Session 1 · DESIGN: Sketch
Build to test
- 5 minTool safety briefing: goggles, clamps, one saw per bench, adult nearby.
- 40 minBuild a prototype or scale model that makes your most important 'must' testable. Full size if you can; to scale if you can't.
- 5 minPlan round-one tests: what, how, how many trials.
Session 2 · DESIGN: Improve
Round one testing
- 10 minSet up a fair, repeatable test for each 'must'. Change only one thing at a time.
- 30 minRun each test three times. Enter every trial in the shared spreadsheet.
- 10 minFind the median for each test and mark each 'must' as met or not met.
Getting started
Test the single most important 'must' first.
Stretch
Add a user test: a stakeholder tries the prototype while you time and observe them.
Checkpoint
Round-one data in the spreadsheet and a clear list of specs met and not met.
Activities for this week
- Ramp gradient challenge: How long does a ramp need to be to climb one step safely?
- Build a testable prototype: What is the simplest thing we can build that lets us test our most important spec?
Useful this week
- Tinkercad ↗ 3D models you can measure, rotate and turn into technical views.
- CensusAtSchool resources ↗ Help with medians, graphs and making sense of your test data.