Switches, gears, and one cute textured caterpillar will surely entertain students at Rhea County Elementary School in nearby Dayton, Tennessee. These features are just a few of the many included on a new enrichment wall made by a group of UTC engineering students.
Allison Ploetz, Emily Fillmore, Nick Cockerham, John Amann, and Elliot Thaxton constructed the wall as part of their assignment in the Introduction to Engineering Design class. In the class, students design assistive technology for toddlers, young children, and adolescents. “
It’s meant to simulate motor skills in a fun and engaging way,” Fillmore said.
It took the team three weeks to build the wall. They tested the wall with students at nearby Brown Academy to great success. The children can play with the wall in a variety of ways, including rotating gears, turning on light switches, and making music on a drum.
“We wanted to make something that would be appealing and safe, and I think we accomplished that,” Fillmore said.
