1
Lesson Plan
Course Title: Concepts of Engineering and Technology
Session Title: Ideation – The Power of Ideas
Performance Objective:
After completing this lesson, the students will be able to discuss ideation and the role it has in
corporate competitiveness and demonstrate their knowledge by passing a multiple choice test.
Specific Objectives:
 Define ideation
 Discuss the purpose and value of ideation
 Discuss the process of ideation
 Describe the role of an engineer in the ideation process
Preparation
TEKS Correlations:
This lesson, as published, correlates to the following TEKS. Any changes/alterations to the
activities may result in the elimination of any or all of the TEKS listed.
Concepts of Engineering and Technology:

130.362(c)(5)(D)
…describes the importance of teamwork, leadership, integrity, honesty, ethics, work
habits, and organizational skills.
…discuss the principles of ideation;
Interdisciplinary Correlations:
Physics:


112.39(c)(3)- Scientific processes.
…uses critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving to make informed
decisions within and outside the classroom.
112.39(c)(3)(D)
…explain the impacts of the scientific contributions of a variety of historical and
contemporary scientists on scientific thought and society;
United States History Studies Since 1877:
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
2




113.41(c)(27)- Science, technology, and society. The student understands the impact
of science, technology, and the free enterprise system on the economic development of
the United States.
113.41(c)(27)(B)
…explain how specific needs result in scientific discoveries and technological
innovations in agriculture, the military, and medicine, including vaccines;
113.41(c)(28)- Science, technology, and society. The student understands the
influence of scientific discoveries, technological innovations, and the free enterprise
system on the standard of living in the United States. The student is expected to:
113.41(c)(28)(A)(B)(C)
…analyze how scientific discoveries, technological innovations, and the application of
these by the free enterprise system, including those in transportation and
communication, improve the standard of living in the United States;
…explain how space technology and exploration improve the quality of life;
…understand how the free enterprise system drives technological innovation and its
application in the marketplace such as cell phones, inexpensive personal computers,
and global positioning products.
Teacher Preparation:
Review the slide presentation, go over the practice problems, and read through this lesson plan.
Review the Ideation worksheet as a resource for terms and definitions not specifically covered
in the presentation. Pick several definitions from the worksheet for a pre-test to identify terms
students may have a partial understanding of as a way to introduce this subject and illustrate
how general terms like innovate and invent can have specific definitions depending on the
context.
References:
The Power of Ideas – Ideation PowerPoint presentation.
Internet, textbook, or dictionary to complete definitions that are not included in the PPT
presentation.
Instructional Aids:
1. The Power of Ideas – Ideation PowerPoint presentation
2. Ideation Worksheet
3. Ideation Worksheet answers
4. Dictionary and/or textbook
5. Multiple choice test
6. Multiple choice test key
Materials Needed:
1. Test
2. Bottle of soft soap
Equipment Needed:
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
3
1. Computer
C
witth internet ac
ccess
2. Projector
P
and
d screen
Learner Preparation
n:
s can take a pre-test on definitions
d
and
a terms to identify area
as of partial understanding
Students
and as a way to intro
oduce this to
opic.
Inttroduction
Introduc
ction (LSI Quadrant I):
SAY: Ma
any of you have
h
been ta
aught that inv
vention is a lonely, solita
ary process through
examples
s of people like
l
Ben Franklin and Th
homas Ediso
on. This is rreally not true. Most
invention
ns and innov
vations are th
he result of a group of pe
eople workin
ng together.
ASK: Do
o you know that many products we use today an
nd take for g
granted were
e developed
d
through a process de
eveloped by companies that are inte
ended to pro
oduce new p
products?
t is not an accident. It iss a formal pro
SAY: Ne
ew product developmen
d
ocess comp
panies go
through.
SHOW: A bottle of soft
s soap.
SAY: He
ere is an exa
ample. The idea of a pu
ump dispensser for soft so
oap was devveloped in th
he
90s throu
ugh a group process of formal
f
ideatiion. They to
ook two idea
as that were already com
mmon
– soap and a pump dispenser
d
– and combined them. No
ow you find this everywhere.
Outline
Outline (LSI
(
Quadra
ant II):
Instructors can use the PowerPo
oint presenta
ation, slides, handouts, a
and note pag
ges in
conjunctiion with the following ou
utline.
MI
M
Ou
utline
Notes to
Instructor
I. Definition off Ideation
A. Ha
ave students complete th
he Ideation
Wo
orksheet
B. Disscus how terrms that apppear similar ccan
hav
ve specific definitions
d
de
epending on
n the
con
ntext
C. Stu
udents should also know
w the definitions
and
d the differences betwee
en invention
ns,
inn
novations, an
nd improvem
ments
D. Oth
her topics yo
ou may wantt to referencce
are
e teamwork and collaborration
E. Wh
hat is Ideatio
on?
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 20012. All rights rreserved.
The
e teacher beg
gins
The
e Power of Id
deas
- Ide
eation PPT
pressentation and
distrributes the
Idea
ation worksh
heet
for tthe studentss to
com
mplete as the
ey
are going throug
gh
the PPT. Students
mayy use the
internet, textboo
ok,
dictionary to
or d
com
mplete answe
ers
thatt are not
cove
ered in the
PPT
T.
4
Slide 2 covers tthe
definition of
Idea
ation.
Slide 3 covers w
what
is Id
deation.
.
II. Purpose off ideation
A. Em
mphasize to students
s
tha
at companiess
vie
ew innovation
n as one of ttheir key
corrporate strattegies
B. Co
ompanies wh
ho fail to inno
ovate canno
ot
com
mpete
C. For many companies, innoovation is thee key
to their
t
surviva
al
D. The purpose of
o Ideation is to generate
ea
larg
ge number of
o ideas, goo
od and bad,
wh
hich raises th
he odds of h aving a trulyy
inn
novative idea
a among the
e ones generrated
Slides 4, 5
Tea
acher talks
thro
ough the
diffe
erences
betw
ween
inve
entions,
inno
ovations,
improvements.
III. The value of
o ideation
A. Co
ompanies value ideation because it h
has
bee
en proven to
o lead to inn ovation and
bre
eakthroughs
B. There is a defined processs which can be
use
ed across many
m
industri es
C. It is a simple but
b powerful tool
D. It adds
a
value not
n just to th e company but
to the people involved
E. The process builds trust annd demonstrrates
a shared
s
corpo
orate commi tment to
com
mmunication
n
Slides 6, 7
IV
V. The structu
ure of the prrocess
A. The
e process its
self is simila r to
bra
ainstorming
B. Analysis is invo
olved by loo
oking at industries
Slide 8,9,10,11
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 20012. All rights rreserved.
Refe
er to detailed
d
PPT
T notes.
Refe
er to detailed
d
PPT
T notes.
Tea
acher needs to
disccuss what it
mea
ant by
brea
akthroughs.
Refe
er to detailed
d
5
C.
D.
E.
F.
and
d trends
Lis
stening to the
e customer iis one of the
e
crittical compon
nents
Re
elationships need
n
to be d
developed
bec
cause trust and
a commu nication are
vita
al
Keys to Ideatio
on
Three Stages to
t Ideation
a. Innovattion
b. Development
c. Actualizzation
PPT
T notes.
V. Engineering
g challenges
s
A. Engineers are considered to be great
pro
oblem solverrs but are no
ot generally
con
nsidered to be
b creative
B. Ide
eation is a creative proce
ess
C. Eng
gineers can add value to
o the processs,
butt need to be a member o
of a crossfun
nctional team
m to be more
e effective
D. It iss the team dynamics
d
tha
at are critica
al to
the
e success off ideation
Slides 12-13
VI. Conclusion
n
A. The strength of
o an idea liess in its abilityy to
be implemente
ed
B. Do
o not jump to
oo quickly to the converg
gent
pro
ocess of eva
aluating and analyzing id
deas
unttil the diverg
gent processs of idea
dev
velopment th
hrough ideattion is comp
pletely
exp
plored
C. Ide
eation requirres the elimin
nation (or att least
red
duction) of boundaries a
and limitation
ns
Slide 14,15
VII. Multiple ch
hoice quiz
Stud
dents will takke
the multiple cho
oice
quizz. Teacher m
may
add additional
questions from the
Idea
ation Worksh
heet
to th
he quiz if
desired.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 20012. All rights rreserved.
Refe
er to detailed
d
PPT
T notes.
Refe
er to detailed
d
PPT
T notes.
6
Verbal
c
Linguistic
Logical
Mathematica
al
Visual
Spatial
Musical
Rhythmic
Bodily
Kinesthetic
Intrapersonal
Inte
erperrsonal
Natura
alist
Existentiialist
Application
A
Guided Practice
P
(LS
SI Quadrantt III):
The teac
cher will guid
de the studen
nts’ understa
anding of ide
eation as the
ey go throug
gh the PPT
presentation and as students com
mplete the Id
deation Worrksheet.
Independent Practic
ce (LSI Qua
adrant III):
s will comple
ete the Ideatiion Workshe
eet from the PPT and ressearch from the internett, a
Students
dictionary
y, and/or a textbook. So
ome of the de
efinitions in tthe test bank are not in the PowerPoint,
so it is le
eft to the teac
cher’s discre
etion to add these definittions or not.
Summary
Review (LSI
(
Quadra
ants I and IV
V): from the
e ideation ttest bank
Question
n: What is the
t definition
n of ideation?
?
Answer: The proces
ss of forming
g ideas
Question
n: What is one
o of the ke
ey elements of problem solving?
Answer: Creativity
Evaluation
E
Informall Assessme
ent (LSI Qua
adrant III):
Question
n and answe
er, discussion
n and feedba
ack, in-classs notes.
Formal Assessmen
A
nt (LSI Quad
drant III, IV)::
Ideation worksheet and
a multiple choice quiz
Extension
E
Extensio
on/Enrichment (LSI Qu
uadrant IV):
1. This
T
module emphasizes
e
s that compa
anies want w
workers with more than ju
ust factual o
or
procedural kn
nowledge. They
T
want workers
w
who are creative
e problem so
olvers. This is a
skill that can be develope
ed with practtice, but it is also difficult to come up
p with good
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 20012. All rights rreserved.
7
problems for high school level students to practice with. One way to deal with this
difficulty is to have speakers from industry describe some of the problems their company
(or industry) has had, and the process they went through to solve the problem. The
speaker could also introduce problems the company currently has so that students do
not just look at problems that already have solutions.
2. To hold an in-class ideation session requires the teacher (or perhaps a particularly well
suited student) to be a moderator and facilitator. It can also be difficult to come up with
an ideation topic that is both interesting to students and one that students can come up
with realistic ideas for, which is extremely challenging. However, the attempt to hold an
ideation session is recommended as an enrichment activity. The assessment rubric can
include the quality and quantity of the ideas generated and should reflect the
seriousness with which the students approach the exercise.
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8
Ideation Worksheet
What is the definition of ideation?
______________________________________________________________________
What are the three stages of a thought cycle?
______________________________________________________________________
What are the two phases of creative problem solving?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What is the purpose of ideation?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What is the most popular ideation technique?
______________________________________________________________________
Describe several components for successful ideation:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What is metaphorical thinking?
______________________________________________________________________
What is bisociation?
______________________________________________________________________
What is free association?
______________________________________________________________________
What is homospatial thinking?
______________________________________________________________________
What is incubation?
______________________________________________________________________
List some other ideation techniques:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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9
What is an inventive problem?
______________________________________________________________________
Why are inventive problems difficult to solve?
______________________________________________________________________
What is psychological inertia?
______________________________________________________________________
How does an engineer want to solve a problem?
______________________________________________________________________
What is one of the key elements of problem solving?
______________________________________________________________________
What is the conceptual process of ideation?
______________________________________________________________________
Define the following:
Invention:
________________________________________________________________
Innovation:
________________________________________________________________
Improvement:
________________________________________________________________
What are the differences between invention, innovation, and improvement?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What is meant by teamwork?
______________________________________________________________________
What is a cross functional team?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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10
What is collaboration?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
What is meant by actualization?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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11
Ideation Worksheet Answers
What is the definition of ideation? The process of forming ideas
What are the three stages of a thought cycle? innovation, development,
actualization
What are the two phases of creative problem solving? divergent thinking (ideation)
and convergent thinking (idea analysis and evaluation)
What is the purpose of ideation? To generate as many ideas as possible in as
condensed a timeframe as possible
What is the most popular ideation technique? Brainstorming
Describe several components for successful ideation:
•A well-defined problem, a mix of people from different disciplines, a subject
matter expert,
•The exchange of ideas to generate more ideas, no criticism or judgments
allowed, a facilitator to draw each idea out,
•No ideas are filtered out by the session facilitator – all are captured as
presented, typically on a flip chart.
What is metaphorical thinking? Applying ideas from one context to another
What is bisociation? Creating connections for two previously unconnected items
What is free association? Saying the first thing that comes to mind.
What is homospatial thinking? Conceiving of two unrelated entities occupying the
same space
What is incubation? Walking away from the problem after intensely thinking about it
List some other ideation techniques: Sketching and doodling, diagram relationships,
list attributes, visualization, guided imagery, question the problem and its assumptions
What is an inventive problem? One with no known solution
Why are inventive problems difficult to solve? They often have contradictory
requirements
What is psychological inertia? Only considering solutions from ones’ own experience
How does an engineer want to solve a problem? By applying mathematics or being
analytical
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12
What is one of the key elements of problem solving? Creativity
What is the conceptual process of ideation? The exchange of ideas in order to
generate more ideas
Define the following:
Invention: A new method, idea or device that did not exist before
Innovation: A new way of doing something, an improvement on an existing
form, composition or processes. Not just better but different in a significant way
Improvement: To become better. To make more useful, profitable, or valuable
What are the differences between invention, innovation, and improvement? An
Invention is something brand new, but because it has not existed before may not be
widely accepted or used. Innovation can be something new or better, but in a way that
is more accepted to change the way people act or do things. An improvement is a
better way of doing things that is not significant enough to be called an innovation.
What is meant by teamwork? The process of working collaboratively with a group of
people, in order to achieve a goal.
What is a cross functional team? A group of people with different functional expertise
working toward a common goal, such as with marketing, engineering, sales, and human
resources working toward a common goal
What is collaboration? To work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort, to
produce benefits greater than those that can be achieved by individual effort
What is meant by actualization? Making the product real
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
13
Ideation Test
Circle the correct answer.
1.
What is the definition of ideation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
What is the conceptual process of ideation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
3.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Creativity
Bisociation
What is an inventive problem?
a.
b.
c.
d.
6.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Creativity
Bisociation
What is the key element to problem solving?
a.
b.
c.
d.
5.
The exchange of ideas in order to generate more ideas
Considering solutions from one’s own experience
Applying ideas from one context to another
Saying the first thing that comes to mind
What is the most popular ideation technique?
a.
b.
c.
d.
4.
Applying mathematics to solve a problem
A problem with no known solution
The process of forming ideas
Walking away from a problem after thinking about it
A problem with no known solution
The process of forming ideas
Only considering solutions from one’s own experience
A problem solved by analysis
What is psychological inertia?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Saying the first thing that comes to mind
Questioning the problem and its assumptions
Only considering solutions from one’s own experience
Walking away from the problem after intensely thinking about it
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
14
7.
What is free association?
a.
b.
c.
d.
8.
What is incubation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
9.
Applying ideas from one context to another
Creating connections for two previously unconnected items
Conceiving of two unrelated entities occupying the same space
Idea analysis and evaluation
What is convergent thinking?
a.
b.
c.
d.
13.
Applying ideas from one context to another
Creating connections for two previously unconnected items
Conceiving of two unrelated entities occupying the same space
Idea analysis and evaluation
What is metaphorical thinking?
a.
b.
c.
d.
12.
Applying ideas from one context to another
Creating connections for two previously unconnected items
Conceiving of two unrelated entities occupying the same space
Idea analysis and evaluation
What is homospatial thinking?
a.
b.
c.
d.
11.
Saying the first thing that comes to mind
Questioning the problem and its assumptions
Only considering solutions from one’s own experience
Walking away from the problem after intensely thinking about it
What is bisociation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
10.
Saying the first thing that comes to mind
Questioning the problem and its assumptions
Only considering solutions from one’s own experience
Walking away from the problem after intensely thinking about it
Applying ideas from one context to another
Creating connections for two previously unconnected items
Conceiving of two unrelated entities occupying the same space
Idea analysis and evaluation
Which of the following is NOT one of the values of ideation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
To discover important new products or features
To add efficiency to a process
To develop open communication through the process of discussion
To apply logical or mathematical analysis
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
15
Ideation Test Answers
1.
What is the definition of ideation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
What is the conceptual process of ideation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
3.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Creativity
Bisociation
What is an inventive problem?
a.
b.
c.
d.
6.
Innovation
Brainstorming
Creativity
Bisociation
What is the key element to problem solving?
a.
b.
c.
d.
5.
The exchange of ideas in order to generate more ideas
Considering solutions from one’s own experience
Applying ideas from one context to another
Saying the first thing that comes to mind
What is the most popular ideation technique?
a.
b.
c.
d.
4.
Applying mathematics to solve a problem
A problem with no known solution
The process of forming ideas
Walking away from a problem after thinking about it
A problem with no known solution
The process of forming ideas
Only considering solutions from one’s own experience
A problem solved by analysis
What is psychological inertia?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Saying the first thing that comes to mind
Questioning the problem and its assumptions
Only considering solutions from one’s own experience
Walking away from the problem after intensely thinking about it
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.
16
7.
What is free association?
a.
b.
c.
d.
8.
What is incubation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
9.
Applying ideas from one context to another
Creating connections for two previously unconnected items
Conceiving of two unrelated entities occupying the same space
Idea analysis and evaluation
What is convergent thinking?
a.
b.
c.
d.
13.
Applying ideas from one context to another
Creating connections for two previously unconnected items
Conceiving of two unrelated entities occupying the same space
Idea analysis and evaluation
What is metaphorical thinking?
a.
b.
c.
d.
12.
Applying ideas from one context to another
Creating connections for two previously unconnected items
Conceiving of two unrelated entities occupying the same space
Idea analysis and evaluation
What is homospatial thinking?
a.
b.
c.
d.
11.
Saying the first thing that comes to mind
Questioning the problem and its assumptions
Only considering solutions from one’s own experience
Walking away from the problem after intensely thinking about it
What is bisociation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
10.
Saying the first thing that comes to mind
Questioning the problem and its assumptions
Only considering solutions from one’s own experience
Walking away from the problem after intensely thinking about it
Applying ideas from one context to another
Creating connections for two previously unconnected items
Conceiving of two unrelated entities occupying the same space
Idea analysis and evaluation
Which of the following is NOT one of the values of ideation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
To discover important new products or features
To add efficiency to a process
To develop open communication through the process of discussion
To apply logical or mathematical analysis
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.