At CADthinkers, our mission extends beyond teaching computer-aided design; we aim to cultivate young minds capable of innovative thinking and addressing real-world issues. In our recent lesson, "Superheroes of the Environment," the students' reactions and responses to the challenges presented were truly enlightening.
As a kick-off to our program, the CADthinkers began with the lesson, "Superheroes of the Environment." The lesson began by introducing the following proposition to our students, regarding a fictional destroyed society, named Green Oaks:
"Green Oaks used to be a peaceful, serene place. There were gardens, schools, offices, and beautiful lakes covering the city. However, recently, a large threat has taken over the area: a 7-foot green monster, named Guptanion, has come and destroyed the city. He came a couple of days ago, to destroy the city, and now the once beautiful Green Oaks is left in ruin. Green Oaks needs you to design a superhero to quickly help clean up the city so that people can get back to their jobs, students can get back to their schools, and Green Oaks is lively and happy once again. "
After the challenge was introduced to the students, they were given a few minutes to draw out and brainstorm ideas to save the city of Green Oaks, which was now covered in rubble and debris. Once their ideas were outlined, the students got a chance to design a superhero together on TinkerCAD and learned the hands-on controls to build this superhero. After just two hours, the students had mastered scaling, changing their perspective camera, creating complex shapes from simple 3D geometric figures, and checking all 3 axes (x, y, and z).
Before immersing ourselves in the design process, the CADthinkers engaged in a vital discussion about the significance of their solutions to current international issues. The stark reality is that cities and towns globally face severe challenges due to various factors, including political conflicts and natural disasters. The CADthinkers learned about the common effects of these events, such as population devastation, severe infrastructure damage, and displacement.
The issues highlighted in our first CADthinkers lesson resonate with ongoing global events, including the challenges faced in Gaza, the aftermath of the 2020 Beirut Explosion, and the impact of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. These events have profoundly affected the safety and well-being of populations, leading to the destruction of entire societies. While the CADthinkers' lesson used imaginative storytelling for educational purposes, it's crucial to acknowledge that real-world issues, especially in Gaza, are complex and serious.
We encourage everyone to take time to understand the depth and impact of these issues. CADthinkers aims to instill a passion for creation within our students, motivating them to find solutions to these devastating challenges. Other causes discussed with the CADthinkers involved the importance of recycling and the local issue of overflowing landfills in Dallas, TX.
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Note: CADthinkers' lessons are crafted for educational purposes, suitable for young children, and intended to instill empathy and motivation to address these issues. Please take time to learn about the current global challenges and contribute if you can.
The CADthinkers students were astoundingly creative when creating their superhero designs, working through many obstacles that impeded their journey. For example, the third to fifth-grade students were challenged with the task of designing a 3D model using only simple geometric shapes. In response to this challenge, they grouped numerous shapes and used cutting/hollowing tools to add to the complexity of their design. Additionally, in response to the 2D limitations of the device screen in showing their design, the students also learned about the 3 axes (x, y, and z), and learned to change perspectives to confirm the structural validity of their designs.
Additionally, the CADthinkers students were also relentlessly curious and passionate about learning throughout the entirety of the lesson. One of the most heartening aspects of the lesson was witnessing the genuine excitement and curiosity the students fostered throughout the entirety of the two-hour design session. In stark contrast to the pressures of higher-level educational institutions, which produce students who are no longer passionate about learning as much as they are passionate about grades, ranking, and GPA, the CADthinkers brought an infectious enthusiasm for learning and a sense of empathy for the causes they were designing for. For example, numerous times throughout the lesson, the students eagerly asked if I would be coming the next day to teach, and they persistently attempted to take control of the computer, each vying for their chance to design.
During the lesson on creating superheroes to address real-world issues, the students were not only eager to understand the technical aspects of design but also passionately engaged with the underlying societal challenges. It was a touching experience to see them gather around, brimming with curiosity, as they learned how to turn their imaginative ideas into tangible designs. Their pure excitement to acquire valuable skills for the sheer joy of learning was truly inspiring.
For future lessons, the CADthinkers program will continue focusing on 3D design aspects, to allow the students to learn more complex design techniques. However, in the following months, due to the versatility of the TinkerCAD software, our students will also begin to learn the beginnings of coding through blocks, and its relevance to design. CADthinkers also plans to continue to expand our reach with the philanthropic causes that our students design for, diving deeper into infrastructure design and worldly crises.
If you are interested in our cause, volunteer here to help further.