Toothbrush of the Future

Source:
Jaymes Dec
Marymount
NY, NY




Lesson Purpose: Students explore the iterative design process around the experience of brushing their teeth.

Lesson Behavioral Objectives: Students will create novel toothbrush designs. They will model their toothbrushes with 3DTin.com or TinkerCAD.com and print them out on a TOM.

Materials Needed: Computers with Google Chrome, a 3D printer, access to the internet and toothbrushes for the bristles.

Steps for this Lesson:
Day 1-Discuss the experience of brushing teeth. What is good about it? What's not? How can this experience be improved?

Sketch on paper proposals for their future toothbrush.

Day 2 Design the toothbrushes using the sketches as guides.


Day 3 Present models and findings.


Extensions: Have the students conduct interviews to find out more about tooth brushing.

Have students watch family members brush their teeth and have them record their observations.

Take a field trip to a drugstore and observe the current selection of tooth brushes. What is designed well? What is not?

Standards

STANDARD 1
Analysis, Inquiry, and Design: ENGINEERING DESIGN


Key Idea 1: details
Engineering design is an iterative process involving modeling and optimization (finding the best solution within given constraints); this process is used to develop technological solutions to problems within given constraints. (Note: The design process could apply to activities from simple investigations to long-term projects.)

STANDARD 5
Technology: Computer Technology


Key Idea 3: details
Computers, as tools for design, modeling, information processing, communication, and system control, have greatly increased human productivity and knowledge. Standard 2: Integrated Learning details Students will demonstrate how academic knowledge and skills are applied in the workplace and other settings.

Integrated learning encourages students to use essential academic concepts, facts, and procedures in applications related to life skills and the world of work. This approach allows students to see the usefulness of the concepts that they are being asked to learn and to understand their potential application in the world of work.