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How to Participate
The Ciena Solutions Challenge uses Challenge Based Learning, a framework for learning while solving challenges.
Getting Started
In the Ciena Solutions Challenge, educators and students use Challenge Based Learning, a framework for learning while solving challenges. Challenge Based Learning has three phases: Engage, Investigate, and Act.
Read the Facilitator's Guide to learn more about Challenge Based Learning and how to guide students through this learning process.
When you're ready to start, use the Challenge Builder ( online or print version) to plan the activities you will do at each phase of the Challenge Based Learning. Students can use the student challenge organizer worksheets to reflect throughout each phase of Challenge Based Learning.
In the Engage phase, you and your students will start with a big idea, develop essential questions, and identify a challenge.
Explore the Big Idea
First, choose a big idea. A big idea is a broad topic that can be explored in multiple ways. It should be important to you and the larger community.
Create an Essential Question
Next, develop an essential question to contextualize and personalize the big idea.
Define the Challenge
Then, create a call to action to learn about the subject and develop a solution.Student Activities
This is a brief explainer. Go deeper with the Focusing on the Big Idea recorded webinar.In the Investigate phase, you and your students will develop guiding questions and find answers to your questions through guiding activities.
Create Guiding Questions
First, create questions that ask what students need to know to solve their challenge.
Complete Guiding Activities
Next, complete activities that help students gain necessary knowledge and skills to develop a solution.
Synthesize Learnings
Then, reflect on and synthesize what you've learned.Student Activities
This is a brief explainer. Go deeper with the The Investigate Phase recorded webinar.
In the Act phase, you and your students develop action concepts and create a solution.
Develop an Action Concept
First, use findings from the Investigate phase to prototype, test, and iterate a solution.
Implement a Solution
Next, use the final solution in a real context with authentic audiences.
Evaluate Progress
Then, assess the effectiveness of the solution, make adjustments, and plan for sustaining the solution.Student Activities
This is a short explainer. Go deeper with the Designing Your Action Concept recorded webinar.
When students' projects are ready to share, educators can submit them to the online gallery and apply for a $3,000 USD Sustainability Award.
Register
First, educators must register on Cienachallenge.org to share student projects and apply for a Sustainability Award.
Review Requirements
Then, review the submission requirements to prepare the materials necessary for your project entry and Sustainability Award application.
Submit Projects
Finally, use the submission form and award application to complete your submission. Note that educators must submit a project to the online gallery in order to apply for a Sustainability Award.Activities for students
Challenge Builder
Resources
Create a Video Activity
Read the Faciliator’s Guide
Submit projectsIn May, students from the Ciena Solutions Challenge are invited to present their work at Digital Promise's YouthMADE Festival.
Sign Up for the YouthMADE Festival
Educators and students ages 18+ can sign up for updates about the next YouthMADE Festival on the form under "Register Today" at youthmade.org.
Watch YouthMADE Festival Highlights
Check out our playlist of Ciena Solutions Challenge presentations at previous YouthMADE Festivals.Activities for students
Challenge BuilderResourcesCreate a Video ActivityRead the Faciliator’s GuideSubmit projects