OPTION 1: DESIGN AN ANDROID APPLICATION
There are a number of ways you can introduce a creative student piece in the classroom. Depending on the time you allot to the project will determine your next course of action in terms of the project to implement in the classroom. For the purpose of this assignment, I've chosen a project based on creating a "Android App" on "Learning about Digestive System" for a layperson. Or, you can allow students to come up with their own idea of how they would like to design their app based on digestive system (i.e., nutrition tracking, food tracking, exercise and fitness tracking, personalized tracker, digestive system exam questions etc). Students value and appreciate, when they're given the freedom to choose the project/design of their liking. In order to successfully carry out this project, students will need to be given sufficient in-class tutorials in designing an application, and also the requirements of the project.
This application will allow users who are experiencing challenges (or simply want to learn) with their digestive system to gain a better understanding of how their digestive system function and the role of each digestive organs in their body. As an educator, you can probably try to convince students that we want our knowledge and resource to reach mass population, and it can only be possible if we provide our resources at a cost of, "Zero"! However, if students chooses to attach a price tag to it, then they're free to do so for the application they've designed!
Students can begin learning about designing their first app by clicking on the tab provided below.
This application will allow users who are experiencing challenges (or simply want to learn) with their digestive system to gain a better understanding of how their digestive system function and the role of each digestive organs in their body. As an educator, you can probably try to convince students that we want our knowledge and resource to reach mass population, and it can only be possible if we provide our resources at a cost of, "Zero"! However, if students chooses to attach a price tag to it, then they're free to do so for the application they've designed!
Students can begin learning about designing their first app by clicking on the tab provided below.
Below are exemplars you can show your students to outline the expectation of the project assigned.
OPTION 2: DESIGN A BOARD GAME
Allowing your students to design a board game, and play with one another is an interesting way to reinforce the content learned. While designing the board game, they are constantly in the process of questioning and learning the material in-depth that they otherwise would have overlooked. However, you also want to determine how much time you can afford to allocate to such activities. There are two options you can potentially explore: a) You can have your students design a game manufactured from scratch; Or b) You can have students use an online programming tool to design their board game online. There are tonnes of resources online with pre-set templates, and allows your students to quickly put together a board game which they can play with each other. There is also an opportunity for you to have students assess/evaluate each other's board game after having played their game, while providing constructive feedback in terms of any glitches they experienced and/or how it could be further improved. This peer assessment and feedback helps students engage with the material at a deeper level, and also help boost their excitement.
Below, are some links you can potentially explore to decide what would best meet your classroom needs in order to successfully carry out this project. How to make your own board game walks through step-by-step of how to design your own board game. It is recommended that you walk through these steps with your students so they know how to proceed further with the project. Second, you can explore the online board game route, which is not as time consuming. However, it is recommended that students are still given a background knowledge or understanding of how board game is designed and the purpose of it to gear students in the right direction. Last tab provides students a list of ideas/suggestion they can explore before designing their own board game. It is always a good practice for them to see what a board game looks like, and how each board game is different and what purpose do they achieve from being different and how it game is effective in its own right to achieve the purpose it was designed to achieve.
Below, are some links you can potentially explore to decide what would best meet your classroom needs in order to successfully carry out this project. How to make your own board game walks through step-by-step of how to design your own board game. It is recommended that you walk through these steps with your students so they know how to proceed further with the project. Second, you can explore the online board game route, which is not as time consuming. However, it is recommended that students are still given a background knowledge or understanding of how board game is designed and the purpose of it to gear students in the right direction. Last tab provides students a list of ideas/suggestion they can explore before designing their own board game. It is always a good practice for them to see what a board game looks like, and how each board game is different and what purpose do they achieve from being different and how it game is effective in its own right to achieve the purpose it was designed to achieve.