The Research & Development of the toy is an organic, dynamic process, therefore, it is not possible to detail all that must go into developing your toy or final write-up.

For your term project this module, you will be a member of a Research & Development (R&D) Team that will plan, develop, create a prototype for a developmentally appropriate NEW toy.  A separate team discussion board will be set up for each team so that team members can discuss ideas back and forth. This discussion board will be graded as an individual grade reflecting YOUR individual contributions to the overall project and is worth 50% of your grade for the toy project. The other 50% of the toy project grade is the grade for your final submission of the toy project (see rubrics in UNIT 1).

The Research & Development of the toy is an organic, dynamic process, therefore, it is not possible to detail all that must go into developing your toy or final write-up.  What is written below is to serve as a guide to your open-ended, creative process. You are the creators, the researchers, and the developers. You will take this project from idea inception to end prototype model. You are the CEOs of this project.  In week 8, your group will submit a PowerPoint on your toy for your classmates to view.

The PowerPoint must include:

Aim: To create a developmentally appropriate toy to foster______________ development.  Which aspect of development (e.g., cognitive, linguistic) does your toy address?

Literature-Review:  Discuss three scholarly articles that provide relevant background information on the area of development you are targeting (e.g., cognitive, linguistic)

Describe the novel toy you created.  Describe the dimensions and features of your final prototype. Include graphics and/or pictures.

What is the function of your toy? How does it work?

Subjects: Target gender, age, location, and any other subject variables that apply.

Does your toy enhance any aspect of development? How?

Is this toy necessary? Does it fill a void in the toy market? How is your toy an improvement over existing models already on the market?

Is there any bias associated with your toy?  Address any bias issues relating to culture, gender, abilities/disabilities, etc. How could you modify your toy to meet the needs of other cultures, abilities/disabilities?

Concluding remarks.

Task Type: Group Toy Project

You have been working at the Willie Wonka Toy Factory for approximately 6 months now. Your supervisor has given you your 6-month employment evaluation, which was excellent. As a result of your great work, your supervisor has informed you that he has chosen you to be appointed to a committee tasked with on developing educational toys for children. You are excited about this opportunity and readily agree to join the committee.

 At your first committee meeting, you are assigned to the Research & Development (R&D) Toy Concept Committee.  Your instruction is to create a prototype for a NEW, developmentally appropriate, educational toy with your team (your instructor will assign you and your classmates to a team/small group).

The committee chair (Instructor) reminds you that the toy is an organic, dynamic process, therefore, it is not possible to detail all that must go into developing your toy or final write-up.  What is written below is to serve as a guide to your open-ended, creative process. You are the creators, the researchers, and the developers. You will take this project from idea inception to creating a prototype model. You are not actually making a physical toy, but are presenting the ideas in written format.  Pictures and/or graphs should be included. For more details, see “Presentation Guidelines” below.

Presentation Guidelines:

1.            Aim: To create a developmentally appropriate toy to foster______________ development.  Which aspect of development (e.g., cognitive, linguistic) does your toy address?

2.            Literature-Review:  Discuss three scholarly articles that provide relevant background information on the area of development you are targeting (e.g., cognitive, linguistic)

3.            Describe the novel toy you created.  Describe the dimensions and features of your final prototype. Include graphics and/or pictures.

4.            What is the function of your toy? How does it work?

5.            Subjects: Target gender, age, location, and any other subject variables that apply.

6.            Does your toy enhance any aspect of development? How?

7.            Is this toy necessary? Does it fill a void in the toy market? How is your toy an improvement over existing models already on the market?

8.            Is there any bias associated with your toy?  Address any bias issues relating to culture, gender, abilities/disabilities, etc. How could you modify your toy to meet the needs of other cultures, abilities/disabilities?

9.            Concluding remarks.

Be sure to review all instructions, deadlines, and the TWO rubrics at the beginning of the course! One rubric is for the overall project and PowerPoint presentation.  The second rubric is for your individual contribution to collaborative work in your Small Group Discussion Board.