A few weeks ago I attended the Egg Drop Challenge at my sons’ school. Kids, teachers, and parents cheered as creations were tossed from the roof and all of us analyzed the result of the experiment. The experience was transparent, supportive, and easily measurable.
See, here is my son’s project being evaluated by over 50 students, teachers, and kids.
- The process is clear: The students know the desired outcome (the egg doesn’t break) and the rules for achieving it (25% of the egg must be visible, the contraption must fit on a peace of 8.5 x 11 paper, etc.). They can use different materials and strategies to create their contraptions, such as parachutes, cushions, or even a watermelon was used one time.
- The outcome is transparently measured: All the students gather outside and watch the same teacher drop all the contraptions from the roof of the school. They can see the results for themselves (the egg is broken or not) and the student whose creation is being evaluated gives a thumbs up or down depending on their egg.
- The outcome is supported whether the egg breaks or not: The teacher and the classmates provide positive feedback and encouragement to all the students, regardless of the outcome. They celebrate the successes and learn from the failures. They also discuss what worked and what didn’t, and how to improve for the next time.
The egg drop challenge is a fun and engaging way to think about how we measure performance. It helps them develop critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills, while also having a blast.
How might we apply concepts from this experiment to our everyday work?
