Let's Design It

How many times have you overhead a student sigh and say, “I’m just not that creative”? Some students do not think that creative thinking is within them. (Maybe some of us educators feel the same way.) Coming up with creative designs isn’t easy for everyone, but we can develop these skills through practice.

If we want to develop our creativity, we need to build our creative agility. Just like an athlete needs to stretch, exercise, and practice the sport or skill that they want to get better at, so must we. The more time we spend flexing our creative muscles, the stronger our creative thinking will be.

Engineering Design

One way that we can engage students in creative design is through the engineering design process. There are several different models that use various steps, but at the heart of the process are these five ideas:

ASK: Students need to think with curiosity about the things around them and ask questions. They can identify problems that need to be solved within the constraints provided.

IMAGINE: With a problem in mind, students can brainstorm possible solutions. Using design thinking, they can begin to consider which solution might best address the problem.

PLAN: In the planning phase of the process, students might sketch a plan, list their materials, or begin to map out their ideas in more detail.

CREATE: Now it is time for students to access their tools and materials to make or build their prototype.

IMPROVE: With a prototype designed, students will test their creation and see if it worked. With feedback from others, they will take steps to improve their prototype.

Design and Creativity

The more students engage in the engineering design process, the more they will get comfortable with the process of coming up with lots of ideas and designing multiple iterations of things. Engineering and design challenges allow students to think about problems and solutions. They can explore different places and situations where problems can occur and determine potential solutions to problems. By fostering creativity in our classrooms, we can unlock the power of imagination with our students.

Sometimes the engineering design process can be in response to a story or a planned prompt. We can create tools that prompt student design experiences. The grid below can offer a guided opportunity for students to create something new to fit within certain parameters. Some students will enjoy this structure, while others might prefer the freedom to create and design on their own. This provides one option for learners who may need some support as they build their stamina for creativity.

 

How might you use this with students?

•  Choice Board-students can use this template and choose one item from each column as a prompt for their design challenge.
• Partner Challenge-print out copies of the template and have students partner up. Each partner will secretly choose and circle  the items that they want their partner to design. Then they can switch back their papers and start designing!
• Play 4 Corners-Explain to students that they will play a game to determine what they will design for their challenge. Make a note on your copy of the template, randomly assigning A, B, C, and D to an item in each column. Allow students to choose a corner for each of four rounds. Once they get up and choose a corner of the room, announce what each corner will focus on. At the end of four rounds students will know what four items they need to consider in their design. For example, a bike with lots of controls that can float in an underground cave.

 Be sure to encourage students to share or present their creations. Designing “for fun” can be a great way to get students thinking flexibly and trying new materials. Activities like these can spark the imagination and allow students to move outside of their comfort zone. Not only can we engage them in the engineering and design process, but also encourage them to build their creative agility in the classroom.

If you are looking for more challenges/templates like this one, check out this recent post to prompt creative design. You can use lots of different strategies to promote creativity at any grade level.