High School Students' Out-Of-Class Collaborative Design Practice In A Problem Solving And Design Competition

Abstract

Using activity theory, this study investigates high school students' experiences as participants in the Imagine Tomorrow problem solving and design competition in the state of Washington. In this competition, high school students from across the state form teams within their schools, identify problems that focus on environmentally sustainable alternative energy sources, and complete projects in which they develop solutions to these problems. The purpose of this research is to better understand high school students' project-based collaborative design practice in out-of-classroom settings, by exploring factors that contribute to team success in completing a project. Findings include a model of the tensions and contradictions within a project activity system, and strategies that facilitate completion of projects in the context of the competition.