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PARTITIONS IN SCHOOLS

Duncaroo Designers: Charlie, Jacob, Andrei, Anh, Vivian, Rachel

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Background

  • Teachers without safety precautions for COVID-19
  • Email from teacher to MechE department
    • $66 ea. for individual divider, 5-6 week delay
  • Teachers paying out-of-pocket

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Defining the Problem

Socioeconomic Perspective:

  • Texas teachers and low-income students
    • Lack of support for teachers
      • Feeling hopeless
    • Students fears and anxieties

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Defining the Problem

  • Texas: elementary/middle schools opening back up
  • High density classrooms
  • Lack of funding/ resources
  • Impact on teachers

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https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/5615998034001/c9b623fb-dd44-483c-b2bf-0ddd0372b358/d9ab7b82-fe3c-4989-90ae-458b85573ffe/1280x720/match/image.jpg

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Defining the Problem

  • “Let me tell you, there is no shutdown coming.” - Gov. Greg Abbott on July 16
  • Of 11,500 COVID-19 cases in Texas, there were 2,100 cases for ages 30 to 39; 2,200 cases in the 40 to 49 age group; and 2,100 cases for ages 50 to 59. - Texas Health Department, May

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https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/16/texas-shutdown-greg-abbott/

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Goal:

Limit transmission of COVID-19 in schools

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Design Criteria & Constraints

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Design Criteria

Affordable - less than $20

Adjustability - fits different desk sizes; materials can be substituted

Easy to assemble - under 5 minutes / desk

Easy to clean (materials could also be disposable)

Safe for children - rounded edges on poles and dowels

Durable - lasts > full academic year

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Idea Proposal

Cost: $9.18 with flexible vinyl sheeting

Manufacturing: Sturdy craft cardboard rolls with wooden dowels to stabilize between rolls and zip ties to secure to desk

Dimensions: ~ 24” x 24’’ x 27”

(can be modified to specific desk sizes)

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Lunch Table Implementation

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Low Fidelity Prototype

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Low Fidelity Prototype

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Cost Breakdown

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Material

Amount Needed

Cost

Example Link

Cardboard rolls

4 rolls / desk

$4.28

https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-2643/Kraft-Mailing-Tubes/Kraft-Mailing-Tubes-with-End-Caps-3-x-24-070-thick

Vinyl sheeting

2 yards / desk

$4.10

Wooden dowels

3 dowels / desk

$0.7

https://tinyurl.com/yylj49m4

Zip Ties

8 zip ties / desk

$0.1

Total cost:

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$9.18

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Levels of Cost

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Cost

Posts

Clear Sheet

Stabilizers

Attachment to Desk

High

PVC Pipes

40 Gauge Clear Vinyl Roll

PVC Pipes

C-Clamp

Medium

3-Ply Kraft Cardboard Tubes

10 Gauge Clear Vinyl Roll

Wooden Dowels

Zip Ties

Low

Sturdy Craft Rolls

Saran Wrap

Wooden Dowels

Zip Ties

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Why This Matters

  • Potentially reduce transmission of COVID-19 for children
    • Reduce number of COVID-19 pediatric patients
  • Alleviate teachers’ anxiety and stress
  • Inexpensive and accessible for low-income teachers and families

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Implementation

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Mid-fidelity

prototype and test physical principles

Contact Houston school districts and individual teachers

Distribute partition units to small

number of districts

4 weeks

2 weeks

1 week

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Implementation

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Data evaluation

and monitoring

phase

Distribute to wider range of districts in Texas

Expand nationally

and internationally

5 weeks

3-4 months

6 months-1 year

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Why Our Solution

  • Human-centered design
    • Discussions with teachers in Texas
    • Input from low-income students
  • Flexibility and ease of access
  • Affordable!

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Sources

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Sources

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Questions?