Prototyping Prosthetics: Reimagining the Elementary Engineering Design Process

Trade in desks for lab coats! This immersive session transforms elementary students into bioengineers through a project-based medical simulation. Discover a workflow that navigates the "Engineering Design Process," challenging young learners to solve complex anatomical problems for their stuffed animal patients using 3D printing. This approach ensures students engage in multiple areas of research and design.This demonstration shows how to seamlessly integrate multimodal technology—including Apple Pages, Merge EDU, and Tinkercad—leading up to the final 3D fabrication of functional prosthetics, offering a true Universal Design for Learning (UDL) experience.Participants will explore the technical scaffolding needed to move students from initial patient assessment annotations to the slicing and printing of custom-fit, bio-mechanical prototypes. Join us to receive digital "medical files" that bridge the gap between empathetic storytelling and cutting-edge classroom innovation.