|
Deeper Learning Competencies
|
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
|
- I can describe a real Vista community problem I want to solve and name at least one clear criterion for success using simple words
- I can identify one constraint (like materials, time, or cost) and explain why my invention idea relates to the problem.
|
- I can define the design problem with details from interviews/research and list multiple criteria for success and at least one constraint
- I can explain my first solution idea by matching it to the criteria and drawing a simple sketch/diagram to show how it might work.
|
- I can generate and compare at least two possible solutions and explain how each one meets the criteria and constraints
- I can test two prototype versions, record results in a simple chart/graph, and use the data to choose which version works better.
|
- I can improve my solution by making careful revisions based on test results, peer/partner feedback, and mentor-text or research evidence
- I can clearly justify my final design by comparing it to alternatives, showing how it best meets the criteria and constraints with labeled measurements and evidence.
|
|
Deeper Learning Competencies
|
Collaboration
|
- I can work with my team to follow a shared plan by doing my assigned job and contributing ideas during discussions about the Vista problem and invention
- I listen when others speak and use kind words to stay on task with reminders if needed.
|
- I can collaborate with my team to build and refine our design by sharing clear ideas, asking simple questions, and combining suggestions from interviews, research, and mentor texts
- I help keep group roles organized and I resolve small disagreements by using team norms and taking turns.
|
- I can collaborate as a team to compare solutions by planning tests together, taking accurate notes, and using evidence from results to improve our prototype
- I actively incorporate peer and partner feedback, explain how it changed our plan, and support teammates with constructive critique.
|
- I can lead productive collaboration by helping the team make decisions using criteria and constraints (time, materials, and cost), and by coordinating roles so everyone contributes
- I can guide respectful discussion and conflict resolution, and I can synthesize interview and research information into shared design choices that strengthen our final prototype and pitch.
|
|
Deeper Learning Competencies
|
Effective Communication
|
- I can speak and listen respectfully during group discussions by taking turns, asking at least one question, and building on a teammate’s idea using a sentence starter (e.g., “I agree because…”).
|
- I can clearly share my thinking in my team and with classmates by explaining the community problem and my invention idea in 1–2 complete sentences, and I can use feedback to improve one part of my pitch or prototype plan.
|
- I can communicate my design using evidence by describing what I learned from interviews/research, connecting it to criteria (success) and constraints (materials/time/cost), and revising my proposal after peer or partner feedback.
|
- I can present a polished explanation of my invention at the Innovation Gallery by clearly organizing my pitch (problem → how it works → materials/measurements → tests and revisions), responding to visitor questions with specific details, and using feedback to make thoughtful, noticeable improvements.
|
|
Deeper Learning Competencies
|
Content Expertise
|
- I can use interview notes and at least one nonfiction/mentor text to describe a real Vista problem and who it affects, using my own words and key details I collected.
|
- I can define my design problem with several criteria for success and clear constraints (materials, time, or cost), and I can explain how my research (interviews/texts) supports why this problem matters in our community.
|
- I can generate and compare multiple invention ideas by using criteria and constraints to judge which solutions fit best, and I can use simple data (a chart/graph or tally) to show how different options compare.
|
- I can apply what I learned from research and testing to refine my content: I can test two prototype versions, record results, and explain—using evidence from notes, measurements, and charts—which solution meets the criteria best and what I changed to improve it.
|
|
Deeper Learning Competencies
|
Self Directed Learning
|
- I can use the engineering-design steps and my team’s checklist to complete assigned tasks (like interviewing, sketching, or making a prototype) and I can ask a question or request help when I get stuck.
|
- I can set a simple goal for my part of the project, follow the plan with reminders (from my notes or teacher prompts), and use feedback from classmates or community mentors to make at least one clear improvement.
|
- I can independently manage my work by tracking what I tried, what happened, and what I will do next using my reflection pages (like sticky-note check-ins or sketch-and-share entries), and I can revise my design after testing and feedback.
|
- I can direct my own learning by choosing how to improve (for example, what to change and why) after interviews, research, and two prototype tests, using data from charts/notes to justify my revisions and tell a clear “next iteration” plan.
|
|
Deeper Learning Competencies
|
Academic Mindset
|
- I can explain what problem my team is trying to solve in Vista and what I need to try first, using the design steps and success criteria our class creates.
|
- I can make a plan for my own role in the project, choose next steps based on feedback and evidence from testing, and revise my idea or prototype when it doesn’t meet the criteria.
|
- I can track how my invention idea is improving over multiple drafts by documenting what I changed and why (from interviews, mentor texts, and test results), and I can justify my revisions using simple data or comparisons.
|
- I can independently set goals, persist through challenges, and lead my own learning by seeking feedback from community partners/teammates, comparing solutions, and making thoughtful revisions that clearly improve how well my design solves the problem.
|