There’s a method to the madness in SMUS Grade 6 Applied Design Skills and Technology (ADST) this term. What weeks ago looked like a classroom of paper scraps and sketches culminated in a board game café on June 10 and students were able t relish in their hard work. They were challenged to create a board game prototype in small groups, incorporating graphic design and 3D printing. The goal, as it always is in ADST, was to embrace the process.
When we first started generating ideas for this project in March, creativity was flowing, and we were excited to get this project off the ground. When we returned from Spring Break, the reality of creating a custom deck of cards, a 20-sided die, or a double-decker chessboard set in, and we hit the first hurdle of a design project: perseverance. There’s just a little bit of heartbreak each time something like a 3D print goes wrong, whether you forgot to connect the arms to your character or thought that dice was 2 centimetres across, not 20 (really, come see our giant dice!). The beauty of a project like this is practicing the skill of bouncing back - to have a laugh at our silly mistakes and push forward.
Once we moved past the first few rough prototypes, students found their rhythm; trying, failing, learning, and trying again. Elements began to take shape, and it felt like we might not only finish, but our games could actually be fun. The final push brought flare-ups of creative differences, and students learned how collaboration could help their personal visions grow, change, and improve.
All along the way, students documented their process in their design logs, reflecting on their accomplishments and challenges. As they look back, students can trace how far they’ve come, from first sketches to finished games, and see how their ideas evolved and refined. And maybe there are a few fun memories and silly selfies slipped in there, too.
We wrapped up our class with a last hurrah, playing games like Cringe Overload, Micro Golf, Fable Islands and Daisy’s Diner - just to name a few. It’s one more feather in the cap of their first Middle School year, and hopefully one that inspires them to continue designing and creating.
