Project-­‐Based  Learning:  Scale  Models    

“Design  the  Perfect  Science  Classroom”    

 Task:  Working  as  a  member  of  a  design  team,  you  are  assigned  to  design  and  build  the  perfect  science  classroom.  You  are  competing  against  other  teams  to  “win  the  contract”  of  influencing  the  design  of  the  science  lab.  Your  audience  is  the  school  principal,  the  science  teacher,  and  school  board.    The  classroom  is  just  an  empty  room,  and  you  are  to  fill  it  with  furniture,  technology,  and  science  equipment.  The  project  must  include  the  following  elements  (see  grading  rubric):    1. scale  floor  plan  of  the  room  and  objects  within  it  2. perspective  drawing  illustrating  the  room  in  3-­‐D  3. 3-­‐D  Model  4. an  inventory  which  outlines  where  the  items  are  purchased  and  how  much  they  cost  

5. a  written  proposal  6. design  file  7. presentation  

 Detailed  Instructions:  Brainstorm  the  ideal  science  classroom.  Google  ideas.  Look  at  pictures.  Discuss  with  others.  Dream!  Think  outside  the  box!    1. Scale  Floor  Plan:  Draw  a  scale  drawing  on  graph  paper  or  on  the  iPad  of  the  classroom  and  the  furniture.  Include  the  scale  on  the  drawing.  Also  include  all  mathematical  calculations  showing  how  you  obtained  your  measurements.                    There  are  apps  on  the  iPad  that  will  help  such  as  “MagicPlan”,  “House  Design,”  or  “PadCad  Lite.”  A  sample  is  below:  

                         

   2. Perspective  Drawing:  Include  an  “artist’s  rendering”  of  the  classroom.  The  “House  Design”  app  has  a  3-­‐D  mode.  Otherwise,  you  can  draw  a  3-­‐D  perspective  like  the  ones  shown  below:  

                                 Here  is  an  example  of  both  2-­‐D  and  3-­‐D  perspective:                                          

 3. 3-­‐D  Model:  Build  a  model  of  the  room,  to  scale.    

   CONSTRUCTION  OPTIONS:       cardboard,  tag  board,  foam  core,  colored  paper,  plastic,  glue  guns,  and  other    supplies         REQUIRED  ELEMENTS:         #    include  major  furniture  items  like  tables  &  storage  units—chairs  are  not  necessary         #    cut  out  openings  for  windows  &  doors      4. Inventory:  Make  a  spreadsheet  using  Google  Spreadsheet.  Include  the  following  information:  

• Item/Quantity/Unit  Price/Total  Price/Vendor  or  Supplier  • Labor  Cost  • The  proposal  should  offer  the  most  “bang  for  the  buck”  meaning  whoever  has  the  most  useful/creative  proposal  for  the  best  price  may  earn  the  contract.  

• Include  labor  costs  as  applicable.        5. Written  Proposal:  Write  a  written  proposal  to  your  audience  that  persuades  and  convinces  them  that  your  plan  is  the  best  plan.  Defend  your  argument  with  examples  and  evidence.  The  written  proposal  is  your  chance  to:  (1)  explain  all  the  advantages  of  your  plan  in  detail,  (2)  sell  your  idea  as  the  best  one  out  there  and  persuade  the  review  team  to  hire  you.  Your  aim  is  to  convince  the  prospective  client  that  you’ve  considered  every  possible  need  of  theirs  and  will  not  only  meet  all  their  needs,  but  meet  them  brilliantly,  or  even  exceed  them.  Refer  to  posted  examples  of  professional  proposals  for  ideas  on  layout,  tone,  content,  and  use  of  graphics.      REQUIRED  ELEMENTS:    

    #    explain  your  vision  for  teaching  and  learning  in  the  new  science  lab  

    #    defend  your  building  design  decisions—explain  how  form  follows  function    

    #    use  a  respectful,  business-­‐like  tone—you’re  proposing  to  spend  a  great  deal  of    the  school’s  money    

    #    include  a  cover  page  with  company  logo  and  names  of  members    

    #    document  must  be  word  processed    

    #    append  the  cost  estimate  and  all  other  supporting  document  

             

6. Design  File:    This  may  be  in  digital/iPad  form.  The  design  file  is  a  record  of  your  problem-­‐solving  and  creative  process  and  a  place  to  keep  rejected  ideas  for  potential  revisiting.  It  contains  hard  evidence  that  you  employed  a  systematic  method  to  finding  the  best  possible  solution  to  the  building  design,  site  use,  cost,  and  marketing  problems.  "    

    REQUIRED  ELEMENTS:     #  building  and  site  sketches,  with  brief  notes  on  rejected  ideas  #  notes  from  team     meetings     #  rough  drafts  of  written  proposal  and  oral  presentation    7. Presentation:    

  The  objective  of  the  oral  presentation  is  to  highlight  the  strengths  of  your  proposal     and  convince  your  client  that  you  can  handle  the  job.  Your  potential  client  (the  panel     of  architects)  gets  a  sense  for  what  it  would  be  like  to  work  with  you  by  the     competence  and  sincerity  you  express,  and  by  how  you  answer  their  questions  and     respond  to  their  needs.       The  oral  presentation  is  the  architects’  first  impression  of  you,  and  often  a  lasting     one.  Experience  shows  that  first  impressions  tend  to  die  hard—a  strong    can  create  a     deficit  that  is  difficult  to  overcome  even  with  a  strong  proposal.         PRESENTATION  OPTIONS:     #  you  decide  how  many  team  members  will  make  the  presentation,  but  whomever         #  feel  free  to  use  KeyNote/Apple  TV  or  any  other  appropriate  audio/visual  aids     "  REQUIRED  ELEMENTS:     #  each  team  member,  whether  presenting  or  not,  must  be  introduced  to  the     architects     #  you  are  limited  to  10  minutes  to  explain  your  proposal,  which  will  be  followed  by     5  minutes  of  questions  from  the  architects     #  you  must  prominently  display  the  site  plan,  floor  plan(s),  perspective  drawing,     and  scale  model     #  whomever  presents  must  be  able  to  answer  any  question  asked  by  the     architects—team  members  who  remain  seated  are  not  allowed  to  chime  in  from         their  seats  in  the  audience.