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).
What we do…
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
TRAINING TOMORROW’S
INNOVATORS TODAY:
USING PDCA TO ENCOURAGE
INNOVATIVE THINKING
Audra Carlson- Education Manager
March 23, 2013
WHAT IS PDCA?
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013
A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
WHY CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT?
“It’s not necessary to change. Survival
is not mandatory”
–Edward Deming
“[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
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A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
MAKER SPACE
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PLAN
•Identify the problem.
•Decide on measurable outcomes desired.
•Develop plan of action. Less is more here.
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DO
• Put plan into effect.
• Start with small scale implementation.
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CHECK
• Evaluate results or product.
• Do results meet specifications of Plan phase?
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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!
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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/warehousekey-performance-indicators/
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A. CARLSON- OH WOW!
SUGGESTED READINGS
http://asq.org/learn-about-quality/project-planning-tools/overview/pdcacycle.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
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AIRPLANE LAUNCHER CHALLENGE
•
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!)
FULL STEAM AHEAD! MARCH 2013
A. CARLSON- OH WOW!