Managing Problem Solving in the Context of Design and Make Activities: Reflections on Classroom Practice

Thi s article de s crib es a half-t e rm pr o j e ct und e rt a k e n at th e re que st o f a loc a l sc h oo l as a mea n s of ass i s tin g t h em t o intr o du ce a w id e r ra n ge of d es i g n a nd techn o l ogy act i v iti es to top juni o r childr e n . The intention w as to h e lp b o th s t aff and p upil s t o d eve l o p a b e tt e r under sta ndin g o f b o th t he d es i g n and m ake pr o ce ss a nd ho w pr a cti ca l pr o blem so l v in g mi g ht b e man ag ed to se c ure e ffecti ve re s ults. The wo r k was ca rri e d o u t w i t h c hild re n w h o re qu i r e d a ddi t i o n a l ex p e ri e n ce o f d es i g nin g a nd m ak ing ge n e r a ll y and th e u s e o f re s i s t a nt m a t e ri a l s s p ecif i ca ll y.