Prototyping with Purpose
Low-Tech Design Challenges that Focus on Human-Centered Design
Engage and challenge students in this series to promote design thinking and engineering whether in the classroom or via remote learning. Lessons are designed to make it easy for grade 4-8 teachers to deliver remotely and include instruction as well as videos that can be assigned directly to students.
Centered on the work e-NABLE has done to bring 3D printed prosthetics to people all around the world, students will learn about the Engineering Design Process, how makers and engineers are using that process in the face of Covid 19, the power of empathy in design, anatomy, and simple machines.
Equip yourself and students with the skills, mindset, AND the confidence and inspiration to engage in a human-centered design process inside and outside the classroom.
Get started now!This course is for you if you are looking for low-tech design challenges that:
Teach Empathy
Inspires students to feel like agents of change (and learn about limb differences, anatomy and engineering in the process)
Are Equitable
Uses a range of low-end supplies and recycled materials that makes learning possible for students across different living situations
Collaborate
Makes it easy to co-teach lessons with other teachers at your school
"My plan is to give my students daily challenges...this is great. It keeps us thinking and builds on community. Thanks for sharing with us!"
Angela Zinkl
Meet Your Instructor
Samantha Gleisten
Dir. Of Learner Experience
Samantha Gleisten is the Director of Learner Experience Design at BitSpace, where she works to share professional development opportunities in making and constructivist teaching with educators across the country. Prior to her work with Bit Space, Sam was a classroom teacher for 15 years and was awarded an Unsung Heroes Award by Voya for her work implementing a problem solving curriculum in the classroom.
