Let the Testing Begin!

It's time to put our Mars Rovers to the test!  Hopefully all that hard work, glue gun burns and broken rubber bands will have led us to the point where we can feel proud to present our "self-propelled scientific transport vehicle."  But, how do we test it?


If you can remember back to the "Developing Ideas" phase, you might remember we looked over the design challenge requirements to being creating our Design Specification.  We crafted criteria we believed would help guide us through the process of designing a product or solution that would run successfully in this challenge.

Each of those criteria we chose to make our Design Specification should be testable in some way.  Will it roll a specific distance?  Lets run it through a trial!  Is it make of the right materials?  Let's have a classmate inspect it.  How should we test our rovers to make sure they meet our Design Specification?  That's where your "Evaluation the Solution" student worksheet comes in.  On the worksheet you'll have an opportunity to list out some potential ways you'll assess your rover to ensure it meets the criteria you chose.

Now that you have a list of ways you intend to put your rover through it's paces, lets get started by using the "Mars Rover - Evaluation Phase - Student and Peer Check-list" worksheet.  This document is designed to allow you to collect data and evidence from your trial runs that you can use later when you need to share your thoughts on just how successful it is.  You'll have a partner objectively fill out the check-list giving you feedback on how they feel the rover fares during each of your trials.

When we've collected the data, we'll interpret what it means to us.  We can decide how the evaluations from ourselves and our peers can give us a clear idea on how successful our rover is.

In the end, you'll have an opportunity to share with us what changes you think you would make to the aesthetics, structure or functionality of your rover to improve upon it.  Could your wheels be better attached, the chassis strengthened or the equipment better secured?

Congratulations on an amazing job!  You guys and girls make me proud with how creative and resourceful you are!  Your energy is great and I can't wait to see what you'll produce for our next unit!

Resources:
Evaluating the Solution - Task Specific Rubric
Evaluating the Solution - Student Worksheet Template
Mars Rover - Evaluation Phase - Student and Peer Check-list

Time to Get Testing!

You did it!  We researched, designed, planned, created and finished our final blogs!  As you look at your finished product, you should be proud of your accomplishments.

Now, in this phase, you will take a step back to reflect on the outcome of your product.

Your task is to create a post that includes and addresses the following: 

Introductory Paragraph (to help readers understand the need and process of evaluating a final product and our selves through this process.)

Product Evaluation (potential questions)

• What are your feelings about your final product? (Positive and/or negative)
• What aspect of your final product are you most proud of and why?
• How does your final product meet your design specifications i.e. your personal criteria, functional blog requirements, design elements and your personality/theme?
• What features or functions on your blog would you change to make a better product?

Personal Reflection   (potential questions)

• Moving forward, what steps can you take to grow your blog and use it as a tool to have a positive effect on yourself and your community?
• How effective do you feel you were in this unit?  What actions or behaviors will you carry over or change for our next unit? 
• What learner profile do you think you best exhibited in this unit and which profile do you feel you would like to work on and strengthen for the next unit?
• How can sharing our thought and ideas online (in a safe and responsible manner) have a positive effect on our community and ourselves (our unit question.)

Conclusion paragraph (that sums up the success of your final product.)

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You may either do this in written or video format.  If you opt for the video option, note the following:

• Suggested web tool to create video:  http://screencast-o-matic.com/
• Or Photobooth/Quicktime recording
• Video length should be no more than 7 minutes.
• Video must be uploaded to your school YouTube channel and then embedded in your blog post.
• An Outline should be written first so you have a clear sense of what you plan on talking about.
 

 

 

Due Dates:

• All 6th Grade Students  Dec. 18th (W)

Time for Testing!!!

You did it!  We researched, designed, planned, created and finished our final blogs!  As you look at your finished product, you should be proud of your accomplishments.

Now, in this phase, you will take a step back to reflect on the outcome of your product.

Your task is to create a post that includes and addresses the following: 

IntroductoryParagraph (to help readers understand the need and process of evaluating afinal product and our selves through this process.)

Product Evaluation (potential questions)

• What are your feelings about your final product? (Positive and/or negative)
• What aspect of your final product are you most proud of and why?
• How does your final product meet your design specifications i.e. yourpersonal criteria, functional blog requirements, design elements and yourpersonality/theme?
• What featuresor functions on your blog would you change to make a better product?

Personal Reflection   (potential questions)

• Moving forward, what steps can you take to grow your blog and use it as a tool tohave a positive effect on yourself andyour community?
• How effective do you feel you were in this unit?  What actions or behaviors will you carry over or change for our next unit? 
• What learner profile do you think you best exhibited in this unit and which profile do you feel you would like to work on and strengthen for the next unit?

Conclusionparagraph (that sums up the success of your final product.)

---

You may either do this in written or video format.  If you opt for the video option, note the following:

• Suggested web tool to create video:  http://screencast-o-matic.com/
• Video length should be no more than 7 minutes.
• Video must be uploaded to your YouTube channel and then embedded in your blog post.
 

 

 

Due Dates:

• All 6th Grade Students  Dec. 17th (M)

Welcome to Design Technology

Aloha 6th Graders!

Welcome to Middle School, the MYP Program and 6th Grade Design Tech!  I can't wait to meet all of you as I've heard such wonderful things about you all!

This is our class blog for Design Tech.  It's the place you'll go to find out what's going on in class, where to go to get help and what's expected of you.  It will be my way of communicating to all of you and your parents about our units of work (assignments and deadlines), upcoming events (activities) and much more.

I know that were going to learn a lot this year - all while having a great time!  If you have any questions or comments, please let me know! See you all soon!