Significant Concept: Electricity is more than just power!
Area of Interaction: Human Ingenuity.
Awareness and understanding of the nature of electricity. Reflection on our reliance of electricity
Unit Question: How can I use electricity in design?
CONTEXT: The microphone project is an interdisciplinary unit with Science. In Science class, you will learn about the nature of electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism! In Technology class you will use this knowledge to harness the power of electromagnetism to design and make a working prototype of a hand held microphone. Although your microphone should work (if you make it properly), it will not be of the same quality as a commercially bought one. You are designing and making a prototype, a 'proof of concept', and we will be focusing equally on the aesthetics and ergonomics as well as the electronics.
TASK: Your task is to design and make a working prototype microphone for your own use when singing. Singers of different musical styles grip microphones in different ways. Not only so it is more comfortable to hold, but so the microphone technique can help producea better sound. Some of you need all the help you can get! Your microphone must be comfortable to hold for long periods, its must look seriously cool and match you musical taste
Research & Analysis: Establish the Need: Interpret the given design brief. State the needs to solve a problem.
Product Analysis: Identify the main features of a microphone, understand how it works and techniques for using them
Summarize Research: Present the main findings of the research and state how it will be used to inform the development of design ideas.
Tips for Success. Establish the Need: Re-write the task in your own words. Why are we making this microphone? Where/how will you use it? What style of music will you choose? Choose 3 images to help explain your style (genre) of music. Explain the aesthetic of this genre.
Product Analysis: 3 or more images of microphones with annotation of major parts. 3 or more images showing microphone technique. How do different singers hold a microphone? What is your personal style?
Explain basically how a microphone works. Copy this image onto your site.
Complete the Plan activity and copy the steps, in order, onto your website.
Indicate the tools & time needed for each step.
Demonstrate Technical Skills & Follow the plan
Make your microphone and take 'action shots' with a digital camera to show your skills at each stage of the Plan
Evaluate: Design Tests
Carry out testing and record results
Explain how to improve solution based on testing
Explain the impact of the solution.
Evaluate: Design Tests
How can you test your microphone?
Explain 3 tests.
Eg: Test One: Sing a song into the microphone and record it on Garage Band. Test Two: Hold the microphone to test for comfort
Carry out testing and record results
Do the tests and record the results on your Evaluate page.
Eg: Test One: Attach the Garage Band MP3 to the Evalaute page Test Two: Take photos of you holding the microphone
Explain how to improve solution based on testing
Explain the results of your testing and how you could improve the design.
Eg: Test One: "My singing sounds a little bit muffled so perhaps the microphone is pushed too far down inside the handle" Test Two: The microphone feels a little uncomfortable where my little finger grips the side. Perhaps I should smooth over the section more and make it flat. See photograph.
Explain the impact of the solution.
What have you learned about ergonomics and design during this unit? How does a comfortable microphone help a singer perform?
The Microphone Project.
Significant Concept: Electricity is more than just power!
Area of Interaction: Human Ingenuity.
Awareness and understanding of the nature of electricity.Reflection on our reliance of electricity
Unit Question: How can I use electricity in design?
Establish the Need:
Interpret the given design brief.
State the needs to solve a problem.
Product Analysis:
Identify the main features of a microphone, understand how it works and techniques for using them
Summarize Research:
Present the main findings of the research and state how it will
be used to inform the development of design ideas.
Establish the Need:
Re-write the task in your own words. Why are we making this microphone?
Where/how will you use it?
What style of music will you choose? Choose 3 images to help explain your style (genre) of music.
Explain the aesthetic of this genre.
Product Analysis:
3 or more images of microphones with annotation of major parts.
3 or more images showing microphone technique. How do different singers hold a microphone? What is your personal style?
Explain basically how a microphone works. Copy this image onto your site.
(We will go over this in class!)
Explain the difference between conductors and insulators and give examples.
Explain simple electronic circuits.
Summarize Research:
Define the terms AESTHETIC, ERGONOMIC & ANTHROPOMETRIC.
Explain how the all information gathered above will impact on your designs.
Develop a Design Specification
Check list of “must haves” for your Microphone
Design a Solution
Sketch several design ideas (3) that could work.
Develop Working Drawings.
To help you make your game.
Copy this Design Specification and then add some of your own!
Form:
Ergonomic in its design
We be "cool"
Attractive.
Suitable for the style of music chosen.
Ergonomic
Function:
Collect the sound.
3.5mm audio jack
Have a appropriate lead
Will be durable.
- Create a table and use this Design Spec to evaluate each of your designs.
- Explain briefly why your chosen design is the 'best'.
Design a Solution- Sketch 4, colourful, life size designs and scan them onto your Design page.
- Briefly explain each design
Develop Working Drawings.Plan a Product
Plan the steps in making your project
Demonstrate Technical Skills
Use hand tools needed to make your microphone and solder you circuit
Follow the plan
Make your microphone!
Demonstrate Technical Skills & Follow the plan
Make your microphone and take 'action shots' with a digital camera to show your skills at each stage of the Plan
Design Tests
Carry out testing and record results
Explain how to improve solution based on testing
Explain the impact of the solution.
Design Tests
How can you test your microphone?
Explain 3 tests.
Eg:
Test One: Sing a song into the microphone and record it on Garage Band.
Test Two: Hold the microphone to test for comfort
Carry out testing and record results
Do the tests and record the results on your Evaluate page.
Eg:
Test One: Attach the Garage Band MP3 to the Evalaute page
Test Two: Take photos of you holding the microphone
Explain how to improve solution based on testing
Explain the results of your testing and how you could improve the design.
Eg:
Test One: "My singing sounds a little bit muffled so perhaps the microphone is pushed too far down inside the handle"
Test Two: The microphone feels a little uncomfortable where my little finger grips the side. Perhaps I should smooth over the section more and make it flat. See photograph.
Explain the impact of the solution.
What have you learned about ergonomics and design during this unit?
How does a comfortable microphone help a singer perform?