Week 10 Posting

I believe that in order to have engaging and effective design challenges you have to first not make it so hard that the students are confused. But as long as the students are able to approach the subject without feeling like they have to answer a certain “correct” way, then I believe that teachers will be amazed at the results. But here are a few examples of engaging and effective design challenges: drawing designs with CAD programs, building designs with simulation software, developing programming skills using commands to make pictures students design on screen to move, and creating music software such as Garage Band or Musical Sketch Pad. All of these are creative ways to teach students how to make better use of computers.

Students can be motivated to continue exploring by the instant feedback they receive from the programs I mentioned in the previous paragraph. The way to keep them coming back to these programs is by sharing with the class projects that other students have done and to encourage them to use the programs over again. Teachers should also contact the distributor about finding reduced rates where parents can buy the software to use at home.

Teachers act as designers when they themselves delve into the programs and create examples for the students. And yes, they should go back and tweak what didn’t work and anything that can be done differently to help students understand the programs more easily.

Trudy Paul
Picture #20