Empathize
Empathize
Students will launch the marble maze challenge, learn how engineers use the engineering design process, and conduct firsthand user research through observation and interviews. They will create an empathy map grounded in real quotes and timing data to understand what makes a marble maze challenging yet solvable.
Day 1
Define
Define
Students will synthesize their individual marble maze user research into shared insights, identify patterns across interviews, and craft an evidence-based How Might We statement that clearly defines the user, need, and design insight guiding their maze design.
Day 2
Ideate
Ideate
Students will generate a wide range of marble maze design ideas grounded in real user needs, apply force and simple machine concepts to their thinking, and select top concepts using user-centered criteria to prepare for prototyping.
Day 3
Prototype
Prototype
Students will build and refine low- and medium-fidelity LEGO marble maze prototypes, test them with real users, and document feedback-driven revisions using the engineering design process.
Day 4
Test/Present
Test/Present
Students will validate their refined LEGO marble mazes with new users, analyze final feedback, and present their complete engineering design journey to an authentic audience during Marble Maze Challenge Day.
Day 5
Empathize
Days 1–1
Day 1
π§± LEGO Skills Bootcamp
Launch
15m
βοΈ Engineering Design in Action
Knowledge/Skill Building
15m
πΊοΈ Empathy Map & Check-In
Deliverable
10m
Define
Days 2–2
Day 2
π§ Affinity Mapping User Quotes
Knowledge/Skill Building
15m
π Peer Critique Protocol
Deliverable
5m
β
Problem Definition Checkpoint
Assessment
5m
π― Writing Strong How Might We Questions
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
π Team How Might We Draft
Deliverable
15m
Ideate
Days 3–3
Day 3
π‘ 20-Idea Marble Maze Sprint
Deliverable
15m
π User-Needs Decision Matrix
Deliverable
10m
π£οΈ Concept Pitch & Feedback
Knowledge/Skill Building
5m
Prototype
Days 4–4
Day 4
π§ Rapid Prototype Planning Huddle
Knowledge/Skill Building
10m
π§± Low-Fidelity LEGO Maze Build
Project Work
20m
π₯ Peer User Testing Rounds
Research
10m
π Feedback & Revision Conference
Knowledge/Skill Building
5m
Test/Present
Days 5–5
Day 5
π― New User Test Protocol Review
Knowledge/Skill Building
15m
π§ͺ Final User Test & Data Collection
Project Work
20m
π£οΈ Marble Maze Challenge Presentations
Assessment
15m
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
28
Day 1
Empathize
π§± LEGO Skills Bootcamp
βοΈ Engineering Design in Action
πΊοΈ Empathy Map & Check-In
29
Day 2
Define
π§ Affinity Mapping User Quotes
π Peer Critique Protocol
β
Problem Definition Checkpoint
π― Writing Strong How Might We Questions
π Team How Might We Draft
30
Day 3
Ideate
π‘ 20-Idea Marble Maze Sprint
π User-Needs Decision Matrix
π£οΈ Concept Pitch & Feedback
1
Day 4
Prototype
π§ Rapid Prototype Planning Huddle
π§± Low-Fidelity LEGO Maze Build
π₯ Peer User Testing Rounds
π Feedback & Revision Conference
2
Day 5
Test/Present
π― New User Test Protocol Review
π§ͺ Final User Test & Data Collection
π£οΈ Marble Maze Challenge Presentations