Teacher looking for ideas/3D projects

[archjjg]

As a 1st year Autocad teacher (Autocad 2011 & Architecture 2011), I am always looking for new ideas or projects that the students can work on. This is more of an independant study kind of class where the students work on individual projects.

 

So far, the students have designed & drawn: 3D desks/chairs, skateboards, razor scooters, gaming controllers, cell phones, Iphones, etc. ...you get the idea. What I'm looking for is new, fresh ideas that'll keep the student's interest. Any suggestions would be welcome. Any samples of 3D projects, or 3D projects with cut sheets/dimensions of pieces would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance.

[ReMark]

Alright, I'll give you some other ideas.

 

Have your students design a handicapped accessible house that can be built by Habitat for Humanity. They'll have to deal with ingress/egress issues, interior doorways, bathroom design (think wheelchair and also think shower access), as well as counter heights, cabinets, how a person will deal with using a sink in a kitchen or bathroom. Stuff like that should keep them busy and also teach them not everyone gets around on two legs.

 

Find a derelict building in town and have your students come up with ideas for renovating it. It could be for apartments or for a combination of retail on a lower level with upscale condos above. Maybe it could be converted into a community center or a school for adult education.

 

As for your non-architectural students have them take an object like a kant-twist clamp and break it down into the individual components and provide you with a detailed drawing of each part that goes into making the assembly.

 

Maybe there is a project your students can take on that will benefit the school or your community as a whole. Talk with your principal and/or local civic leaders to get some ideas.

 

Or perhaps you can team up with a local industry and brainstorm some ideas the students could take from inception to completion.

 

Have you studied gears at all? Now gears in 3D would be really cool especially bevel gears, spur gears or crossed helical gears.

 

How about coming up with an idea for a community playground that would be handicapped accessible as well?

Edited December 29, 2011 by ReMark

[JD Mather]

There are a bunch of step-by-step tutorials in my signature.

Unfortunately they were written for r2007 and the interface has changed - but the students should still be able to figure out.

[archjjg]

There are a bunch of step-by-step tutorials in my signature.

Unfortunately they were written for r2007 and the interface has changed - but the students should still be able to figure out.

 

Hey JD,

Thanks for the link to your tutorials..some of them are just what I'm looking for. As a new teacher, I'm trying to stay a few steps ahead of the students.

Thanks again.

[ReMark]

Given what your students have already accomplished I would think you would be looking for something to push your students even further.

[archjjg]

That is correct! With the typical 'gear' project, they become bore real fast, because they've done this type of item many times. This class is almost an 'independant study' type class where the kids select the project that they would like to attempt, and then I go over the project with them to see if they: can actually do it, and if they can accomplish it in a reasonable amount of time. Some kids have no problem going from project to project with no extra 'push' from me, but others, sometimes they have no clue of what to do at all.

[tzframpton]

On CADTutor we have done 3D competitions and they are super fun. Maybe do the same? Pick a topic of discussion, come to an agreement on something to be modeled, give the expectations, then give them a week to complete.

 

Search for the guitar competition, it was a really good one!! This way it's fun, challenging, and is motivating.

[ReMark]

I'll second StykFacE's idea. That guitar competition was one of the better ones.

[tzframpton]

It also gets the students involved as they all can decide as a whole what they want to model, with the teacher having the final word on what is modeled and what's expected.

[archjjg]

StykFacE & ReMark,

Thanks for the heads-up on the guitar competition, I'll search for it when I get home.

[Bill Tillman]

Will there be any new 3D competitions soon? I'd like to enter and give it a try. I am pretty darn good, but there are so many other talented posters in this forum who could kick my butt just using a pencil and a napkin. However, I do love a challenge and would enjoy attempting to compete with some of these very gifted artists.