Meet Ms. Portrice Warren, an Apple Distinguished Educator whose innovative teaching methods and use of technology are transforming the classroom. At W.J. Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama, Ms. Warren is a passionate advocate for STEM/STEAM education and is unlocking her student's full potential. In this article, we will highlight the innovative way Ms. Warren uses Kai XR for design challenges to bring her student's ideas to life.
For their most recent design challenge, Ms. Warren's students decided to tackle a challenge close to home - upgrading their school restrooms. Tapping into the first step of design thinking, Ms. Warren encouraged her students to empathize with the student body and their desire for a better learning environment.
In their research, students discovered the restrooms had not been upgraded since 1961! Next, her class took samples from the restroom surfaces to analyze if mold was present. Last, her students surveyed fellow classmates about their experiences and needs, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of creating modern, functional, and sustainable restrooms in the school. By emphasizing with fellow students, her class began to create a solution to meet their needs.
Once the problem was fully defined, Ms. Warren guided her students through the next phase of design thinking, ideation. She motivated her students to think outside the box as they brainstormed innovative ideas to upgrade their restrooms. They explored hardware updates, eco-friendly materials, and vibrant color schemes. Next, students were ready to prototype their solution using Kai XR.
With the design concepts in mind, Ms. Warren's class turned to Kai XR Create, a makerspace platform, providing them with the tools and resources to bring their ideas to life. Using virtual reality and 3D modeling, the students designed and built their envisioned bathroom upgrades, incorporating functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability elements using the makerspace.
Ms. Warren's project is one of many real-life examples of how educators can use Kai XR to empower students with immersive design challenges. This interactive experience allows students to explore concepts such as physics, engineering, and computer programming. Using Kai XR, students brought their ideas to life in a virtual environment, enabling them to iterate and refine their ideas.
To ensure the feasibility and effectiveness of their designs, Ms. Warren guided her students through the last phase of design thinking— testing. Students tested their restroom prototypes within Kai XR Create's makerspace. The virtual environment allowed them to simulate real-world scenarios and gather feedback from classmates and stakeholders. This iterative process enabled the students to refine their design concepts, ensuring that the final product met the needs and expectations of the users.
Have you been using Kai XR in your classroom?
Share your designs and experiences with us on social media using the hashtag #KaiXR. Don't forget you can follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest Kai XR news and resources for educators.
We invite educators worldwide to use Kai XR for design challenges within their classrooms. Whether creating a restroom design challenge lesson like Ms. Warren or creating a unique challenge for your students, Kai XR's platform offers unlimited possibilities for engaging students and inspiring them to think critically.
By empowering educators with Kai XR's, we aim to foster a culture of creativity and problem-solving in classrooms worldwide. Let's unleash the potential of students, one design challenge at a time.
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