Zipline Problem-Solving Process PDF

Activity 1: Define Your Own Problem Think about a problem you face in your daily life, whether it's related to school, home, or a hobby. Write a short paragraph describing the problem clearly. Remember, the first step in the Problem Solving Process is to define the problem accurately! 2. Activity...

Activity 1: Define Your Own Problem Think about a problem you face in your daily life, whether it's related to school, home, or a hobby. Write a short paragraph describing the problem clearly. Remember, the first step in the Problem Solving Process is to define the problem accurately! 2. Activity 2: Research and Prepare Once you've defined your problem, research how others have solved similar issues. Create a list of at least three different strategies or solutions that have been used in the past. Then, brainstorm your own ideas and write them down. This will help you prepare for the next step. 3. Activity 3: Try It Out Choose one of the solutions you brainstormed and put it into action. Document each step you take and note any challenges you encounter. This hands-on experience will help you understand what works and what doesn't. 4. Activity 4: Reflect and Improve After trying your solution, take some time to reflect on the process. Write a reflection on what went well and what could be improved. Consider how you might adjust your approach if you were to try solving the problem again. 5. Activity 5: Group Discussion Join a group of classmates and share your problem-solving experiences. Discuss the different problems each of you tackled and the solutions you tried. Offer feedback and suggestions to each other, and see if you can come up with new ideas together. 2-Lesson **Introduction** In this lesson, Ryan from Zipline explains the Problem Solving Process, which consists of four steps: Define, Prepare, Try, and Reflect. This structured approach helps Zipline address challenges in delivering medical supplies via drones to remote areas in Africa, allowing them to identify problems, brainstorm solutions, test their ideas, and evaluate their effectiveness. The process is applicable to various situations, making it a valuable tool for tackling a wide range of problems. 3-Lesson **Article** The Problem Solving Process with Zipline Hi there! I'm Ryan, and I work as the Head of Software at Zipline. Zipline is a company that uses drones to deliver important medical supplies like blood and vaccines to remote areas in Africa. These places are often hard to reach, so we face many challenges every day. To tackle these challenges, we use a method called the Problem Solving Process. This method helps us find solutions in a structured way. Let's dive into how it works! The Four Steps of the Problem Solving Process The Problem Solving Process consists of four main steps: 1. **Define** -- Identify what the problem is. 2. **Prepare** -- Look into past solutions and come up with new ideas. 3. **Try** -- Put your plan into action and see what works. 4. **Reflect** -- Review the results to understand what was successful and what could be improved. Applying the Process at Zipline Let's see how we use this process at Zipline: Step 1: Define We started by identifying the problem. First, when people need blood, they need it fast. Second, blood is tricky to store because it has different types and doesn't last long. Third, many areas don't have good roads for delivery. Step 2: Prepare To prepare a solution, we traveled to Africa and talked to local doctors who know these challenges well. We learned that a central blood storage facility could be very helpful if we could deliver blood to remote clinics quickly. We brainstormed different ideas and came up with the idea of using drones. These drones would be shaped like small airplanes and could fly long distances over rough terrain. They would drop blood packages using parachutes and then return to the base. Step 3: Try Next, we tested our idea. We built a central blood storage facility and created several drones. We tested their ability to fly, navigate, and return safely. We learned a lot from these tests, including what worked well and what didn't. Step 4: Reflect Finally, we reflected on our work. We looked back at the original problem and assessed whether our solution was better than existing methods. We also thought about how our approach could be used for other challenges, like delivering medicine or organs, or even picking up items from remote places. We considered how this solution could be applied in other countries too. Why the Problem Solving Process Matters The Problem Solving Process is useful in many areas, whether you're dealing with creative projects, personal issues, or even big life questions. By following these four steps, you can come up with a plan to tackle any problem you face! Lesson **Vocabulary** **Problem** -- *A situation that needs to be dealt with or solved.* -- Engineers often face the problem of designing structures that can withstand earthquakes. **Solving** -- *The act of finding an answer to a problem.* -- Solving complex math equations is a crucial skill for engineers. **Process** -- *A series of actions taken to achieve a particular end.* -- The process of building a bridge involves careful planning and execution. **Drones** -- *Unmanned aerial vehicles used for various purposes, including engineering tasks.* -- Engineers use drones to inspect hard-to-reach areas of construction sites. **Delivery** -- *The act of bringing goods or services to a particular place.* -- The delivery of construction materials is essential for the timely completion of a project. **Blood** -- *The fluid that circulates in the bodies of humans and animals, often used metaphorically in engineering to describe essential elements.* -- In engineering, data is the lifeblood of decision-making processes. **Prepare** -- *To make ready for a specific future purpose or task.* -- Engineers must prepare detailed plans before starting any construction project. **Reflect** -- *To think carefully about something, often to learn from it.* -- After completing a project, engineers reflect on what went well and what could be improved. **Define** -- *To clearly state the meaning or scope of something.* -- Before solving a problem, engineers must define the requirements and constraints. **Try** -- *To make an attempt or effort to do something.* -- Engineers often try different approaches to find the most efficient solution to a problem. Discussion **Questions** 1. How did the article change your understanding of the challenges faced in delivering medical supplies to remote areas? 2. What aspects of the Problem Solving Process do you find most applicable to your personal or professional life, and why? 3. Reflect on a time when you had to solve a complex problem. How might the four steps outlined in the article have altered your approach? 4. In what ways do you think the use of drones for medical deliveries could be expanded or improved upon, based on the information from the article? 5. How does the collaboration with local doctors in Africa, as described in the article, highlight the importance of understanding local contexts in problem-solving? 6. What potential ethical considerations might arise from using drones for medical deliveries, and how would you address them? 7. How can the reflection step in the Problem Solving Process be applied to ensure continuous improvement in your personal projects? 8. What other industries or fields could benefit from adopting a similar Problem Solving Process, and how might it be adapted to fit their specific needs? The Problem Solving Process with Zipline -- In this lesson, Ryan from Zipline explains the Problem Solving Process, which consists of four steps: Define, Prepare, Try, and Reflect. This structured approach helps Zipline address challenges in delivering medical supplies via drones to remote areas in Africa, allowing them to identify problems, brainstorm solutions, test their ideas, and evaluate their effectiveness. The process is applicable to various situations, making it a valuable tool for tackling a wide range of problems.