It has been over two weeks now since a 7th grade student, infatuated with the electric fan in our littleBits kit, asked if he could make a fan-powered boat. That's a persistence factor of about 8 visits and counting. I offered foam core board.
His initial layout of materials was not to ... efficient. We then talked about and sketched out some alternative ideas which led us to alot of questions: how high should the sides be and why, do we need to use glue or can we use nails/pins ("that's easier to change our mind"). So he measured out some new pieces which I cut out.
During assembly he initiated several queries about the strongest way to join pieces together, then tried them out. We ended each period with a closing discussion: what to try next time, what I needed to do in the interim.
After about five sessions on his project, he accepted the help of another student; a collaborator. They tried different locations for the fan, they tried rubber bands and cut-outs for securing it. Then wondering about the balance, they added pieces for an out-rigger. Questions and option became exponential.
At this point they had really settled into raising and solving problems more than "let's get this done."
When the question of a rudder came up, available LEGO pieces did not offer a solution. I suggested that they design and print what they needed on the 3D printer. So during the next three visits they got themselves up to speed on Tinkercad skills (entirely on their own, at their own speed) and designed their first 3D piece.
This morning I printed it and on their next visit I suspect they will test it, suggest and make changes to their prototype and print it again.
The discovery, research, analysis, and redesign continues.
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