Maker Mondays Workbook
First download the Maker Mondays workbook - you will need this to complete the Maker Mondays challenge.
What to do in steps
1 Download the Maker Mondays workbook
This is the very first thing to do. Download the workbook by clicking on the white arrow above.
The workbook is a PDF file so you will need Adobe Acrobat reader. You can download that for free here.
2 Print the workbook
The workbook is made up of worksheets for you to write and draw on, so you will need to print them before you can use them. If you don't have a printer at home, then you can create your own by copying each worksheet on a separate sheet of paper.
You could also create your own Maker Mondays Workbook to keep all your ideas in.
3 Follow the design thinking process
Some of the best inventions and transformative ideas happening across the world today will begin with a sense of curiosity, wonder and lots of playing with ideas and using the same skills you will use to create your idea!
Follow the design thinking process set out in your workbook. Note: If you want to be more familiar with this before you start - the design thinking process is outlined below. You can also read in more detail about design thinking here.
4 Take pictures of your worksheets
When you are finished working, scan or take pictures of both your design thinking, ideate and prototype worksheets. Make sure each photograph is a good shot - straight on and in good light so the image is clear. These images may appear in the online gallery - so you want them to look good!
5 Upload your idea to the Maker Mondays website
You are now ready to upload your idea to the Maker Mondays website. Click the upload button at the top of the home page. Complete the form - typing up your notes from your designing thinking worksheet. Then upload the images you took or scanned of your worksheets. You can upload a picture of a model too if you have made one.
6 Check the online gallery
The Maker Mondays team selects up to 20 of the best submissions for the week and includes them in the gallery. We have to limit it to 20 submission because there isn't the space on our server to upload everyone's ideas.
So if yours doesn't make it one week - don't worry - please try again. Remember we might get 100's of submissions each week, maybe 1000's! There's lots of time to practice. Every idea is a good idea and you are nurturing your creativity.
To be included in the Maker Mondays gallery you will need to upload your idea by 12pm on friday the week the challenge is set
PROCESS
RE-CAP
1 download the maker Mondays workbook
2 print the worksheets
3 follow the design thinking process using your worksheets
4 take a picture of your design thinking, ideate and prototype worksheets
5 upload your notes and pictures to the website
6 see if your idea has been selected in THE GALLERY
come back for next Maker Mondays challenge!
Design thinking process
1
Empathy
Understand the challenge by asking what, why, who, where, when, how, questions. Think….What is the problem? Who is it a problem for? Why is it a problem? Where is it a problem? What might they need? How can you help? Who else might be able to help? How many people does it affect? What else does it affect? Are there are many other what, why, who, when, where, how questions you can ask? Have a go….ask 10 challenge questions. Create your own.
2
Research
Research is the process of solving problems and finding out facts. By finding out facts, alongside EMPATHISING, you find out new knowledge about a problem or question which creates an opportunity for you to offer informed ideas and perspectives.
Use your EMPATHY questions to focus your research to help solve the challenge. You can look online, read books, ask friends, family and people at school. Is there anyone else you could ask questions about the challenge?
3
Ideate
This is the fun and creative bit. Using the knowledge you have gained during the RESEARCH stage, imagine and draw lots of creative ideas to begin to solve the challenge. Remember there are no wrong ideas at this stage and you are not being graded. Think out of the box. An idea that seems bizarre could be an idea that creates extraordinary innovation. You might create a new solution to an old problem.
Once you have spent some time IDEATING use some REFLECT questions (examples below) to evaluate your ideas and see which idea will be most effective at solving the challenge. Remember it might not be your favourite idea.
4
Reflect
REFLECT further on your chosen idea. What improvements can you make? Incorporate these into your PROTOTYPE.
Examples of REFLECT questions. Remember to think of who / what you are creating it for:
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Will this solution work? Why?
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What other solutions could I explore?
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What works well about your solution?
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How effective is your idea?
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Even better if…?
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What if…?
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How would it be different if…?
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Suppose that…?
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What if I knew…?
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What would change if…?
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What other way could I…?
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Use your original what, why, when, where, who, how questions to help you decide if your idea is creating a solution that answer the original problem.
Now ask another person to look at your idea. A fresh pair of eyes will offer new suggestions. What improvements can you make? Incorporate these into your PROTOTYPE (Final Idea). Always make improvements to refine your PROTOTYPE.
5
Prototype
You now have your PROTOTYPE. Draw this on the PROTOTYPE worksheet. Add annotations to make your PROTOTYPE easier to understand. This might be size, material, colour, sound….
Remember: A PROTOTYPE is the first example of something – such as a machine or product. Your final idea is your PROTOTYPE. If you were creating this in the real world of work then your PROTOTYPE would be tested and developed further. PROTOTYPES allow for testing and reflection. It enables decisions to be made about the exact shape, size, material and function and to find potential faults. This information hopefully leads to the final idea, machine or product being produced with minimal issues.
If you would like to further explore your Challenge Solution here are some other questions that you could ask:
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What did I discover as I researched the challenge?
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What did I learn that influenced my final idea?
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What information led me to choosing my final idea?
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What challenges did I face while developing my idea?
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Is there another way I would try to resolve this problem?
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According to the challenge criteria my idea was successful because….?
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Something I would do differently if I was to try and solve this challenge again?
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Is there someone / an organisation I could share my challenge solution with?