Innovation Game: PotBiz = Powerhouse Museum
Game credits
Game concept, script, and scoring: Rob Renew
Design and animation: Richard Byers and Camela Cheng
Programming: Andrew Lawrence and Mike Sheetal
Producer: Seb Chan

Subject: Digital Technologies

Year Level: 7-8

Strand: Design and Technologies Knowledge and Understanding

Sub strand: Design and Technologies processes and production skills

Content descriptor:
Critique needs or opportunities for designing and investigate, analyse and select from a range of materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to develop design ideas.

Link to the resource:
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/innovationgame/game.html

Cross curriculum priorities: Sustainability

General capabilities:
Literacy
Critical and creative thinking

Links to other learning areas:
Mathematics- budgeting and material costs etc.
Science- soil quality and sunlight etc.

A classroom activity using this resource:
This game can be used to as an introduction to a hands on rich task. The game will elicit critical and creative thinking developing prior knowledge. Schools often have Design and Technology days where each class is to design and create a product to sell. The rich task would be to design and produce pot plants, choosing all appropriate materials, components, tools and equipment as a class. The students would have to calculate a selling price.

How to use this resource:
Potbiz can be accessed on a PC computer or Ipad. Enter the link into the URL and press play. The game can be played as a once off or continued. Students can also experiment with different designs to analyse and create the best design.