Finished Details
Completed Paper Model
Once the cutting, gluing and
folding is complete, students have a completed paper model.
Some students choose to stop at this point, having a completed paper
model that they can use for a display piece. Others can choose
to move on with the helmet as a project, using fiberglass resin to
harden the paper model. Resin can be applied to the outside in
thin layers and it can be mixed with Bondo to create "Rondo."
Rondo is used inside the helmet to "slush harden" the helmet.
Advanced Model Finish
The level of detail that can be achieve is bound only by time and the builders imagination. There are so many quality models that are already out there for students to practice and work with in learning this skill.
Educational Value
I have been asked by fellow
staff members who have looked around my classroom at the plethora of
helmets and armor bits laying around.... "What's the point?"
That is a fair question... Here is my honest opinion:
1. Video games are a SUPER way of getting
students interested in 3D graphics. Their own interest fuels
their motivation to learn.
2. Spatial reasoning... One of the hardest things
to get my kids to do when they start 3D modeling... Is seeing the
overall concept and shape of what they are trying to make. To
have a paper model they can hold in their hands is a HUGE help...
3. Learning to follow instructions and follow thru with a
task. As I tell my students, "The helmet is NOT going to make
itself..." The build teaches them to be patience, build in
sections, and it challenges each of them.
4. Using multiple computer programs or software. Getting kids involved with other ideas and software opens doors to them and allows them to experience learning in various formats. It presents opportunities to them that they can continue on with after my class is over.
Finally - Something to be proud of and
a sense of accomplishment!!!
Pepakura and Blender are both wonderful programs to try in your
classroom. This software is relatively cheap and can be
learned easily enough, plus there are tons of online references and
tutorials that can help anyone get started with this project/hobby.
Going Inside the Game
Using Gaming to Teach Technology & Geometry
Students have long been fascinated by video games
and the video game industry. Tapping into this interest allows
teachers to reach students with powerful ideas while using their
own strong interests as motivation.
How Does it Work?
Several years ago, I took on the challenge of
teaching the 3D software
Blender to my HS students.
Blender is a cutting edge 3D software capable of running on multiple
platforms including Windows and Mac. A powerful tool in 3D and
education... and open source and totally FREE! My students
bought into Blender immediately... sucking up knowledge in class and
downloading the software at home to continue their experience and
learning. The class grew and students, of course, started
asking more and more gaming related questions.
This interest in gaming by my students came at a great time.
Blender had just included it's own internal game "engine" allowing
students to create content and games on their own within the Blender
program using game physics and models they had created themselves.
The Next Step
As interest in gaming and Blender grew, students began to
bring in content from popular games including Halo. We
took this content and began to work with it within Blender,
modifying and re-creating it. This year, we introduced a new
piece to the puzzle in my 3D classes... a new software called
Pepakura.
Pepakura is a Japanese developed software that allows students to
take 3D models and create unfolded paper patterns that can be cut
out and assembled to create their 3D model in the real world.
This software opened a new door to students, greatly increasing
their understanding of 3D shapes and geometry, size, proportion, and
problem solving as well.
A
Walk Thru
Starting in Blender
To start the process, we started with with simple OBJ files from various
games. For our example, we'll use the ODST troop helmet from
Halo ODST. We brought these files into Blender and worked on
them, modifying various aspects of them and personalizing them.
After we had the basic model we wanted, we exported the model from
Blender to a OBJ file again. You can see the basic 3D mesh
here at the left in Blender.
Moving to Pepakura
After the model is created in Blender, we move on to Pepakura. We
import the raw model into Pepakura and go through the slow process
of "unfolding." Unfolding the model allows us to break it down
into sections. These sections then can be arranged onto 8.5 x
11" pages so that it can be printed onto cardstock. Another
cool thing in Pepakura, is that we can scale the helmet size to fit
the student modeler's head making this 3D model completely wearable!
For class, we use regular white 110lb. cardstock and a laser jet
printer. The helmet on the right is broken into roughly
20 pages of pieces that can now be printed out for assembly.
The Assembly Process
Once the pages are
printed from Pepakura, the real fun begins! Our 3D model is
now ready for assembly. Pepakura makes it easy by creating
tabs and numbers for us to help us assemble the pieces back
together. It also creates fold lines for us to help get the
curves and shape correct. So cut, fold, and glue... add a dash
of patience and some practice and end result is a nice real world
model of a 3D game model. The Image to the left shows a few of
the pages that make up the helmet that we have been working on in
Pepakura. You can see the pieces and the tabs.