Bridge Design Unit

Statement of Enquiry: **Technological advancements and innovative processes lead to greater connections between people, places and objects. **

In this outstanding, creative scheme of work, students are given a brief to design a 3D printed bridge and situate in a context. Thinking of it’s use and benefits such as type of load(s) and whether the structure needs to move. Students research a location and the work of others and apply this research to influence and justify the form and function of their own product, writing their own design brief and specification.

Students make and evaluate various iterations of their design in different media throughout their design process in an accompanying portfolio. The project can be delivered in various ways, with students either/and laser cutting, 3D printing and building their own bridge model and then testing it.

Lessons include:

• The brief: what are we designing and who for?
• STEM, building and testing spaghetti bridges: What is the science behind structures?
• Product analysis: How can we really understand and apply the work of others?
• Context: What bridge, where will it be situated and how will ti be used?
• Summarising research and developing a design specification.
• Sketching: How do we generate ideas?
• Orthographic drawing. How do we plan and apply advanced drawing techniques?
• CAD (Sketchup): How can we prototype without the use of materials?
• Card prototyping: Why make something more than once?
• CAD: Laser cutting (optional): How can automation help with manufacturing?
• 3D Printing (optional Sketchup or Fusion360).
• User testing: Why and how do we test our structures?

Project applies a practical understanding of factual, conceptual and debatable questions.

The scheme is a full term (12 - 20 week) project though could be condensed or even further extended if necessary.

Students can work within the full digital project portfolio provided or in sketchbooks. CAD work can be completed using Sketchup or Fusion360 (both free) using the included guides. Laser cutting is optional (Techsoft/2D Design) as product can be prototyped by hand using digital or physical processes.

Student and teacher examples included.

This unit/project is designed for a term (12-14 weeks) though can be extended or condensed by modifying the design process and portfolio accordingly.

If you enjoyed this project/scheme of work. Please visit my shop where there are a range of creative and engaging design and engineering projects.

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