Prototype
Students will build, test, and refine low- and medium-fidelity helmet liner prototypes grounded in user research, applying Newtonโ€™s Third Law, statistical analysis, and mathematical modeling to improve brain safety designs before final validation in Phase 5.
Days 11 - 15
Empathize
Students will launch the brain safety project by engaging with real helmet impact phenomena and real users, then conduct structured interviews and create empathy maps grounded in direct evidence from at least two users. They will connect user experiences to early physics and math modeling ideas that will guide later investigation and design.
Days 1 - 3
Test/Present
Students will validate their refined helmet prototypes and community safety campaigns with new users, analyze final impact data using statistical and mathematical models, and present a complete design storyโ€”from empathy to iterationโ€”to families and community partners during a public celebration of learning.
Days 16 - 20
Define
Students will synthesize interview data, impact test observations, and early math/science thinking into a clear, evidence-based problem definition that names a specific user, their core need, and a focused How Might We statement to guide helmet design in the next phase.
Days 4 - 6
Ideate
Students will generate, expand, and narrow diverse helmet safety solution ideas grounded in real user research, physics principles, and mathematical modeling. They will move from divergent brainstorming to evidence-based concept selection, producing annotated concept sketches that connect design features to user needs, Newtonโ€™s Third Law, and measurable safety constraints.
Days 7 - 10