Expo Challenges
The Expo will be a true celebration of what it is to be innovative, and how we embrace innovation here in the Santa Clara Unified School District. Based on some of the world’s best expos, we will be bringing an authentic experience to our school community.
Using the Expo Global Impact Themes for inspiration, we challenge you to come up with a design solution to solve a known problem. We have listed some examples below to spark some ideas, however there are no restrictions on what you can do.
Ways to approach Expo Challenges
1. Class Project developing critical thinking - As a class you can work together on an Expo challenge by discussing a topic, brainstorming ideas and creating a project. This is great for younger students who enjoy working with their teacher when inquiring into topics.
2. Team Project developing collaboration - Working as a team on an Expo challenge allows students to contribute to the solution, knowing they have support when needed. This is great for students who are learning to work together in small groups to create a shared and innovative outcome.
3. Individual Projects developing creativity - Allowing students to work alone on their solution gives the opportunity to answer the Expo challenge in their own innovative way, with minimal outside influence. This is great for creative students who are passionate about their design and prefer to work independently.
Use your passion to inspire your innovative project.
Once you have chosen your challenge visit the Project Checklist page which will guide you through the 5 stages of the Design Thinking Process to help you complete your project by clicking below.
Expo Challenge 1
STEAM Education
STEAM is an approach to learning that aims to teach students to think critically and use engineering and technology to solve real-world problems, having mathematics and science as a base, with the arts encouraging creative solutions. STEAM education also helps to develop soft skills, increase engagement and motivation, as well as personalizing the learning experience.
STEAM Education covers such a wide area, there really are no limits on your creativity and imagination.
Need some inspiration? Check out some suggestions to help get you started below:
1. Wind turbines are a great way to harvest renewable energy, but are generally viewed as eye-sores on the landscape. Design a wind turbine that is also an art sculpture, making it visually appealing as well as functional. Need some inspiration? Check out some examples here and here.
2. Electric cars eliminate the need for burning fossil fuels in order to get around, with California a leading state in their adoption. Design a charger for electric vehicles to promote our school community adopting carbon free travel. You can find more information here.
3. Exploring our galaxy has become a priority again in recent years, and the ability to drop cargo onto planets such as Mars without having to land will greatly reduce the cost and time required for missions. Design and make a prototype that will allow cargo (for demonstration purposes, an egg) to be dropped from a height of 10 feet, without any damage. You can find more details here.
There are no limits or restrictions on what you can enter for the challenge, it will be interesting to see the variety of entries on display during Innovation Week.
Reach out to your innovation specialist if you need further guidance and support.
Expo Challenge 2
Health & Wellness
Health and Wellness are essential to living a fulfilling life. Research from McKinsey shows that 79 percent of those surveyed across 6 countries believe wellness is important, with 42 percent considering it a top priority. As demand increases for more products and services that can improve well-being, new innovations are being launched to address needs across multiple wellness areas.
Need some inspiration to get you started? Check out some of our suggestions below:
1. Padel and Teqball are examples that have recently grown in popularity due to their fun nature, showing that there is room alongside mainstream sports for newer, more modern ideas. Design a new sport that helps fitness and well-being, whilst also helping to increase socializing and team spirit. Find out more about Padel here.
2. Mindfulness is about being present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, without being distracted or overwhelmed by what’s happening around us. Design and produce a video tutorial explaining what mindfulness is, how to improve and master it, as well as techniques used to practice it. Helping people understand the benefits of mindfulness will help to improve overall mental wellbeing. Find out more about mindfulness and its benefits here.
3. In the past, speaking about mental health was seen as a sign of weakness and was stigmatized by society, only recently has it become more actively encouraged. Design a poster campaign to highlight the importance of mental health and to promote positive conversations on the topic. Find out more about the importance of mental health here.
Talk to friends, find out what they enjoy doing. Be bold and push your own limits of creativity. We’re really excited to see you showcase your creation during Innovation Week. Your innovation specialist will be at hand if you need further guidance and support.
Expo Challenge 3
Community Enrichment
A community relies on its members to thrive, as well as providing them with a sense of belonging. When a community is enriched, it is closer to reaching its goals. Local communities have a constant need for new improvement ideas, as well as the volunteers willing to bring those ideas to life.
Use your creativity and imagination to improve the lives of others by coming up with your own community enrichment solution.
Need some ideas to kick start your thought process Here's a few suggestions below:
1. Our physical surroundings can have a real impact on how we feel, both positively and negatively. Identify an area of your school that is in need of freshening up. Plan and create a community mural on this space, to inspire positivity in the school community. Click here to find some inspiration.
2. Loneliness can be a real problem for people, especially the older generation. Design and make a bench or outdoor seating area that can be used as a socializing space at a retirement home, providing a place to meet people and spark conversation. Find some inspiration here.
3. Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. Design a campaign to highlight awareness and the importance of social justice - you may want to use methods such as social media, pin badges, T-shirts, posters, etc. You may want to choose a specific area that you feel passionate about, or you might want to keep it generic. Find out more about social justice here.
Innovation is all about pushing boundaries. See how much of a difference you can make when you start pushing yours. We’re all looking forward to what you come up with.