Intro to Ideation: 70 Design Thinking Exercises for Grades 6-8

"This book is an all-in-one resource, providing both the theoretical underpinnings teachers need to wrap their heads around the concept of ideation and the practical component of vetted classroom exercises designed to help teachers realize the full potential of their project-based learning lesson or unit" - Chris Anderson, Integrative STEM Expert and Education Program Specialist at Rutgers University

Coming up with a unique idea or solution – one of our most valuable human skills – has rarely been a focus of STEM curricula. This groundbreaking curriculum fills that gap, teaching students how to hone the design thinking skill of ideation. The book places ideation in its educational context, provides introductory exercises to train students in brainstorming, presentation, collaboration and evaluating solutions, then lays out 70 short classroom exercises that develop ideation skills.

Each of the exercises is centered around one of the 14 Grand Challenges of Engineering, giving students exposure to real-world problems, and framed by one of five original ideation exercise styles. Students develop their creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication skills. The curriculum has a unique focus on problem-solving, including with incomplete information. Each exercise is accompanied by classroom resources, including slideshows.

Written by engineering students with feedback from educational professionals and researchers, this book gives a stunning exposure to real-life engineering to students at the middle school and early high school level.