•The
engineering sequence ensures that students are doing the
thinking.
ProjectLearning:
Invite students to find patterns and
relationships, to become flexible problem-solvers, to
articulate their reasoning, and to become meta-cognitive
about their strategies.
It begins with a complex problem, and
continues with independent or group work, a mini-lesson
based on what students are struggling with or have
discovered, sharing/comparing problem-solving strategies,
and a synthesis of the day’s learning.
•
An Introduction to Project Learning In this
hands-on approach to teaching, students create schoolwork that
demonstrates core subject knowledge .. Edutopia
Actions
Description
Action by grade level
PreK-2:
Focus on using the 8 step design process ( or a
simplified one) and thinking skills questions to do the
design challenges. Use a discussion process between
the teacher and the students to do the design process.
The facilitator uses questions to go through the design
process with the students. Basic goal is to build the
understanding of skillful thinking and the role of the
engineer. When doing a limited build project, students
can learn the basic of scaling, paper modeling, and
natural and manmade material and small group team
operation.
Grades
3-5:
Expand the activity around the design
challenges with more focus on team collaboration and
building artifacts within the group. More self-directed
operation
Rules for team operation
Suggested roles for team members
1. Select
members for the teams.
2. Assign roles for the members of each team.
3. Help students prepare for their roles.
4. Act as a facilitator for the teams.
·Form
teams based on strengths of the individuals towork together
·Have
students select roles that they will do as part of the team.
Focus on engaging the individuals.
•
Scribe … keep track of
activities and items that need to be discussed that the team
discusses.
Accountant … keep
track of and do the accounting for the costs associated with the
project
Scheduler … keep track
and report of the plan and schedule that the team has agreed
upon.
Chief
advocate … be the
main person that fosters the idea that the team is working on
Chief
skeptic … be the main
person to question the direction of the project
Quality
advocate … insure that
the team are following the design process and not producing a
product or process that will not meet the requirements of the
design.
Illustrator:
Your job is to draw some kind of picture related to the design.
It can be a sketch, cartoon, diagram, flow chart, or stick
figure scene. Any kind of drawing or graphic is okay. You can
even label things with words if that helps.
Extra learning opportunities
Add in to the
activity:
budgeting
constraints
use of a
timeline planning process
how do we
insure the quality of the product?
fits the
community needs
Writing
descriptions of products and teamwork
Making a
small model of a big thing ( a scaled model )
Making and
using simple sketches ( blueprints )
Understanding how to comply with design specifications
Can we add
additional literacy skills to this exercise? Keeping a design
note book, making reports and presentations.
