Under the guidance of their engineering teacher, Mr. Seann Schiele, Oak middle school students competed in the fifth annual ocMaker Challenge sponsored in part by the Orange County Department of Education’s CTE Partnership, Airwolf 3D, and MatterHackers. Teams across Orange County were given the prompt, “Design and build, or significantly repurpose, a product that will solve a problem, need, or want.” Chapman University hosted the ocMaker Challenge exhibit for 2 days in their Hutton Gymnasium, although the competition has been ongoing since September of 2017.
Over the past 7 months, many Oak teams pursued their ideas and 15 teams were chosen to display their final prototypes at Chapman University in Orange, CA.
The intent of this project is to provide our diverse Orange County secondary and post-secondary student populations, with an opportunity to participate in an integrated STEM design project (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). The Maker Challenge delivers an authentic experience and creative environment that combines STEM technologies, Art and Design in a culture of inquiry, problem solving, and active engagement. Students are challenged to identify a unique problem, document solutions, and present a prototype.
The learning model for this project is to provide context for the convergence of academics, hands-on creativity, and application of 21st Century skills. It appeals to active learners and supports higher order thinking skills as well as real-life problem solving. Students have undertaken a self-directed open-ended design project within the framework of minimal published constraints. These constraints include the intentional identification of STEM concepts in their original creations while accessing and infusing new technologies. Projects showcase mastery of communication and critical thinking skills as students collaboratively generate insightful discussions based on extensive background reading and research. Important underpinnings of the Maker Challenge are an intentional focus on the new Common Core State Standards in Math, English Language Arts, and the Next Generation Science Standards. The mastery of these standards are assessed and showcased in the presentation of a Design Brief, graphic media, documentation of STEM research, and physical prototypes of their creation.
Students in Seann Schiele’s Computer Science and Engineering class at Oak Middle School in Los Alamitos had a chance to shine after developing a product from “Concept to Creation.” Oak designers Christopher Lavallee, Tanner Meyer, Aden Tan, Ryan Jenkins, and Grayson Kim received 3rd place by making a dynamic product. Their prototype entitled “The Best Braces in Town” imagines a less painful type of dental brace. The team was presented a check from local sponsors for $150 at the awards ceremony held at Chapman University. All groups utilized 3D design and printing technologies to develop a real life product. Some even embedded basic electronics and programmed their invention to respond to outside stimuli; such was the case in “The Gameulator,” a game inspired calculator, and “Safe N Sound,” a baby seat monitor for children left in a car. Mr. Schiele is so incredibly proud of the time, ingenuity, and innovative projects that all teams presented this year! The skills the students gained during the challenge will help them far beyond the walls of Oak Middle School and many students have expressed interest in pursuing a career in design, computer science, or engineering.
