Design Thinking - Causes of the Cold War
Using the Design Cycle to write an essay about the causes of the Cold War.
Discovery
In groups of three discover information relating to the causes of the cold war using the resources below:
For each resource you must:
1. Note down 3-5 key facts from each resource on a sticky. These will form your 'discoveries'.
2. Attach your discoveries to the group learning board. These should be factually accurate information which addresses the who/where/what/when and why for each of the events. Be sure to record the sources you used.
Discovery
In groups of three discover information relating to the causes of the cold war using the resources below:
For each resource you must:
1. Note down 3-5 key facts from each resource on a sticky. These will form your 'discoveries'.
2. Attach your discoveries to the group learning board. These should be factually accurate information which addresses the who/where/what/when and why for each of the events. Be sure to record the sources you used.
3. Find links between stickies and then produce groups showing the main causes of the Cold War.
4. Using these groups generate a minimum of twenty questions that you feel need answering.
Googleable questions - A simple factual answer that can be found easily via a search on Google.
Un-Googleable questions - More complex questions that cannot be answered easily. They require discussion or more detailed research.
5. Sort questions into Googleable & non-Googleable. Divide Googleable questions amongst your group and conduct research into them for homework. The un-Googleable questions should be answered through collaboration within the group (eg through discussion or more detailed research).
Define the problem
1. Divide your group into person A, person B & person C. Person A interviews person B about who was responsible for the Cold War for 4 minutes. Person C acts as a scribe - writing down everything said during the interview. Repeat this process three times so that each person is the interviewer, interviewee and scribe once.
2. Read through what was written and highlight the most important events and pieces of insight (deep understanding) e.g. The Berlin blockade showed an act of defiance by Stalin towards the USA.
3. As a group formulate a question that relates to the origins of the Cold War. Your question should include one of your main insights / key events. Phrase the question in one of the following ways:
Brainstorming
1. In your group list 100 answers to your question in four minutes.
2. Repeat the exercise again, this time by drawing your answers (pictures/diagrams). These answers must include new ideas.
3. Repeat again, this time basing your answers on the stimulus word given to you by your teacher.
Prototyping
1. Begin work on writing your essay. Use the essay-writing framework used previously.
Essay task sheet 2015 Gives guidance about how to plan your essay.
Essay assessment rubric 2015 Lets you know what you will be assessed on.
This Keynote outlines how your essay should be constructed.
This essay scaffold may help you to plan your essay.
This peer editing sheet may also be of use.
These notes on sequential and transitional terms may help you to link your paragraphs.
4. Using these groups generate a minimum of twenty questions that you feel need answering.
Googleable questions - A simple factual answer that can be found easily via a search on Google.
Un-Googleable questions - More complex questions that cannot be answered easily. They require discussion or more detailed research.
5. Sort questions into Googleable & non-Googleable. Divide Googleable questions amongst your group and conduct research into them for homework. The un-Googleable questions should be answered through collaboration within the group (eg through discussion or more detailed research).
Define the problem
1. Divide your group into person A, person B & person C. Person A interviews person B about who was responsible for the Cold War for 4 minutes. Person C acts as a scribe - writing down everything said during the interview. Repeat this process three times so that each person is the interviewer, interviewee and scribe once.
2. Read through what was written and highlight the most important events and pieces of insight (deep understanding) e.g. The Berlin blockade showed an act of defiance by Stalin towards the USA.
3. As a group formulate a question that relates to the origins of the Cold War. Your question should include one of your main insights / key events. Phrase the question in one of the following ways:
- How did........?
- To what extent was........?
- How might the USA/USSR...........?
Brainstorming
1. In your group list 100 answers to your question in four minutes.
2. Repeat the exercise again, this time by drawing your answers (pictures/diagrams). These answers must include new ideas.
3. Repeat again, this time basing your answers on the stimulus word given to you by your teacher.
Prototyping
1. Begin work on writing your essay. Use the essay-writing framework used previously.
Essay task sheet 2015 Gives guidance about how to plan your essay.
Essay assessment rubric 2015 Lets you know what you will be assessed on.
This Keynote outlines how your essay should be constructed.
This essay scaffold may help you to plan your essay.
This peer editing sheet may also be of use.
These notes on sequential and transitional terms may help you to link your paragraphs.