CDCLR
STUDENT CANOPIES FOR COVID-19
Team Project
MY ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION
This is a team project done during the Industrial Design studio. I was responsible for researching how the schools in other parts of the world are reopening such as China. Then, I did more research on what should the products or projects designed for kids from 11 months to 5 years old be like. After watching a show about design to play, I generated the idea of building a set of toys for kids to build a tent. I was also responsible for the CAD drawings and simple prototypes. I went to the school in-person to see the area can be used for the project and talked with the faculties there since I was the only one on the team who stayed on campus during the summer.
Also, I generated lots of ideas about how the teachers and students can interact with the tent and under COVID-19, which was accepted by the faculties.
ABOUT CDCLR
CDCLR stands for Children Development Center For Learning & Research. It's a private school for kids aging from 15 months to 5 years 11 months. It's a Kindergarten for kids but with learning and research opportunities for Virginia Tech faculties and students.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS PROJECT
COVID-19 forced schools to shut down during the spring semester of 2020, this project was done during the summer 2020 Industrial studio course. The purpose is to figure out a way for the students of CDCLR (age from 15 months- 5 years 11 months) to take classes in fall 2020. CDCLR has required us to come up with teaching plans for them that are online and offline combined.
GROUP RESEARCH
Group work
Members of our team are from different part of the world, I did research on how the schools are reopening in China. Another member of our team did research about India. And some other countries were also investigated. A story board is created with all the information gathered.
INSPIRATION
Photo from Netflex: Abstract The art of Design
After watching the episodes for Cas Holman: Design for Play. I was inspired by the idea to design a set of toys, which kids can play with to build something, and since COVID -19 needs them to keep social distance, the toy could be a set for them to build a tent. One goal is for kids to build a safe small space to keep the stuff they have taken to school, they could do all kinds of activities inside the tents.  Another idea is for the kids to understand structure at a small age, which could help them a lot in the future.
IDEA
The idea came up with was to make a set of toys that kids can build themselves canopies. The set will contain a large piece of board as the base, allowing the kids to start building. The board has pre-drilled holes for the kids to place the tubes anywhere they want. There are connectors made from foam that the kids can use to connect the tubes, and eventually build their canopies.
QUICK PROTOTYPE
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A LEGO size prototype of the set of toys was built to show my professors the general idea
HOW THE CANOPIES CAN BE USED
Activities students and teachers can do together with the canopies
DECORATE
Students can decorate their tent both inside and outside, especially the outside, which could help them remind other kids to keep social distancing.
Students can practice to express themselves to teachers and other students through art
LUNCH TIME AND NAP
This closed area can let the students have their lunch without their masks,
students can have a nap whenever they need without wearing a mask
GROUP ACTIVITIES
The canopies can be placed as shown in the photo and teachers can be in the middle to play with the kids when they are in their own canopies. The canopies are 6 ft from each other, which keeps the teacher and the kids safe.
OTHER GAMES
The teachers and the students already have some games or activities they like to play before, some of them can still be played with some adjustments. The students and teachers can still have fun or get knowledge with social distance kept.
METTING WITH TEACHER AT CDCLR
After having a general idea of the project, we had a meeting with Karen, a teacher, and director at CDCLR. She answered some of our detailed questions and gave us some instructions about something we have to consider such as the students' interests,etc.
SKETCHES OF THE PARTS
Variety of stiff and flexible dowels
Custom made stiff connector
Variety of bug net and tarp shapes that connect to the frame
LARGER PROTOTYPE
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These larger prototypes are built to show the teachers at CDCLR about our idea, and they gave us great feedbacks.
BENEFIT OF THE DESIGN
Encourages Creativity
Upholds CDCLR curriculum
Offers challenge
Provides safe individual places
