Creative Engineering Design
Project Outline
The Creative Engineering Design project was a project with almost no boundaries. Each group had to pick a problem in the world ranging from Ebola to pencils breaking. Then we had to find a solution and build a prototype.
My group chose a small problem that most people face everyday, split ends. Trichoptilosis is the official name of a split end. We had to work to find a solution to split ends. A split end is when a strand of hair splits and breaks. It cause hair damage and looks unhealthy. Each strand of hair has a cuticle which is an outer protective layer. As time goes on, the protective layering wears off which is why people with longer hair tend to have more split ends. When the cuticle wears away, it leaves the cortex bare. The ends of the hair are now weak; they're more prone to break.
Hair is made of a protein called keratin. Since hair is made from keratin, we decide to make a product with that protein to seal the split ends. Since hair is dead cells, it can not repair itself. Once hair splits, it's permanent. We designed a product that uses keratin to mend the split ends together like a bandaid.
The Engineering Cycle.
1. Identify the need
The class came up with a large list of problems ranging from world wide problems to everyday little problems.
2. Research
After we picked a problem, we spent a couple days researching and taking notes about our problem.
3. Develop possible solutions
We came up with several solutions. The first one was using keratin to seal the split ends. The second one was using amino acids. The third idea was using a brush that wouldn'y cause hair damage.
4.Select the most promising solution
We decided to use the keratin idea.
5. Construct a prototype
We each made a model of a strand of hair. I made a model of a split end. Olivia made a model of a mended split end and so did Evelynn.
6. Test and evaluate the prototype
We couldn't actually test the product because we didn't actually have the keratin. However we made hypothesis on how it would work.
7. Communicate the design
Finally, we created a powerpoint about our problem and shared it with the entire class.
Reflection
Our group worked okay with each other. In the beginning, I was very happy with this project because it was very interesting to me. As time went on, I felt that most of the work was put on me. A peak from this project was that I learned of many ways to prevent split ends. Another peak was that it was something I had an interest in and that we could all work together on. A pit was that a big storm made us lose two days of working together. Another pit was that I had to work on the slide show myself because I couldn't reach my other group members. I learned that I get very stressed when I'm doing everything by myself and I will improve on working together with other people.
The Creative Engineering Design project was a project with almost no boundaries. Each group had to pick a problem in the world ranging from Ebola to pencils breaking. Then we had to find a solution and build a prototype.
My group chose a small problem that most people face everyday, split ends. Trichoptilosis is the official name of a split end. We had to work to find a solution to split ends. A split end is when a strand of hair splits and breaks. It cause hair damage and looks unhealthy. Each strand of hair has a cuticle which is an outer protective layer. As time goes on, the protective layering wears off which is why people with longer hair tend to have more split ends. When the cuticle wears away, it leaves the cortex bare. The ends of the hair are now weak; they're more prone to break.
Hair is made of a protein called keratin. Since hair is made from keratin, we decide to make a product with that protein to seal the split ends. Since hair is dead cells, it can not repair itself. Once hair splits, it's permanent. We designed a product that uses keratin to mend the split ends together like a bandaid.
The Engineering Cycle.
1. Identify the need
The class came up with a large list of problems ranging from world wide problems to everyday little problems.
2. Research
After we picked a problem, we spent a couple days researching and taking notes about our problem.
3. Develop possible solutions
We came up with several solutions. The first one was using keratin to seal the split ends. The second one was using amino acids. The third idea was using a brush that wouldn'y cause hair damage.
4.Select the most promising solution
We decided to use the keratin idea.
5. Construct a prototype
We each made a model of a strand of hair. I made a model of a split end. Olivia made a model of a mended split end and so did Evelynn.
6. Test and evaluate the prototype
We couldn't actually test the product because we didn't actually have the keratin. However we made hypothesis on how it would work.
7. Communicate the design
Finally, we created a powerpoint about our problem and shared it with the entire class.
Reflection
Our group worked okay with each other. In the beginning, I was very happy with this project because it was very interesting to me. As time went on, I felt that most of the work was put on me. A peak from this project was that I learned of many ways to prevent split ends. Another peak was that it was something I had an interest in and that we could all work together on. A pit was that a big storm made us lose two days of working together. Another pit was that I had to work on the slide show myself because I couldn't reach my other group members. I learned that I get very stressed when I'm doing everything by myself and I will improve on working together with other people.