Session 4 | Video: Defining a Problem
Defining a Problem:
Crash Course Kids
Session Materials
What Learners Will Learn
By the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:
- Explain how the engineering process works and why defining the problem is the first and most important step.
- Identify the difference between a vague complaint and a specific, solvable problem using evidence.
- Apply the problem-defining process to analyse a scenario and propose a solution that matches the defined problem.
Session Flow Overview
| Stage | Time | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction & Warm-Up | 12 min | The teacher introduces the term โvagueโ and tells how engineers turn vague complaints into clear, solvable problems by asking questions and looking at evidence. The teacher stops the video at 1:45 and ask โWhat is the difference between complaining about the canyon and asking how to cross it?” |
| Discussion โ Identifying the Real Problem (Activity 1) | 10 min | Small groups of students analyse a time breakdown table to identify the real problem behind a student’s homework complaint. |
| Problem Solving Task โ Solving the Right Problem (Activity 2) | 14 min | Pairs of students redesign the schedule by reducing distractions, trying to find the right solution, which depends on defining the right problem. |
| Quiz | 10 min | An assessment checks learners’ understanding of the engineering process and problem-defining strategies. |
| Reflection | 4 min | Learners reflect on how defining a problem carefully changes the way they approach challenges. |
Skills Focus
Observation
Critical Thinking
Communication
Creativity
Materials Needed
๐ฅ๏ธ Whiteboard or projector to display tables
๐๏ธ Printed copies of the Time Breakdown Table (optional)
โ๏ธ Student notebooks and pencils
Success Criteria
- โLearners explain why defining the problem is the most important first step in the engineering process.
- โ Learners identify the real problem in a scenario by analysing evidence from a table, not by accepting a vague complaint.
- โ Learners redesign a schedule to solve the problem they defined, demonstrating that the right solution depends on the right definition.
Start the Live Quiz
1
Open the quiz page:
Supervisor Quiz Page
|
Learner Quiz Page
2
Select the season and the session.
3
Share the PIN code and QR code with learners.
4
Start the quiz once all learners have joined the live session.