Laude The Lady Elizabeth School

As part of the Business Studies syllabus, which covers New Product Development, the Year 13 students at LAUDE, The Lady Elizabeth School are required to work in teams to make a mock-up/prototype of a new communication or transport-based product using a range of different scrap materials, which are provided by the caretaker.

This challenge has an environmental angle (in terms of using scrap materials) and the idea is that the students try to think about how companies manage the product development process - from market research, through brainstorming ideas, exploring the pros and cons of each solution, assessing the features and benefits of the different options, before making a decision on which product to develop and eventually launch on the market. 

The activity allows the pupils to develop additional skills of creativity, initiative, teamwork and communication, as ultimately each team is required to present their product to the rest of the class.