Problem-Solvers: Project Ideas
In this post-field trip project, students take a deeper dive into real-world challenges, apply their knowledge to skill-building scenarios, and see firsthand how they can have a positive impact on the world.
Choose a core subject area to explore problem-solving project ideas for your students.
You can download and print this Design Thinking worksheet
to help your students organise their work!
to help your students organise their work!
Problem-Solvers: Language Arts
Issue #1: What makes communication human?
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Draft a list of questions to ask Copilot or ChatGPT that will test its ability to understand culture, tone and humour. Compare and contrast the way AI communicates to the way people communicate. What problems might occur if an AI robot was used to manage workers on a construction site?
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Draft a list of questions to ask Copilot or ChatGPT that will test its ability to understand culture, tone and humour. Compare and contrast the way AI communicates to the way people communicate. What problems might occur if an AI robot was used to manage workers on a construction site?
Issue #2: Can vs. Should
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In Canada, we desperately need more construction workers than we have! Research a construction job that’s in high demand and think about how AI-powered robots might be able to do that job. Organize a class debate on the question: “Should AI replace humans in construction jobs?”
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In Canada, we desperately need more construction workers than we have! Research a construction job that’s in high demand and think about how AI-powered robots might be able to do that job. Organize a class debate on the question: “Should AI replace humans in construction jobs?”
Problem-Solvers: Mathematics
Issue #1: Estimating costs
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Gather sample data (like the costs of bricks, wood and cement) and use an AI application (like Copilot or ChatGPT) to estimate the materials needed and total project cost for building a small structure, like a garden shed. Make an information sheet to share your findings. Do you think having your own math skills makes it easier to understand AI results? What assumptions did AI make, and do you agree with them?
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Gather sample data (like the costs of bricks, wood and cement) and use an AI application (like Copilot or ChatGPT) to estimate the materials needed and total project cost for building a small structure, like a garden shed. Make an information sheet to share your findings. Do you think having your own math skills makes it easier to understand AI results? What assumptions did AI make, and do you agree with them?
Issue #2: Drone detectives
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Research how drones with AI are used to scan building sites. In groups, students can simulate drone surveys of school grounds. Draw a to-scale map showing what AI might detect.
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Research how drones with AI are used to scan building sites. In groups, students can simulate drone surveys of school grounds. Draw a to-scale map showing what AI might detect.
Problem-Solvers: Science & Technology
Issue #1: AI in the Lab
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Pick a simple experiment. Students design it the normal way (question, hypothesis, materials, steps, data collection). Then, ask ChatGPT to design the same experiment. Compare and contrast. Would you trust AI to run this experiment in a real lab? Why or why not?
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Pick a simple experiment. Students design it the normal way (question, hypothesis, materials, steps, data collection). Then, ask ChatGPT to design the same experiment. Compare and contrast. Would you trust AI to run this experiment in a real lab? Why or why not?
Issue #2: Waste reduction
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Investigate how AI helps reduce construction waste. Then, scale it down and design a system to track and reuse classroom supplies.
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Investigate how AI helps reduce construction waste. Then, scale it down and design a system to track and reuse classroom supplies.