Monday, September 10, 2018

Taking Flight with Design Thinking

Transitional kindergarten and kindergarten teachers from San Diego Unified came back from summer break early this year to prepare for teaching the new SDUSD STEAM Innovations curriculum. STEAM focused curriculum integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

Iteration in Design was just one many workshops teachers experienced that week. The teachers were asked, “How might you design a flying machine using only a straw, paper, scissors, and tape that travels the furthest?” This wasn’t just playing with paper airplanes! The real challenge and learning was focused on the iterative process. Iteration is a cycle of designing a model, testing it, revising, testing it, and so on. Teachers left the workshop with their flying machines, ready to try the iterative process in their classrooms.