What is Design Challenge, anyway?

Design Challenge is The Tech's signature pedagogy where students engage in the design process to solve a relevant, authentic, real-world problem. Students apply and reinforce their Science content knowledge, as well as Social Studies and Language Arts through an open-ended design process that results in an original solution. Students take responsibility for assessing their own progress and incorporate peer feedback. The following are the three main phases of the model:

The Tech's Learning Model

Investigate

  • Identify problem and constraints
  • Team brainstorm and discussion
  • Research

Create/Re-Create

  • Select a solution
  • Design and Construct
  • Test
  • Redesign or modify
  • Retest

Reflect

  • Share solutions
  • Reflection and discussion
 Design Challenge model

The cloverleaf road diagram above represents an engineering or design process. Teams do not follow a linear path from problem to solution; they will weave in and out of Investigate, Create, and Reflect, often using skills from two or three areas simultaneously.

Through the Design Challenge process, students have the opportunity to build broad skills useful throughout their lives ("core learning"), regardless of the specifics of the challenge. In using this open-ended approach that leads to the creation of numerous designs, students are challenged to apply their domain knowledge, personal experiences, interests and talents to the process of creating an inventive, team driven solution. This approach creates a powerful learning experience, where students are intrinsically inspired to learn and have pride in achieving a goal as a team.

Online Resources

If you are interested in finding out more about Design Challenge:
http://www.thetech.org/education/