Iteration with Balloon-Powered Vehicle
Watch this video as youth design, build, test and redesign their balloon-powered vehicles.
As you watch the video, here are two things to think about.
- Notice how youth are evaluating the designs and decided what works and what they need to change.
- Notice how the facilitators talk with youth about their ideas and what changes they want to make.
Now that you’ve watched the video, reflect on what you saw. How does this apply to your work?
- How is this activity organized to encourage youth to evaluate and improve their balloon-powered vehicles? What strategies could you use?
- How can you create a learning culture that encourages evaluation and iteration?
Engineers test their designs to see how they work. They collect and analyze data to revise and improve solutions in an iterative process. When they have the supplies and time that they need, youth can also evaluate their designs, iterate, and improve their ideas.
Explore Engineering Practices
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Bringing in the Experts
Facilitators of STEM activities can help youth connect to STEM careers by providing opportunities to introduce STEM professionals to youth.
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Group Collaboration
Collaboration is an effective strategy to increase STEM learning especially when it happens during group work. Watch an experienced frontline staff member lead groups in the re-design process using group collaboration.
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Keep Youth Interacting
STEM activities are engaging, interactive and hands on experiences for youth. But what happens when members of a group are not interacting? In this video, pay close attention to how the facilitators work with a group if members become disengaged. Listen to the supportive but firm voice of the adult, as she re-directs the group. Pay special attention to how staff listen, maintain a supportive attitude, and model effective collaboration skills.