FlorkPal

The connection of each task to the overall design of a fun prototype is something that students enjoy.

Tasks are scaffolded from individual responsibilities (i.e. one student is in charge of requirements, so it is their job to come up with the material specs of their team's prototype) to collaborative teamwork (the team then incorporates everyone's individual components into their "product pitch").

Each task also makes connections to concepts in other disciplines such as the material sciences (requirements); CS education (early programming concepts as taught via a toy,); art (the prototype design); ethics (testing); and communications (relaying team progress via PowerPoint slides + an oral presentation).

The first tasks are relatively easier to iterate on, meaning that they might make the subsequent tasks feel more doable.

The assignment encourages students to read and understand a problem statement and come up with a "solution" (aka their team prototype and product pitch), which are important skills in industry as well as academia.

The FlorkPal designs can be quite imaginative and funny. Also, the product pitches encourage students to be creative.

In general, students enjoy this assignment, and it sets the stage early on for project-based courses where communication, collaboration, and task planning are foregrounded alongside technical proficiency.