5-E Classroom STEM Activity: Game Night! Dr. Alexandra D. Owens Toys > Melissa Hershey Engineering Fun By Ellen Egley What do toys like Transformers, Nerf, My Little Pony, Play-Doh, and Baby Alive have in common with games like Magic the Gathering, Monopoly, Jenga, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Operation, Clue, and Life? 1. Chances are good you played with them at some point during your childhood (and maybe still do!). 2. They are all brought to STEM JOBS: What sparked SJ: What type of education SJ: What is your current us by the incredible STEM your interest in pursuing a is needed to be qualified for role, and what all does professionals at Hasbro, career in the toy industry? your position? that encompass? Inc. who are dedicated to MELISSA HERSHEY: During MH: To work as a product MH: I work as an engineer “creating the world’s best college, I taught STEM to engineer for complex toys on the Integrated Play team play experiences.” middle school students it is useful to have a college at Hasbro. This team is a STEM Jobs spoke with using robotics. I enjoyed it so degree in mechanical fast-paced group of multi- Melissa Hershey, a senior much that after I graduated, engineering, electrical talented designers and engineer at Hasbro, to find I took a full-time job where I engineering or robotics. You engineers focused on a new out what goes into making developed and taught STEM need to have experience with wave of Hasbro products these iconic toys and games programs using a variety of creating models or projects that merge physical play and creating new classics for educational toys. Working that light up, make sound, or with exciting digital worlds. the next generation to love. with kids and toys every day move. It is helpful if you like I specialize on projects that really sparked my interest to take things apart to see are connected and involve in becoming a toy designer. how they work. Experience robotics or animatronics I had a lot of ideas of how a with CAD software, 3D (this means they move or toy could do something really modeling and 3D printing is animate in some way). I also neat and different with just a very valuable. It also helps enjoy working on projects few modifications. I decided I to be educated about the that involve voice or vision wanted to get more involved industry, and yes, that means recognition. A lot of the in creating the products I was playing with lots of toys! products I work on have an using so I set off to become app that works with them a toy designer. Getting a job and can be used with your at Hasbro was especially phone or tablet. great because I am a huge Transformers and Nerf fan. 24 Late Fall 2018 / STEMjobs.com Photos: Hasbro SJ: What STEM skills are required in your job? MH: Problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Problem solving, which is a huge part of engineering, is probably the most important skill in my job. Every day I SJ: What professional SJ: What are some of SJ: What advice would you am presented with different accomplishments are you the different STEM give to high school students challenges that I get to figure especially proud of? roles available in the who are interested in a out and solve. For example, MH: I feel really toy industry? career in the toy industry? it may be figuring out how accomplished when MH: There are so many MH: First, keep playing. Try to make something move the products I work on different opportunities for to make your own toy or so that it really seems alive encourage people to feel people interested in STEM game. For starters, it can be or figuring out what type and be healthier. A unique to work in the toy industry. a model made from things of sensor to use in a toy to product line I got to work You have engineers that like foam core, cardboard, make sure it can react to a on was an animatronic work on designing the and hot glue. If it is a game, person playing with it. companion cat and dog actual toy. Most of them are create the rules and try to I need to think critically designed for seniors. These experienced in electronics play it with your friends. about a lot of my project products could bring joy or building things out of Ask for feedback and see before I start, recalling and comfort to aging loved plastics, but some specialize if you can make a second knowledge I’ve learned from ones without any vet bills to in chemistry so that they can iteration better. In the toy making past products or worry about. I felt like these work on items like Play-Doh. industry, we test and revise prototypes. It helps me to products made their users There are also structural our ideas a lot, so this will decide on what is the best feel calm and reminded engineers who create be great practice. approach to accomplish them that you can have packaging that looks amazing my goals. Finally, the job fun and play at any age. but also protects the requires a lot of creativity Another example is when I product. We also have a team Whether you just love to because many projects worked on a Nerf product that tests all our products to play or want to make a need to do something new that encouraged kids to make sure they are durable difference in people’s lives, and different. You need run around and be active. and safe. These engineers there is a place for you in to remember to make it As they moved around, get to try and break things the toy industry. What will exciting and fun because it they gathered “energy” on on purpose for work! If you create? is a toy, after all. a wearable device. That you were not interested in “energy” could be used to building physical things, but get points and power-ups enjoy coding or math, we for a Nerf app game. have software engineers to help create apps and a financial team that uses mathematical models to make sure our ideas make sense economically. MELISSA HERSHEY SENIOR ENGINEER DEGREES: DUAL BACHELOR’S IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DESIGN, MASTER’S IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY: 5+ STEM TYPE: DESIGNER STEMjobs.com / Late Fall 2018 25 5-E Classroom STEM Activity: Game Night! Here are some ideas for how high school teachers could use this story as a launching point for integrated STEM learning. Our activities follow the 5-E Learning Cycle Model. Part 1: Engage 1 Bring in several examples of games and display them in front of the class. Include board games, card games, or other games they may be familiar with. a. What games did you play when you were young? b. What types of games do you play now? c. Have you ever made your own set of rules to a game or changed the rules? What did you do? 2 Have students read the article “Engineering Fun” in STEM Jobs magazine. Discuss the following questions: a. How is engineering a part of the toy and game industry? b. What other STEM professions are needed in this field? c. What STEM skills are beneficial? d. Why is revision and creating several iterations an important part of the toy industry? 3 Break students into small groups of three or four students. Provide each group with a game. Ask students to consider what went into the design of the game. a. What are the components of this game? b. What safety considerations were needed? c. What STEM skills are used while playing? Part 2: Explore 1 Tell students that they will now have an opportunity to create their own game. Present the challenge to the students: Design a new game that can be added to the Hasbro line that teaches or uses STEM concepts. Create a model and presentation, and conduct product testing with the class. After revision, we will host a game night! Teacher’s Note: You may limit the scope to have the game specifically relate to topics taught in your classroom. 2 Allow students to first brainstorm and research with their groups. Research should include games on Hasbro’s website for inspiration, which can be found at edu.STEMjobs.com/teacher-resources. 3 Provide time for students to create the model of their game and a presentation to share with the class. Students can use classroom materials for creation of their model, or bring materials from home. 4 While students are working, remind them that they should consider safety standards in their design as part of their presentation, especially if the game is intended for younger children. The presentation should include: a. Description of the game b. The rules c. STEM skills and concepts d. Materials used e. Safety considerations Part 3: Explain 1 Have groups share their model and presentation with the class. Each member should present the information for which they were responsible. Students should explain their game, the rules, STEM skills, the materials used, and safety considerations. 2 After each presentation, allow students to ask clarifying questions and offer suggestions. This feedback will be used in the next portion of the lesson. 2 edu.STEMjobs.com Game Night! Part 4: Elaborate 1 It is time to play! Have student groups play each other’s creations.