Week Two: My refections on the EGG DROP DESIGN CHALLENGE

My challenge: The Egg Drop Design Challenge.

Year Level: Year One

After completing the activities for the week, I have decided that I would teach this design project beginning with a literacy connection; a cross curricula priority! Using the rhyme Humpty Dumpty, I will be able to build a context around the reason for designing a protective egg container. I would let the students know that the ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES and the choice of MATERIALS would be the main criteria in the task.

I think I would start by showing a model that I had made, and go through the design cycle as a whole class, using my design as an example. 

Then I would do a lesson on materials and their uses. For example, focus on materials that absorb forces, and materials that fly, and resist wind. 

I would then perhaps, do a lesson on looking at some previously made designs that have failed, and allow the students to ascertain why that might be, and to come up with creative solution s to improve that design. I would incorporate the explicit teaching of using digital cameras (the video function etc) so that students could use the hardware to document the challenge.

After all this, I would begin the design cycle and planning process for their own designs. They would plan it, test it out, re-design and then have a final test. 

It has made me second guess just how long it can take to manage a project! By participating in the design cycle, it is important for students to slow down, step back and take the time to research, investigate and plan first. The idea of evaluating is just as important, because they need to be given the opportunity to re-design and make changes justified by real research!

I am going to upload my work to the group 10 wiki so that I can be peer assessed. I currently do not have access to the wiki. I am hoping that my peers can shed some light on my project and see where I can improve. We all see things differently, so I will enjoy the process.