning to improve their solution to a problem, and communicating their ideas to representatives from the community.