24 June 2010 Letterbox

It was all about letterbox construction today. I started on 3 prototype letterboxes today. They great thing about doing these prototypes is the amount of learning that takes place........or should i rephrase the amount of mistakes I made while tinkering around with the construction of the letterboxes. Below is a list from the top of my head.

• The measurements for the pattern of the letterboxes was to narrow i had set up the hole where the letters are suppose to slide in at 30mm. The smallest circular bobbin sanding bit is 30mm, so it means that it is to tight a fit when i want sand the hole smooth.......I burnt the sanding bit oops! I brought this to PG attention and asked if the jigs that where made up on the C&C machine could be re cut to 35mm. Thank goodness for me he re cut the hole concerned. Oh and he replaced the burnt bobbin bit :)
• When i calculated the amount of plywood that was to be used to make the letter box i forgot to take into account the partition for the letter box. I am sure that i could use offcuts to rectify this problem.
•  The letter box with the raking roof was unrealistic as the hole that the mail slides into was vertical meaning that it is hard to put a flashing over it to protect it from the rain. PG remade 5 more jigs so that the hole was horizontal thanks PG
•  The order in which the letter boxes are to constructed have been a bit of trial and error. I think i have come up with a system that would work well for the class

I got some neat photos of the process today will spend tomorrow back on the letter boxes, I wonder what other challenges will arise oh well that's part of the fun. Writing up the processes and creating the assessment events around it is not so fun.

FLIP FLOP

TABLE

Today I met up with BINZ to share some ideas about how the workbook is going to take form........Previously I mentioned that the workbook was not going to be marked. After meeting up with BINZ and having some meaningful dialogue I have FLIP FLOPPED on that idea.HA!!!!

It will still be a workbook where students will record working processes in a classroom environment, centred around discussion, question and answer and multimedia resources. In addition to that, students will have 5 progression tests incorporated, these serve as an formative assessment enabling myself to gauge the students knowledge on different table construction processes. To compliment the progression tests there will be 5 mini reflective logs for the students to fill out.

I have just finished writing the portfolio up will give to colleagues for feedback tomorrow.

Finished varnishing prototype table components today looking good.

LETTER BOX

Today PG cut out 5 perspex jigs for 2 different designed letterboxes, tomorrow i will spend time constructing prototypes for the class.

22 June 2010 Table flow chart

This is the flow chart that Im incorpoprating into the table workbook. I wanted to create a reference where students can look at the process of constructing the table. However I didnt want to give the students to much information on how to construct the table, I would love for the students to use a little bit of their brain in problem solving the intricacies of completeing the project.

I used the online program bubbl to create the flow chart
www.bubbl.us

Blue :The left column is preparing the sides and the legs
Green :The middle column is the tools machines and equipment used
Purple:The right column is prparing the tabl top
Red :Bringing it all together

22 June 2010 Collabrative Characters PART 2

An update to colleagues who have been helping me with the developments of the table and letterbox projects.

JP  -Autocad man who does alot of the drawings on autocad
CC -Another moodle master who set up alot of his courses on moodle
PG - Technician who looks after and maintains all machinery in the workshops. If ther are any questions or any   problems with the macjhines than PG is the man to answers questions

22 June 2010 Update

I spent the weekend development free which was nice.

21 June 2010

PG programmed the letter box jig into the C&C machine and popped out an mdf jig. I have made a few changes with the help of JP who is the go to man when needing plans drawn up using auto cad.

22 June 2010

I caught up with JP today about the letterbox drawings. JP made the changes for the 1st letterbox drawings, together we worked on the 2nd designed letterbox drawings. This will allow the students to have the option of which styled letter box they would like to make, or maybe they can design their own. I gave the updated drawings to PG, he programmed the 2 letterbox designs to the C&C machine. PG came back with the jigs, I was very happy with the way they turned out. I will start the letterbox assembly processes tomorrow.

Stained and varnished the legs for the coffee table today will take pictures once they have dried.