HOPEWELL -- A group of students at Hopewell High School aims to design a cost-effective, 21st-century desk that enhances a student's learning experience.
The students recently were awarded a $7,350 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam grant to assist in their endeavor. Hopewell High is one of 15 schools across the country to receive the grant.
Since then, the 10 students have tackled the process head-on, dividing into teams to take on different aspects of the planning phase.
"We're just working on . . . getting everything in place so the process can be as smooth as possible," junior Courtney Granderson said.
The students began the application process in December 2008 and considered several invention ideas before settling on what they dubbed the U-Learn Student Desk. Other ideas were a voice-controlled dog door, a low-heat turbine and a temperature-controlled pillow.
In the end, desks were the most practical choice.
"Everybody knows about desks. For 13 years, you're going to sit in a desk -- make it comfortable," senior Jonevas Rhone said.
As they researched the desks used at the high school, they discovered the desks have changed little since 1954, when the original design was patented.
The students brainstormed ways to create an ergonomic desk that is more userand environmentally friendly. Surveys are being sent to those who come into contact with desks on a regular basis -- teachers, students and custodians -- and to those who purchase desks.
They also are looking for mentors in the community to assist with materials and the building process.
"We want the desk to be ergonomic and 21st-century, but then again, we have to remember the cost and how much schools have to pay to actually purchase the desk," junior Nicholas Robinson said.
During a recent day in class, the students worked on finishing the surveys to distribute. They talked about posting the survey to such social-networking sites as Facebook and MySpace.
Teacher Andrei Dacko guides the students during this process, describing himself as a facilitator.
"I'm making sure they stick with what they need to do," Dacko said.
Otherwise, the project rests solely in the hands of the students, who will begin the design phase next month once they have analyzed the survey data.
The students want to begin constructing the desk in January to show the finished product in June at EurekaFest at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or jslayton@timesdispatch.com.
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