ASU Verizon Innovative Learning Lab Program Installation Guide
- June 13, 2024
- ASU
Table of Contents
Verizon Innovative Learning Lab Program
Smart Solutions
Lesson Facilitator Guide: Micro:bit
Project: Ideate and Sketch
Overview
This lesson should take 1-2 class periods, or about 50-100 minutes to
complete.
In this lesson, students will ideate and sketch designs for their Micro:bits
project. Additionally, they will create a budget for their prototype.
Note: the presentation and worksheet for this lesson are the same for all
project choices.
Regardless of project choice, all students will brainstorm and sketch ideas!
Lesson objectives
Students will be able to:
- Ideate and write down ideas for your wearable on sticky notes.
- Sketch a rough design of your wearable and put together a budget for your prototype!
Materials
To complete this Lesson, students will need:
- A laptop/tablet
- Video: Ideating with Sticky Notes
- Something to write with (a pencil or pen)
- Coloring materials
- Post it notes or index cards.
- This lesson’s activity worksheet
- Student worksheet
Standards
- Common Core State Standards (CCSS) – ELA Anchors: L.6
- Common Core State Standards (CCSS) – Mathematical Practice: 1
- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) – Science and Engineering Practices: 1
- International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): 6
- National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education (NCEE): 1
Key vocabulary
- Ideate: The third step in the Design Thinking process. Ideating is like brainstorming – listing as many ideas as you can, no matter how crazy, to solve a problem statement.
Before you begin
- Students will all be completing similar tasks in this lesson, but their responses will be different depending on their user. Familiarize yourself with all three projects!
- Review the “Lesson 3: Ideate” presentations, rubric, and/or lesson modules.
- Ensure students have access to this lesson’s activity worksheet.
- It is recommended to lead a “live” ideating session where you time students and encourage them to come up with a ton of ideas. Ask helpful questions, encourage students to combine ideas, and reward creativity
Lesson Procedures
Welcome and Introductions (2 Minutes)
Welcome students to class. Use the included presentations, or direct students
to the self-guided SCORM module if you chose to post it on your Learning
Management System.
Explain to students that they will be brainstorming and sketching ideas for
their projects.
Warm-up, Projects A, B, and C (2 minutes each)
The warm-up question is identical for all three projects. The goal of the
warm-up is to have students think about what a good brainstorming session
looks like. Allow students time to answer the question on their own, then
discuss it as a class.
Warm up : The third step of the design thinking process is to ideate, or
brainstorm.
Which of the items below are good habits to have when ideating?
Don’t judge others’ ideas.
Creative and ridiculous ideas are great!
Come up with as many ideas possible.
Write every idea down.
Only come up with one idea and move on
Ignore “bad” ideas
After reviewing the warm-up question, review the lesson objectives and
materials as a class.
Video: Ideating with Sticky Notes (3 Minutes)
Students will watch a video to learn more about ideating, also known as
brainstorming. You may watch this video as an entire class, or allow students
to watch the video independently or in pairs:
https://youtu.be/VvdJzeO9yN8
The key takeaway from this video is that ideating/brainstorming is all about
quantity and getting silly. The more ideas you can come up with, the better
chance you have of truly solving your problem. And the truly creative ideas
usually start as silly ideas.
Review your Project Requirements (5 Minutes)
In this section, students will quickly review their project requirements.
Based on their project choice, students will be creating one of nine different
possible items. Regardless of project choice, each student will need to:
- Choose a user and create an empathy map and problem statement.
- Brainstorm ideas for your product and put together a budget for your prototype.
- Use Micro:bits to build a prototype (rough model) of your wearable. Your Micro:bit prototype must include at last two inputs and one output.
- Create a logo and advertisement for your product to present to other students.
- Turn in a photo or video of your project with completed reflection questions and a link to your project’s MakeCode.
It may also be a good time to print out and review the rubric with your students. Feel free to make any changes this rubric as you fit!
Ideating Time: Sticky Notes (10 Minutes)
-
Ensure students have access to pencils and paper (sticky notes are preferred).
-
Set a timer for two minutes. Students independently list as many ideas for their projects as they can. Ask guiding questions to encourage creativity, such as:
• What inputs will you use? (Buttons, shake sensor, light sensor, temperature sensor, compass, pins?)
• Where will your user wear the Micro:bit? How will it be attached?
• Are there any similar products or solutions to this problem? What are they?
• How would you solve this problem is you weren’t using the Micro:bit?
• Can you use the LEDs? Can you use more than one Micro:bit? -
Give the students 5 minutes to share and discuss their ideas with a partner. Stick the ideas on a wall or table.
-
Give students 3 minutes to cluster ideas. Some possible category ideas include:
• Ways to wear the Micro:bit
• Inputs
• Materials
• Similar products
• Wild ideas -
Have students vote for their favorite ideas.
Here is an example of what a student’s brainstorming and clustering of sticky notes might look like:
Sketches and Budget (20-30 Minutes)
Students will now sketch their favorite idea using pencils, paper, and any
coloring implements they might have. To do this, they will follow along with
the step by step instructions in this lesson’s activity worksheet.
Remind students that sketches do not have to be works of art, but rather rough
ideas to get a feel for layout and overall design.
Additionally, students will create a budget for their prototype of less than
100 VilCoins. Here is an example budget:
Project 2 Prototype Budget
Amount to spend 100 VilCoins
Item| Cost (VilCoin)| Unit| Quantity| Total Cost
Consturction Paper| 5| 1 sheet| 2| 10
Aluminum Foil| 15| 1 sheet| 0| 0
Cardboard| 15| 1 sheet| 1| 15
Hot Glue Stick| 15| 1 stick| 0| 0
Duct Tape| 10| 1 foot| 2| 20
Scotch Tape| 10| 1 foot| 1| 10
Popsicle Stick| 5| 1 stick| 0| 0
Pipe Cleaner| 10| 1 stick| 1| 10
String| 5| 1 foot| 0| 0
Rubberband| 5| 1 rubberband| 0| 0
Micro:bit| 15| 1 board| 1| 15
USB Cable| 5| 1 cable| 1| 5
Battery Pack w/ AA batteries| 10| 1 pack| 1| 10
Final Project Cost:| 95
Wrap up, deliverable, and assessment (5 mins)
- Wrap up: If time permits, allow students to share their sketches and budgets.
- Deliverable: Students complete their ideation activity worksheets and turn them in.
- Assessment: The activity worksheet will be used as an assessment for this project.
Differentiation
- Additional Support #1: Complete a guided ideation session as a class, where students take turns putting their sticky note ideas on the whiteboard.
- Additional Support #2: Complete an example version of the budget, showing students how to calculate the quantities and costs.
- Extension: Students can create an additional sketch of an “ultra-premium” version of their Micro:bits wearable. What would it look like with all the bells and whistles?