Focus Question: How did the iterative design thinking process come into play in this activity?
Well, we definitely had to extensively think about where to put the motor and how to attach something to it in order for the bot to actually move. We also had to think of a design in which the bot in it’s entirety actually functioned as a piece, as neither of us really knew how to make the bot. We kind of threw everything together in hopes that it would work, and eventually it did, but only when the design and form was considered. We unfortunately couldn’t make it all cute and whatnot because we lacked the materials 🙁
Tell a story about your experience using a combination of words and images.
We started off with a cup, 4 markers, scotch tape, the motor, the battery, and the 2 wires.
We both were kind of clueless as to what to do but looked at other bots for some inspiration. We tried sticking the motor on the top of the cup, and it didn’t work. I took out one of my erasers and stuck it onto the motor, and alas, it actually moved. Not at the speed we particularly wanted, so we cut the eraser in half, and sure enough, the bot moved a lot quicker.
What did you learn? Describe your learning process. What was most challenging? What was most fun?
Well I definitely learned how to make a working motor and a moving cup standing with the support of markers! Everything I did was entirely new to me, so everything was something that I learned. My learning process really was based around trial and error, seeing if the motor went one place then how would it move, if the battery was attached another way, that probably would stop the motor from working, etc. The most challenging was definitely finding the right place to put the motor in order for the bot to move. The most fun was seeing what patter the bot made with his little marker feet!
How did this activity connect (or not) to your prior knowledge of art and art education?
This really did not connect to any of my prior knowledge of art and art education at all. I never did anything regarding using wires, a battery, and a motor, and especially not involving art with that. The whole thing was entirely new to me.
How might you use and/or adapt this activity in an art classroom?
I think this would very easily suit middle school students. Connecting the battery and the motor definitely was not all that difficult, and although thinking of a place to place the motor so the bot will work is definitely difficult, it is doable with a little thinking. This can introduce middle schoolers more into the concept of design an structure.