Using Geometry to Design a Sustainable Community
This page will provide the following information: 1. An explanation of the Project, 2. Description of the timeline of the design of the Project, and 3. Strengths and area of needed improvement.
Students as Green Architects
- The goal for this project was for students to turn into Green Architects and design a building that serves the community.
After asset mapping the several buildings in Highland Park, we did a needs assessment of the community. What does the community need? Students had amazing ideas for the types of buildings that would help make the community better, and also took an interest in specific aspects of community programs. We were able to see how designers use Google Sketch Up in real life community asset building design. Students used the software mostly at school (a few had access at home), and by designing and measuring, they were able to construct 3D miniature models that were up to scale. This is where the math came into place. Converting and rescaling brought the concept that much closer to home. Finding Volume, Surface Area and Area drove the Project Based Learning home and students needed to figure out the formulas to complete their project, rather than learn formulas for the sake of memorizing.
- The project took a couple of weeks to accommodate CST testing prep. It may have been possible to complete in one week.
Week 1
Monday: Students are assigned projects.
Students do asset mapping of their community using a free version
of GIS software. Goal for the day: Students map 12 different types
of buildings that serve the community. They will then choose one type for
their project.
Tuesday: Students go on a field trip to Cal Poly Pomona -
Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies. Goal for the day: Students
learn about strategies people use to design buildings that reuse waste
and save energy.
Wednesday: Short Day - Goal: Students get started sketching their building.
Thursday: Maria Gomez (M.Arch) teaches the basics of model making. Goal for the day: Students get started on building models.
Friday: Students continue working on scale model
project. Visitor Nicole Velasquez teaches about affordable housing
and green buildings. Goal for the day: Students learn about
affordable housing and make changes to their building from ideas
they gather from Ms. Velasquez' buildings. They also have a short
quiz on green structures.
Week 2
Monday: Students have time to finish their 3D Models.
Tuesday:
Engineer Mr. Kit Wong teaches us the basics about working
with Google Sketch Up. Students work on a digital design.
- Students were very engaged--there was 100% project completion.
Students who are not as strong were allowed to pair up and split the points, whereas students who are strong in the class completed the project on their own for all points possible. Students really understood green architecture concepts. A few weeks later, there was a segment on tiny housing (in Silver Lake) on TV, and we brought a clip to show the students. Students agreed with the architect featured on the video in the techniques he used.
Improvements - A standard scale was used; however, in future iterations of this project, a varied scale (including a given range) would be more appropriate to allow for more diversity in students' final project calculations. Also, re-ordering the project would prove more effective. It would help to have students start using Google Sketch Up before the engineer comes, and bring materials before the architect comes.