constructing nerdy derby cars
TRANSCRIPT
Constructing Nerdy Derby Cars
Dr. Clifford ChoySchool of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic Unviersity
Nerdy Derby• “The Nerdy Derby is a no-rules miniature car building and racing
competition. With a larger, undulating track and no restrictions on the size of the cars or materials participants can use, the Nerdy Derby rewards creativity, cleverness and ingenuity.”
• www.nerdyderby.com
Hands-on Time!!• With two to three persons per team, try to build a Nerdy Derby Car within 15 min
• Use materials provided:• Cardboard, corrugated cardboard, postcard/promotional materials• Straws• Wooden skewers• Paper clips• Laser-cutted wheels (MDF)• Wires• Adhesive tapes
• And try your car
Reflective Journal
Gray, C. and Malins, J. (2004). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. England: AshGate Publishing. Pg 58, Fig 2.9
Reflections• What is/are the theories(hypotheses) in your mind before making the
car? (generalizing)• What was your plan to test your theories/hypotheses? (reflection-for-
action)• What did you think of while executing your plan? Anything you observed
or learned? (reflection-in-action)• What was the result? Were they work as planned? How are you going to
do better next time? (reflection-on-action)
• What are the new theories/hypotheses in your mind?
Let’s Share Your Experience …
Science and Experience• Sharing of some experiences and science behind constructing a Nerdy
Derby car• DO NOT show this to students, especially at the very beginning
• Students should be given chance to explore and discover those issues/considerations
• Serve to prepare teachers for any issues which may be encountered by students while making their own cars
• Teachers should go through the process of making their own cars to at least verify those considerations
Basic Considerations• Wheels• Shaft• Friction• Body• Tools and materials
• Paper – scissors, cutters, hot glue gun• Plastics – scissors, hot glue gun• Wood (Balsa wood, MDF, plywood) – hand-saw, hand-drill, laser cutting• Metal (sheet metal/foil) - scissors
Science
https://youtu.be/a5A6SCE0eVw
Specific to Nerdy Derby (1)• Considerations
• Will it fly off when it reaches the second peak?• A slot in the middle of the track (does not existing in official track)• Structural stability• Durability• Measurement, accuracy, alignment, use of tools• Choice of materials
• How to motivate students to participate?• Compete for ….
• Fastest car• Slowest car (but still can finish the track)• Most funny motion
• Take the best video in First Person View (with Raspberry Pi Cam?)
Specific to Nerdy Derby (2)• Other ideas:
• Curved track• Boaster• Wind-powered motion• Flywheel• Supercapacitor for charging and discharge
Learning and Reflections
“making”
The Experiential Learning Cycle [Kolb and Kolb, 2005]
Kolb, A., Kolb, D. (2005, May 15) The Kolb Learning Style Inventory – Version 3.1 2005 Technical Specifications. Retrieved from http://learningfromexperience.com/media/2010/08/tech_spec_lsi.pdf
Suggestions on how to run the classes• Attract them
• Show video• Let them play with some cars (teachers have to make some first)
• Observe and reflect• Why some cars run faster? Why some cars cannot complete the track?• Why some cars are constructed in a certain way?• Why not using other types of materials?
• Concepts and generalization• What theories/hypotheses?
• Make and test
• Iterate for a few times
Suggestions on how to run the classes• Take pictures of different car design• Take successful ones as well as failures – success builds on failures• Ask students to reflect, especially on their theories/hypotheses• Ask students to use other types of materials
• At the end of each class, there SHOULDN’T be only one type of cars
In Maker Faire Hong Kong 2017• Teachers share their experience on how students can learn
STEM/STEAM knowledge through constructing Nerdy Derby car• Students show their own cars
• May be there is a competition?
Questions?