Guided by our mission - To foster independent thinking and enrich the lives of all
children by creating a welcoming environment where they can develop learning skills and knowledge through the
exploration of HANDS-ON interactive exhibits and educational programs which are rooted in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Focus is children ages 0 to 14, with EDUtainment opportunities for all ages!
•Self-directed & staff-guided exploration
•Focused outreach programs
•Professional development
•Volunteer & Internship opportunities for high school & college students
•Research opportunities for college faculty
•Resource for educators- Lesson Plans online, OH WOW! Moments
What we do…
Audra Carlson- Education Manager
March 23, 2013
TRAINING TOMORROW’S INNOVATORS TODAY:
USING PDCA TO ENCOURAGE INNOVATIVE THINKING
WHAT IS PDCA?
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
“It’s not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory”
–Edward Deming
WHY CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT?
“[The U.S.] should implement and evaluate new methods for enhancing science students' innovative thinking to keep the United States as a worldwide leader in scientific discovery.”
- Roberta Ness, PhD. University of Texas School of Public Health
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
MAKER SPACE
PLAN•Identify the problem.•Decide on measurable outcomes desired.•Develop plan of action. Less is more here.
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
DO
• Put plan into effect.• Start with small scale implementation.
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
CHECK
• Evaluate results or product.• Do results meet specifications of Plan phase?
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
ACT
• If successful, implement improvements on a larger scale.
• If not, brainstorm possible solutions.• How can this idea be improved upon even
more?• Spiral process, always repeating.
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
Always improving with PDCA!
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
REFERENCES
Ness, R. (2012, October). Commentary: Teaching creativity and innovative thinking in medicine and the health sciences. Houston, Texas, United States.
Roock, A. (2012, October 08). Applying the PDCA Cycle in Knowledge Work. Hamburg, Vienna, Germany.
Sangam, V. (2010, August 27). Warehouse Key Performance Indicators. Retrieved 03 20, 2013, from Suppply Chain World:
http://vijaysangamworld.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/warehouse- key-performance-indicators/
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
SUGGESTED READINGShttp://asq.org/learn-about-quality/project-planning-tools/overview/pdca-cycle.html - Award-winning New York school system that utilizes PDCA.
http://www.swopehealth.org/images/Quality_PDCA_Cycle.gif - image on slide 2
http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/think/thinking-ft.pdf
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
• Challenge• Due to the popularity of OH WOW!’s Paper Airplane Launcher, our gift shop has received many
requests from museum guests to sell a smaller version of it. Your job is to design a unique Paper Airplane Launcher that will be sold as a toy in The Tech’s gift shop! Your challenge is to build a simple toy with its own propulsion mechanism that will move a paper airplane at least 12 inches (without using your energy to directly move it).
• • Design Specifications• Your airplane must move at least 12 inches, without using your energy to directly move it.
• Your toy must store and transform energy in some way to move your airplane.
• You can only use the materials available.
• Each group member must participate in the design, construction, and operation of the toy.
• You will be allowed to test your toy as you work. (Just don’t poke an eye out!)
AIRPLANE LAUNCHER CHALLENGE
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013 A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
