To construct the Cardboard Pool Table, we first had to sketch how the final product should look. By doing this, we could plan out piece-by-piece how to properly evaluate what was needed to build it and how much time it would take for its completion; the decision matrix and the design brief also helped with constraints. Next, we started building and received cardboard boxes from Mrs. Zienty. We also received tools that would help us with measurements, cutting, and putting pieces together. After we discussed the layout of the pool table, we started hot gluing the base and the table part together. Eventually, we had to put up barriers on the edges of the table, cut holes out so that the balls could go in, and then glued bumpers on the sides of the holes so that the balls didn’t go in too easily. After we had constructed the basic layout of our arcade, I had brought in wooden dowel rods for cue sticks and Mrs. Zienty let us use her plastic balls for the cue ball and colored pool balls. We had used these for a catapult contest on the first day of the semester. We had then made a triangle outline with cardboard to hold the balls together before the game would start. We then finished and presented our cardboard pool table to the rest of the class.
Present solution
I really enjoyed creating this cardboard arcade, because I have always wanted to plan, construct, and build efficient projects that have also improved my decision making and design process skills. This project also helped me create a better mindset of how I think of teamwork and brainstorming. I always thought that I was more of an intrapersonal person, but this group project made me realize that brainstorming with other peers is very effective when it comes to communication, commitment, and time constraints. I thought that my partner and I worked really well together, as we agreed on the majority of both of our ideas. We both worked on different pieces of the project, so that we could get it done quicker and put all of the parts together at the end. Our final product came out almost better than I expected, but I also realized while working on it that it wasn’t as easy as it seemed to be in the beginning. I’m so glad that Mrs. Zienty picked this project out for the IED students, because it was so much fun to create and team build and I’m sure everyone else enjoyed it too.