Prototype Practice

Prototype Practice

The aim is to develop a strategy to create a prototype.

1. The teacher explains the following to the students:

• the task builds on the Ideate stage
• the task requires the construction of a physical/virtual prototype which also involves using a range of soft skills – teamwork, collaboration, using positive feedback and being mindful of others’ opinions.

2. The students organise themselves in to suitable groups and complete the following tasks:

• thought shower ideas for creating a process for the production of the prototype.  Write ideas on the whiteboard/virtual tools.
• create a checklist that reflects the challenge aims and use it to come to a consensus on the approach to creating a prototype
• identify stages in the production process and create a workflow for creating the prototype identifying the materials required
• allocate roles to specific parts of the work flow and develop the prototype.

3. Students then test the prototype and make notes on the checklist.
4. Students analyse the results from the checklist and refer back to the Ideate stage if necessary.

The activity will raise students’ awareness of a structured and organised process that they can synthesis and apply in this stage in the challenge. The activity will enhance students’ problem solving skills by using materials creatively to create the prototype.

The activity could be done using online tools such as Padlet, virtual whiteboard and breakout rooms in Teams/Zoom.