As a part of our EE projects carousel, our Year 9 learners were exploring creativity, innovation and sustainability on a Design Project with the support of our sponsors Skanska and University of East London. The 'Green Cities' project took the learners on a journey of acquiring knowledge through collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving.
During the year 9 course, our learners will be completing different projects with our valued sponsors designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of our sponsors, as well as equipping them with practical skills in a range of different areas.
The 7-week long project included learning about Skanska, a large construction company, looking into roles and responsibilities within the industry, knowledge skills and behaviour that employers are looking for. Learners got the opportunity to look at individual job profiles via video-links to real people and played a game guessing the roles by description. They learned about Design Brief, Specification, Research and how to respond to a real-world problem by creating a solution.
The Green Cities project focuses on a pressing issue: the impact of climate change on urban environments across the United Kingdom, where rising temperatures are making cities uncomfortably warm.
Learners were tasked to address the question "How can we best create living urban spaces in changing climate?" They were organised into teams to work together and design innovative solutions to this real-world challenge.
Throughout the Green Cities project, our learners acquired an array of invaluable skills including developing their research abilities, exploring green city concepts and sustainability, understanding Skanska's operations and job roles, and mastering practical techniques such as mood boarding, sketching, 2D and 3D modelling, and material selection. The project allowed the learners to apply their knowledge and skills in a hands-on, practical manner. As learners explored different ideas, they learned to think outside the box and develop sense of curiosity. Collaborating in teams improved their communication skills and taught them to be resilient whilst constructive.
Stuart, the Senior Graphic Design and Submissions Manager from SKANSKA came to support Y9 learners on their project, using with his unique set of skills to deliver coaching session and support developing learners' creative ideas.
The learners had to master a digital platform 'Padlet' to upload their findings from research, responses to questions and sketches and photos of their work.
The final solutions ranged from 'zone' solar powered car charging and hire station, mobile plant boxes, magnetic trains, underground parking gardens, green rooftop houses, balcony / walkway gardens to globe domes. Some learners embraced specialist software Tinkercad for 3D digital modelling while others opted instead for physical Lego or paper models.
Finally, the learners visited the University of East London (UEL) Department of Landscape Architecture in AVA Building to present their work to their peers, teachers and experts and received valuable feedback. This experience helped them to develop public speaking and presentations skills. Learners especially benefitted from feedback from Clare Penny, the senior lecturer, followed by a tour around the campus with displays of university architecture students’ work (models and drawings) which made for a truly inspirational visit.
"I was impressed with the quality of the presentations, range of ideas and questions from the audience too. It was great to see them using professional terminology with confidence, mentioning public spaces, considering the end user and having answers for unexpected questions!" shared Clare.
