From Ohio STEM Learning Network

For this year’s design challenge, we’re partnering with Ohio Energy Project, the Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Education Program, Young Entrepreneur Institute, and the Ohio Afterschool Network to explore the topic of Energy. The #STEMpowersOhio Design and Entrepreneurship Challenge asks students to “reimagine energy production and/or consumption to improve your community?”

We’ve modified this year’s challenge to account for a variety of education options – hybrid, in person or fully remote.  We know this year is different from most – but we know the OSLN design challenge is a great way to engage your students in authentic problem based learning!

New this year:

• Students may participate as individuals, or as a team
• Afterschool programs and out-of-school programs are encouraged to participate
• Local showcases may be virtual or in-person
• Statewide Student Solutions Showcase moving to a virtual format
• Students create a prototype of their solution & a 30 – 90 second “pitch” explaining the benefits of their solution

Today is the official start of the challenge. We will be working with our partners throughout the fall to provide professional learning sessions on Energy, Leading a Design Challenge, and Entrepreneur Education. Throughout the challenge, we’ll connect you with energy experts, give you ideas on how to engage your students, and connect you to resources to participate in the challenge.

How to Participate:

1. Notify OSLN that you are participating this year
2. Explore the topic of energy with your students. Refine the question to meet the needs of your learners, if needed.
3. Provide time for your students to work through the design cycle find a solution.
4. Students create a prototype and pitch of their solution.
5. Host a school showcase, and select three solutions to represent your school at the statewide challenge.

Challenge Timeline:

• September 21, 2020: Launch of the #STEMpowersOhio Design & Entrepreneurship Challenge
• September 2020 – April 30, 2021: Conduct the design challenge at your school or out-of-school program. Use the design cycle to ideate, prototype, and test your solution to improve your community. Create a prototype and pitch for your solution. Host a local showcase and select the top three solutions from your school or organization.
  • Be sure to visit our Events page to join us for webinars and more to support you and your students.
• May 2021 – OSLN will share the top submissions with local scientists, energy experts, and researchers to select the top solutions for the statewide showcase.
• June 2021: Top solutions will be shared at the virtual statewide solution showcase.

Supports for teachers

OSLN is collaborating with our partners to provide several supports throughout the year. To get the challenge started we have two Information Sessions scheduled to kick off the challenge.

October 15, 2020, 4:00 – 5:00 PM: Design Challenge Information Session – Learn what a design challenge is, brainstorm ideas, and get your questions answered. Register your school to participate and then join us for an introductory conversation about energy and get your questions answered.

October 21, 2020, 3:00 – 4:00 PM: Design Challenge Information Session – Learn what a design challenge is, brainstorm ideas, and get your questions answered. Register your school to participate and then join us for an introductory conversation about energy and get your questions answered.

New events will continue to be added throughout the school year. You will be able to find these on the Events Page at https://designchallenge.osln.org/events.

Updated Web Resources

We have redesigned our design challenge portal to provide background on Ohio’s energy ecosystem. On the Energy page, we break down the question into these subcategories:

• Energy Generation and Distribution: How can different forms of energy generation and distribution improve the wellbeing of your family and community?
• Energy Efficiency and Pollution Prevention: How can you change your energy consumption to be more renewable and prevent energy-related pollution?
• Energy Policy: What can you do to better understand and change energy policy within your community?
• Smart Homes: How can you use technological innovation to make your home easier to live in, safer, more environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient? How will you share your innovation with your community?

Each category contains valuable resources for your students to use in the brainstorming and research section of the design cycle.

Interest/Registration

To sign your school or organization up or even just register for emails about the challenge, please complete the form below. Click here to sign up and to learn more.

https://designchallenge.osln.org/participate/