The+Design+Cycle+Process

=Explore= Students have the opportunity to investigate the phenomenon without prior instruction.

=Brainstorm Variables= Teacher facilitates class discussion of design variables.

=**Investigation of Cases**= Students will investigate case studies which will deepen and broaden their knowledge of the variables.

=**Testing of Variables**= Teacher assigns variables to student groups. Each group investigates and reports on the variable they tested. Depending on class size, variables will be tested by one or two groups. Each group develops a Rule of Thumb for their variable.

=Sharing of Variables= Groups present their results. Other students in the class will hold the groups accountable for conducting fair tests and ask questions. =Initial Design Plan= Students use the information from the presentations to create a design. These designs are the subject of a Gallery Walk, and are critiqued by other students. The teacher holds back unless it is necessary to model how such a critique should go. As students gain experience, the teacher will fade into the background. =**Initial Build**= Students will modify designs after the Gallery Walk. =Testing and Redesign= Students build, test and redesign, retest, rebuild, in a cycle within the time constraints of the class. This cyclical process is essential to students' learning.