Columbus Signature Academy—Lincoln Campus students are learning about engineering with the help of high school students by developing prosthetic prototypes.
Shawna Netser, CSA—Lincoln’s project-based learning manager, and fifth-grade teacher Delaney George created the project using a $300 grant they received this fall from the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation. The money was used to purchase materials and to cover transportation costs for students to travel to C4 to work with the high school students.
Fifty fifth-grade students are working in teams of three to five people to design a prosthetic prototype based off 12 patient profiles provided by Jennifer Murphy, an orthotic resident with Kenney Orthopedics’ Greenwood office.
Students are learning about individuals who use prosthetics and how the devices are designed, Murphy said.
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A prosthetic replaces the function of a human body part, while being comfortable and functional, Netser said.
Students are being challenged to create a working prosthetic to fit the need of a specific patient’s diagnosis while considering materials, functionality and challenges facing the current prosthesis, Netser said.
The project is also intended to help students learn about design concepts, George said. George is working with fellow fifth-grade teacher Brittany Busack to help the students, who will present their final prototypes during a Dec. 4 science fair at Central Middle School.
C4 engineering students are also developing 3D print models depicting miniature prototypes for each group.
Caleb Shinkle, a Columbus North High School sophomore in the C4 engineering program, assisted a group of students developing a prototype of a prosthetic leg using materials such as bubble wrap, a plunger and styrofoam. He also helped create a 3D model of their design, he said.
Luis Yanez Cisneros, a junior at Columbus Signature Academy — New Tech High School, said elementary students have been tasked with figuring out how their design works and making adjustments as needed.
“It’s a big part of engineering,” he said.
Fifth-grader Tucker Artis was working with Yanez Cisneros on a prosthetic leg to be used by a 67-year-old patient. Artis said his group decided to use a pool noodle as a representation of a metal rod in someone’s leg and also included other materials such as styrofoam, duct tape and hinges to develop their design.
Jessica Davis, a C4 engineering teacher who has been with the program for three years, said she hopes that fifth-grade students develop a love for engineering.
“Part of the goal is to get them interested in the C4 program,” Davis said.
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A science fair highlighting work created by students from CSA Lincoln, CSA Fodrea and Central Middle School will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Central Middle School, 725 Seventh St.
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