How do you close the gap between I wonder and I know? You make a prototype.
A prototype is a tool that gives you a chance to investigate your ideas and explore what could, should, or would come next, whether you are designing a new product, working out a new routine, or rearranging your furniture.
Experience prototypes are just one of a whole portfolio of ways that learners can explore a question. No-build hacks are a type of prototype that actively ignore fancy technology in favor of simply setting a context. They are cobbled together with anything you have at hand. These prototypes often have some kind of tactile or sensory engagement so the participants don’t just watch; they do or react to something—like setting a scene for a play.
How does it work?
The downloadable activity shows how making and question-asking can be key tools in learning, and how prototypes can be used to understand an idea, an early concept for something new, or a motivation. The activity is written to be used in the classroom, but it can be done with any group or on one’s own.
Credits
This Is a Prototype by Scott Witthoft
Educator Guide: edited by Jennifer Brown and designed by Lauren Steltzer
Exam Copies for Educators
To request a complimentary examination copy to review for use in your classroom, contact Penguin Random House Education here.
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