STEAL THESE IDEAS. MAKE THEM BETTER.

I firmly believe in sharing work with others and encouraging transparency. It is vital that the work teachers and students produce is given a platform to inspire others. Even if the work has flaws (it always will), it can serve as a working prototype that can ignite conversations throughout communities. A culture of publishing allows work to have a greater impact. 

The following are projects and design challenges that I helped design and implement (along with an amazing group of colleagues) with real students in real schools. Feel free to use and redesign the work to fit your students' needs. As always, I encourage you to pay it forward and share these with your friends. 

Mind, Body, and Soul 

Driving Question: How does music affect us, and how does it reflect societies and cultures?
Student Work Samples:

Ex Umbra

Driving Question: How might we bring a local social issue "Out of the Shadows" and into the light?
Video Summary, Project Trailer, and Student Work Samples:

The Learning Landscape

Design Challenge: Design a piece of furniture better suited for the 21st century learning environment.
Video Summary:

Trash to Treasure

Driving Question: How might we repurpose discarded materials to impact our community?
Video Summary:

Politics as (un)Usual

Design Challenge: Redesign the political campaign poster. 
Student Work Samples:

Up a Creek

Design Challenge: Design a raft out of repurposed materials that is buoyant enough to send your teachers down a creek.
Entry Event Video and Raft Testing Images:

The History Hall of Fame

Driving Question: How might we honor an agent of change?
Student Work Samples:

Play Dead

Design Challenge: Write and perform an intriguing murder mystery that accurately represents the characters and culture of a time period in United States History.  
Poster and Video Trailer:

Ramp It Up

Driving Question: How might we use math to make a difference in our surrounding community?

The Shark Tank

Driving Question: How can I use entrepreneurship to make a difference?

Food-A-Rama

Driving Question: How might we redesign the food label to encourage more transparency and food literacy with America's youth?

Proper Propaganda

Design Challenge: How might we redesign historical propaganda to serve a modern purpose.

Must Know Geo

Driving Question: How might we redesign the typical map to be more engaging?

Game On

Design Challenge: Design an original and engaging board game for young children that incorporates math, science, history, and language arts.

The Outdoor Classroom

Design Challenge: Design and build an outdoor space that is functional, green and within budget.

Lockdown

Driving Question: How might you create a security system using mirrors, prisms, laser beams and the properties of polygons?    

Project 3-D

Driving Question: How might we create a piece of art that brings awareness to a social issue?

There's an App for That

Design Challenge: Design a “power app” that uniquely reflects your most desirable learning attribute. 

Semester Summaries

Check out the following videos for project highlights from our Fall 2009 and Spring 2011 semesters: