AI for the Environment Challenge: How AI can Help Save the Planet
+400 Points
Addressing environmental sustainability and harnessing the power of AI are key challenges for today's youth. Our world's future depends on the participation of every young person. Past generations haven't quite managed to fix these issues – in fact, they've added to them – but could it be that teenagers hold the key to sparking change? Join the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and other companies, who care about using AI for the good of all.
In this Challenge, you'll explore the question:
What ideas do you have for using AI to address environmental issues?
Note: This Challenge is still available to complete to earn points and add to your resumes!! The prize money was awarded in the past to the following winners.
Skills you'll develop
- Problem Solving
- Communication
- Social Awareness
Create
You're ready to CREATE a prototype of your idea. This is what you'll use to explain your brilliant idea to the judges!
Choose ONE of the categories for your solution: product design, business concept, or marketing campaign. You can use the selection checklist to help you choose a category.
Create a Business Concept
It's time to get creative and CREATE a prototype of your idea. This is what you'll use to explain your awesome solution! By the end of the Create phase, you should be able to:
Show your Business Blueprint
Explain how you created your prototype(s)
Share your feedback and demonstrate how you revised your prototype(s)
Be ready to create your video pitch
Understand the Create Phase for a Business
⏱️Time: 4-5 Hours (Week 3 of Challenge)
✏️Use the optional KNOtebook to record your ideas
💼 Mentor: Get feedback from a mentor, and others, on your business concept
🎯 Future Ready Skills: Problem-Solving, Collaboration
Business Concept
In this phase, you'll create a concept for a new or improved "business". Perhaps, a for-profit business or a non-profit organization?
Meet a Professional
Yay! You have an idea for a business, organization, or service! First, let’s meet someone who started their own business.
Your Favorites
Your "business" idea may be a for-profit business, like a restaurant or shoe store; an organization, like the Girls and Boys Club or a sports team or a service, like Uber or tutoring, for example.
Think of a business, organization, or service that you really love or one that solves a hard problem or meets a deep need. Ask yourself:
What makes this company one of my favorites?
What value does it add to my life?
What problem does it solve?
What do I like/dislike about their name?
Business Planning
Use a Business Design Framework to help you plan out your idea.
Business Design Framework
All businesses, organizations and services create something of value, gain from it, and deliver it to customers. The following framework is useful for business, organization, or service planning. Flip the cards to learn about each element of the framework.
Create Value
Create Value
What problem are you solving? What are you creating that someone will benefit from and pay for? For example, Uma's business addressed the problem of people not being able to celebrate occasions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Capture Value
Capture Value
How will you make sure that you benefit from creating the business? How will your business spend money in order to deliver value to its customers? For example, Lawn Party charged $50+ for each sign and used the money to create more signs, pay for gas, etc.
Deliver Value
Deliver Value
Who does your business serve? How will they benefit from your business, organization, or service? How are you providing this value for your customers? For example, Lawn Party allowed its customers to use customized lawn signs to celebrate their important moments while preventing the spread of COVID-19.Review the slide show below to understand how to put together a business concept.
You may wish to use this Google Doc Business Blueprint which is also in your KNOtebook.
Rapid Prototyping
Rapid Prototyping Example
Now that you have a blueprint, you're ready to create a prototype to get feedback. Rapid prototyping is the process of turning assumptions into opportunities to learn. You can create all kinds of prototypes to transform abstract concepts into something that people can experience. Prototypes should be real enough to get valid reactions from people, but not so real that they take a long time to build. Watch the video to see a unique example of prototyping.
Prototyping is an iterative process and involves the following:
Live Prototyping Examples
Live prototyping is one way to get feedback. It can be hard but is also fun and rewarding. You can learn a lot in a short time. Flip the cards to see some different types of rapid prototyping.
“Lemonade Stand”
“Lemonade Stand”
Make a small batch of your food product and bring to your class to get feedback, or set up a mini store in your class. This is sometimes referred to as a “lemonade stand” prototype.
An App Experience
An App Experience
Instead of creating a working app to test, spend time prototyping the app experience. For example, if it's a service: hang posters to promote, have people submit texts, respond to texts, do the physical act, like standing in line to pick up food.
Community Testing
Community Testing
Try a pop-up in a store or venue that is relevant to your product or service, or create a prototype and try it out in your community.Physical Prototyping Examples
Creating physical prototypes is another way to test your ideas and get feedback.
Paper Prototypes
Paper Prototypes
Paper prototypes might be sketches and diagrams drawn quickly on a napkin or using a ruler and pen, but you don’t need to be an artist! A paper prototype is useful at the beginning of the process of conceptualizing a new idea, enabling you to create multiple versions of your idea quickly and get feedback.
Small Scale Models
Small Scale Models
You may want to create a quick sample of what your idea will look like using building materials, such as: cardboard, Legos, blocks, etc. Or, you may want to create a digital model.
Storyboards
Storyboards
Storyboards can communicate a concept by visualizing user interactions. They focus on a person’s experience and tell a story.Prototyping Tools
Using your Business Blueprint as a guide and your selected materials, determine what aspect of the business you’d like to prototype first and how you’d like to prototype, then start creating! Consider using the the following tools:
Building materials: Great for prototyping processes, infrastructures, and work flows and just fun for everyone.
Recyclables: Take something apart and use the parts for your prototype or dig into your recycling bin and see what you can use.
Video: A short and scrappy video can go a long way to communicate anything.
Paper, cardboard: Sketching, drawing, diagramming, building
Digital Prototyping Tools
Testing & Feedback
Now that you have your first prototype, it's time to share it and get feedback so that you can improve it.
Testing Plan
Take a look at an example of creating a testing plan to get feedback.
Testing Suggestions
Getting Feedback
Consider using any of the following methods to structure and organize your feedback-gathering process. Select the plus signs.
Iterative Process
Iterating
After you get feedback, it’s time to make changes to your prototype or prototype another part of your product. Remember, the goal is not for your prototypes to be universally loved. The goal is to get as much feedback as you can to help you make your concept better. Continue to prototype, test, and iterate as much as you can, until you are satisfied with your prototype. This may be a multi-day process and is not to be rushed.
Mentor Moment
Get feedback from a professional who will be judging your project!
Consider how you will test and get feedback from a mentor who may be reviewing your prototype online and giving written feedback. Depending on what you create as prototypes, you could scan, take a photo, or capture video to share and get feedback. You may want to use the “I Like, I Wish, What If...” or the grid method.
Get feedback on your prototype now!
PRO Criteria
Continue to prototype, test, and iterate, as time allows and you feel happy with your final prototype.
Make sure your prototype demonstrates that your idea is:
Purposeful: Addresses the problem
Results: Will have an impact
Original: Is unique from everything that already exists or builds on something in a new way
Next Steps
Ready to Move On?
Do you feel prepared to create your video pitch? Can you show and explain the following. If so, great for you! The hard part is over now you get to share your idea! Flip the cards to see if you're ready to move on to "Pitch."
Prototype Plan
Prototype Plan
How did you plan your prototype? Share and explain your plan with someone. Did you use it to guide your process? Did you change it?
Prototype Creation
Prototype Creation
How did you create your prototype? What materials did you use? What was challenging? How did you overcome those challenges? Show the different prototypes that you created.
Prototype Feedback
Prototype Feedback
How did you get feedback on your prototype? What method(s) did you use? How useful was the feedback? What kind of revisions did you make based on the feedback?