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Cody Coltharp

Digital Interactive Designer
Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access
Primary (5 to 8 years old), Middle School (13 to 15 years old), High School (16 to 18 years old), Adults, Post-Secondary
Language Arts And English, Design, Geometry, Literature, Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts, US History, World History, Arts :
Smithsonian Staff

Cody Coltharp is a Digital Interactive Designer at the Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access. He serves as project manager for a variety of projects that use digitized museum objects in innovative ways, including virtual/augmented reality and web/mobile based applications. He is also co-chair of SI-Gaming, a group of Smithsonian educators and technicians interested in making Smithsonian digital content more engaging through interactivity.

Cody Coltharp's collections

 

How Posters Work

<p>This collection is inspired by Cooper Hewitt's 2015 book and exhibition How Posters Work, written by Ellen Lupton, presenting works from the museum's astonishing collection of over 4,000 historic and contemporary posters.</p><p>In this student activity, you'll learn the basics of poster and advertisement design: how to tell a story, excite the eye, and use visual language to create emotional, effective design. At the conclusion of the lesson, you'll create a film poster of your own. This collection is perfect for graphic designers, illustrators, and enthusiasts alike. All you need is a passion for design, a curious eye, and love for a visual story.</p><p><a href="https://www.skillshare.com/classes/Demystifying-Graphic-Design-How-Posters-Work/1938197477/projects?category=design">Watch Ellen share her own poster design process in a hands-on design lesson here</a>, or <a href="https://www.cooperhewitt.org/events/current-exhibitions/how-posters-work/">explore the original Cooper Hewitt exhibition</a></p>
Cody Coltharp
12
 

CURIO STORIES

Use the Learning Lab resources to create hilarious stories while learning the basic parts of speech. Younger students can search from resources within the Curio card deck to make their stories. Older students are encouraged to adapt this collection and replace the slides with images that they find that fit the description. A link to a completed example can be found in the information bar to the left. Happy storytelling!
Cody Coltharp
9
 

Engineering Flight

<p>This is a master collection designed to be copied and adapted to your individual classroom needs. Included are three scalable student activities that teach students engineering skills using methods similar to those that made the Wright brothers pioneers of aviation. Feel free to pick and choose from the activities in creating your own collections: </p> <p><strong>1. The Four Forces of Flight</strong></p> <p>In this student activity, students will briefly go over the four forces of flight (lift, drag, weight, and thrust) and put them to the test in the Paper Airplane Challenge! This activity is suitable for Primary/Intermediate grade levels.</p> <p><strong>2. Engineering the Wright Way</strong></p> <p>The second student activity is an online interactive, "Engineering the Wright Way"*, where students will develop engineering skills to design and test all the different components of an airplane based on the the Wrights' methodology. Students can write down a save code generated in the interactive to store their progress and return to finish the activity later. This activity is suitable for Intermediate/Middle grade levels.</p> <p><strong>3. Take a Wright Flight</strong></p> <p>The third student activity is an online flight simulator to learn three controls of flight: yaw, pitch, and roll. The final segment is an online interactive** to test fly the original Wright Flyer in conditions similar to that cold December morning when the Wrights first achieved flight, using direct 3D scans of the original Wright Flyer made by the Smithsonian. This activity is suitable for all grades.</p> <hr> <p><em>*The "Engineering the Wright Way" lesson plan and activity were created by the National Air and Space Museum, courtesy of the Alcoa Foundation.</em></p> <p><em>**The Wright Brothers Flyer activity was created by the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology</em></p> <p>This is one of 5 activities used in the Lenovo Week of Service event.</p>
Cody Coltharp
19
 

E-Textiles

<p>This teaching collection gives an introduction to e-textiles, which incorporates sewing with circuitry. Students will first learn the basics LED circuitry, then create their very own wearable tech. Extension activities include creating paper circuits with magnetic copper tape and magnetic "throwies". </p><p><br /></p><hr /><p>This is one of 5 activities used in the Lenovo Week of Service event.</p>
Cody Coltharp
13
 

Game Changers: Quest 4 Resources

<p>Look at the examples we've provided to see how Apollo re-entry capsules protected their astronauts, and choose one to research. Send it to Nia with a description of what it is, how it was used, and how it can help her.</p><p> Later you will be building your own re-entry capsule to send to Nia. Think about how some of the designs you see in this collection could be used in your lander, and how you might improve them.</p>
Cody Coltharp
10
 

Parks and Playgrounds: Preschool

<p>Use these pictures to help your child make careful observations of their world and use words to describe what they think and wonder about.  This collection is meant to stimulate curiosity and develop vocabulary with the youngest learners. There are conversation starters among the images, but be sure to let the child's interest and your own questions drive the discussion. </p> <p>Combine these images with real-world examples from your child's books, toys, or your own community. If you're interested in learning more about an individual image, click on the "i" icon located in the top left to view the museum description. </p> <p>This has been adapted from the <a href="http://www.visiblethinkingpz.org/VisibleThinking_html_files/03_ThinkingRoutines/03c_Core_routines/SeeThinkWonder/SeeThinkWonder_Routine.html" target="_blank">Project Zero's “See Think Wonder"</a> Visible Thinking routine, meant for exploring works of art and other interesting things.</p> <p>A free printable version is included at the end of the collection. </p> <p>#visiblethinking</p> <p></p>
Cody Coltharp
17