Classroom (Group Learning)
February 6, 2025
Comprehensive guide for design thinking and project planning (Week 2)
This guide covers Week 2 of the Solar Solutions program, focusing on design thinking methodology and project planning. Building on the solar energy fundamentals covered in Part 1A, these lessons prepare students for their design projects through structured planning and creative problem-solving activities.
For program overview, see Sustainable Design: Solar Solutions – Course Overview. For solar energy fundamentals, see Solar Solutions Part 1A: Solar Energy Foundations.
By completing these lessons, students will:
Each group needs:
Planning Tools:
Documentation Materials:
Display Materials:
Transform your classroom into a design studio. Create distinct areas for:
On the walls, display:
Begin with a simple yet engaging design challenge: “Imagine redesigning how we drink water at school. What problems exist with our current water fountains?”
This immediate, relatable challenge helps students understand design thinking before applying it to solar devices.
Guide students through the core principles:
Use the water fountain example to demonstrate each stage:
Now shift focus to solar devices. Start with understanding user needs through empathy mapping:
Setting Up: Create groups of 3-4 students. Give each group:
The empathy map should have four quadrants:
Guide students through mapping:
Teaching Tip: If students struggle with empathy mapping, use yourself as an example. Think aloud about your own experiences with sustainable technology.
Help students create clear problem statements using the format:
[User] needs a way to [user’s need] because [insight].
Example: “High school students need a way to charge their devices outdoors because they often study in the school yard during lunch breaks.”
Guide groups through:
Students now investigate existing solutions. Provide structured research guides with:
Research Focus Areas:
Important: Provide a list of approved research sources or create a curated research packet if internet access is limited.
Introduce project management fundamentals using a simple framework:
Show students how to create a basic project timeline:
Pro Tip: Use sticky notes for tasks so they can be easily moved around as plans evolve.
Help students develop a comprehensive resource plan for their projects. This crucial step prevents delays and budget issues later.
Start with a simple visualization exercise: “Imagine building your solar device step by step. What will you need at each stage?”
Guide students through resource categories:
Materials List: Create a structured template with:
Teaching Tip: Have sample materials available to help students understand specifications and qualities.
Skills Assessment: Help teams identify:
Use a simple skills matrix to visualize team capabilities and gaps.
Effective teams need clear structure and communication. Guide students through team formation using the RACI matrix approach (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed).
Team Roles: Rather than rigid assignments, encourage rotating responsibilities:
Create role cards describing:
Communication Plan: Help teams establish:
Introduce basic risk management concepts through a practical exercise.
Risk Identification: Have teams brainstorm potential issues in categories:
Use a simple risk matrix to assess:
Guide students in creating mitigation strategies:
Set up an organized documentation system that supports project success.
Digital Organization: Create a folder structure:
Note: If using physical documentation, create a similar structure with labeled sections in a project binder.
Documentation Templates: Provide standard formats for:
Establish clear quality standards for the project. Create simple checklists for:
Design Quality:
Construction Quality:
Documentation Quality:
End Week 2 with a structured project launch review.
Readiness Checklist: Teams verify:
Launch Presentation: Each team presents their:
Look for understanding of:
Time Management Issues:
Team Dynamics:
After completing these planning activities, proceed to Solar Solutions Part 2A: Circuit Design Fundamentals for guidance on advanced circuit design and component selection.
Remember: Good planning prevents poor performance. Take time to establish solid foundations during these planning stages.
For implementation support or to share experiences, keep an eye out for our educator community forum coming soon.
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