Number of Participants: 2
Hours Donated: 10
Value of Time Served: $169
Event Type: Health & Medicine
Sport: Other
Date: January 19, 2018
Location:
Irvington High School
North Broadway, Irvington
NY
About:
Seventh-grade students in Marcus Oates’ technology classes – who have been learning how to turn their ideas into reality to solve a real-world problem – recently created therapeutic puzzle prototypes to help people diagnosed with cerebral palsy develop their fine and gross motor skills.
“For this project, the students understood how ideas are created, developed, manufactured and refined to solve a problem in our world,” Oates said. “This process is the foundation for innovation and invention.”
Working in teams, the students began their projects by researching the medical condition and learning about the physical limitations and difficulties that come from the diagnosis. Then, they created a set of criteria – ease of manipulation, sturdy construction and ease of assembly, among others – to keep in mind while designing and assessing their puzzles. They also sketched out preliminary designs, developed 3-D computer models and manufactured the prototype puzzles in their classroom.
“They recognized the difficulties someone may have with grasping and walking if a person’s muscles are constantly tightly contracted,” Oates said. “These discoveries then impacted how the students’ puzzles were shaped to ensure easier object manipulation. The puzzles varied greatly in design, but were fairly consistent in attributes that were valued.”
In addition, the students created technical drawings with the exact specifications for the size and shape of the different puzzle pieces needed. These technical drawings were used to manufacture multiple copies of the puzzle for data collection and analysis.
“The students collected data for how long it takes a person to complete the puzzle to determine a baseline evaluation for their cerebral palsy patients,” said Oates, adding that the students also created puzzles that offered a range of difficulty to foster continued physical and cognitive growth.
As a result of the project, Oates said he hoped his students gained a better understanding of the world around them and a passion for exploring how they could further make a positive impact on someone’s life.
“Project-based learning is one of the best ways to prepare someone for life,” Oates said. “It bridges the gap between the theoretical and the physical world to create something from an idea. It fosters the development of researching information, critical thinking, planning, execution and reflection. We use these skills in our homes, for work, and for our hobbies every day, and they help us to make a better world for ourselves.”
Photo Captions:
Photo 1: Irvington Middle School seventh-grader James Oley creates a therapeutic puzzle prototype to help people diagnosed with cerebral palsy develop their fine and gross motor skills.
Photo 2: Irvington Middle School seventh-grader Graham Adams creates a therapeutic puzzle prototype to help people diagnosed with cerebral palsy develop their fine and gross motor skills.
Photos courtesy of the Irvington Union Free School District
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