# Make a Challenge

Description: Understand the learning theory behind a P2PU Challenge and make your first one...with a little help from your peers! If you are in a hurry (we understand) and just want to get a quick glimpse of how to make a challenge, you can check out this video {link}. If you are looking to connect with others interested in teaching similar topics, get feedback on your challenge and understand the learning theory behind it, then go ahead and move to the first task.

Link: 
how to make a challenge http://vimeo.com/34082970

Time: 2 hours

## Optional Task - Are Challenges right for what you want to teach?
Figure out what is a challenge and if creating one is right for you

Before we get started, watch this video {link} that explains what is a challenge. Now try answering the following three questions to figure out if creating a challenge is right for what you want to teach. 
1) Do you want your peers to move through the experience at their own pace?
2) Do you hope to scale your teaching effects through mentorship rather than through the efforts of a sole facilitator?
3) Do you want your peers to create a hands-on project as part of the experience?

If the answer to all of the above is "yes" then go ahead and move to Task 2. If some of the answers are "no" then check out all the other options we have for you in P2PU here {link}

Link: 
what is a challenge http://vimeo.com/34025799

## Task 1 - Introduce yourself
Connect with your peers and let us know what are you interested in teaching

The aim of this task is to connect with your peers by posting a comment to the challenge discussion page. Let us know what are you interested in teaching and connect with other who might have similar interests. It doesn't have to be much, just something along the lines of "Hi, I'm Niels and I am interested in teaching Molecular Cooking. I look forward to meeting you all."

## Task 2 - What is the problem that you are asking your peers to solve?
Ask your peers a question that allows for multiple answers and interpretations

Think of a question that you want your peers to be able to answer by the end of your challenge. For example, "how does the web work?"  Remember the question you selected should be open- ended enough to allow for multiple interpretations. In Peer to Peer University we believe that learning is not so much about seeking the right answer -- because often there is more than one -- but rather seeking appropriate solutions to questions and issues.  

Graphics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544964953/in/set-72157628501331195
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544966913/in/set-72157628501331195/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544967813/in/set-72157628501331195/

## Task  3- What do you want your peers to understand by solving this problem?
Write down what you would like your learners to be able to understand by the end of the challenge.

Ask yourself; what is the big picture -- the really big picture (!) -- for this challenge? What do you want your peers to understand by solving this problem? For example "I want them to understand that the web is a system of interrelated parts". Think of something beyond mere facts, that your peers will remember after say a years' time has passed.

Graphics;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544968189/in/set-72157628501331195/

## Task 4- What are the skills you want them to get out of this
Write down what you would like your learners to be able to do by the end of the challenge

It is time to write down what you would like your learners to be able to do by the end of the challenge. Think of skills in a 21st century way and connect them to both mastery of a specific piece of content, but also add skills such as "critical thinking", "filtering information", “working in a team”, “problem solving” and “design thinking.”  If you need inspiration for types of skills you can check out a list of future skills from the Apollo Research Institute as well as Cathy Davidson's excellent post on 21st Century litreacies.

Links;
http://apolloresearchinstitute.com/research-studies/workforce-preparedness/future-work-skills-2020
http://hastac.org/blogs/cathy-davidson/twenty-first-century-literacies-course-description

## Task 5 - Come up with a meaningful "context"
Give a reason to your peers to learn whatever it is that you want to teach them.

A "context" should describe a real or fictional need that gives a reason to your peers to learn what you want them to learn by the end of your challenge. They should clearly see the benefit of what they will be doing during your challenge.

Depending on your audience, the context can be tied to personal motivations such as creating a portfolio site to find a job or even a fictional story such as becoming a superhero who makes websites to protect the open web. Here is an example of a challenge by Jamie Curlie that gives a fun and meaningful context to the understanding of <tags> in HTML.

Links:
http://p2pu.org/en/groups/webmaking-101-html-hunting-in-the-world-around-you/
Graphics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544968377/in/set-72157628501331195/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544968591/in/set-72157628501331195/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544968929/in/set-72157628501331195/

 # Task 6 - Set a clear goal!
 Think of a concrete outcome for your challenge.
 
Creates concrete expectations for the outcomes of your challenge. Your objectives should be simple to understand yet challenging to accomplish, in order for the learners to be motivated enough to go through it. To complete this task try answering the question; What will your peers "make" as part of the challenge that will provide evidence of the skills and the understanding you want them to gain? Make sure to post on the discussion wall your ideas as well as links to projects that support similar learning goals to yours. In case you need inspiration, here is a list of things you could ask your peers to make; 

video tutorial {link}
song {link}
dmockumentary {link}
drawing {link}
photo {link}
game {link}
sunglasses! {link}

Graphics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544969175/in/set-72157628501331195/

Links 
Video Tutorial: Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant by Vi Hart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ahXIMUkSXX0#!
Song (& Recipe) The Recipe Project by One Ground Zero: http://www.therecipeproject.com/?page_id=9
Mockumentary: xtranormal movies, i.e.  Laura Zigmans' http://laurazigman.wordpress.com/lauras-xtranormal-com-movies/
Photo; HTML Hunting in the World Around you http://vita4.blogspot.com/2012/01/4-html-hunting-in-world-around-you-mark.html
Drawing (& Recipe!); http://www.flickr.com/photos/johndbritton/5035433708/
Game: Little Big Planet Cell Sackboy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEXlco-CYYc&feature=BFa&list=PL86B5C02ED5CFBB29&lf=results_main
Sunglasses:   Kanye inspired shutter shades which use an analog circuit http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2012/01/these-el-wire-glasses-would-be-kanye-approved.html 


# Task 7 -Time to put it all together & pitch your challenge to your peers!
Create a pitch for your challenge and share it with your peers
 
Your pitch should include;

1. A catchy title; Make sure to keep your title short and intriguing enough, so that your peers clearly understand what they will be doing in the challenge (and how much fun it will be).  Here are some good examples of catchy titles that we used for the Webmaking 101  {link} and Hackasaurus {link} Challenges


2. A short description; Write a paragraph that explains; what is the problem you are asking your peers to solve, what skills will they get out of solving it, what is the context for doing so and what will they be making at the end. Check the "Hackasaurus" Challenges to get inspired to write your description.  {link}

Here are three tips to help you write your description;

Tip # 1 You might want to include explicit “after this challenge” language (aka “The Payoff” or “Victory”) that describes skill and knowledge gain in non-technical terms. For example you can say something like “you will be able to …” “build simple web pages”, “integrate video into a page’ , “learn how to work with others”, “become a mentor.” 

Tip # 2 Make sure that you create concrete expectations for the outcomes of the challenge. Your objectives should be simple to understand yet challenging to accomplish, in order for the learners to be motivated enough to go through it. For example you can say something like "you will be building a robot", "you will make a mockumentary",  "you will design a poster."

Tip # 3 Make it fun!

3. A cover Image: consider this "the face" of your challenge. People tend to spend little time on choosing a cover image for their challenge, even though it is the first thing that draws people to look closer and read more about it. You can choose a cc licensed photo, draw a sketch, create a collage to make your cover image. Whatever you do, just make sure it conveys what your challenge is all about. Here are some good examples of cover images that we used for the Webmaking 101 Challenges {link}


Putting together your pitch can be one of the hardest parts of making a challenge. so make sure to put together a few alternative versions of your pitch.  Share them with your peers and make sure to check out everyone else's pitch and leave suggestions for improvement.

Link:
 http://p2pu.org/en/schools/school-of-webcraft/
 TBA hackasaurus

Graphics;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544969513/in/set-72157628501331195/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544969749/in/set-72157628501331195/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544970179/in/set-72157628501331195/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544960695/in/set-72157628501331195/


## Task 8 - Break it down to tasks
Create a trajectory of smaller steps that a peer needs to take in order to achieve your challenge's final goal.

Scaffolding can help your learners overcome difficulties that might keep them from moving forward. To complete this task you will have to create a trajectory of smaller steps that a peer needs to take in order to achieve your challenge's final goal. You can imagine this like a map; what “places”do you want your learners to go first, second and so on in order to reach their final "destination"? Design your trajectory to include “tasks” that are always doable but increasingly challenging. Each "task" should have a specific outcome.

You can use post-its and markers or even a real map to create your trajectory. Share your work with the other peers in the discussion wall and leave feedback on their posts.

Graphics; 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544970477/in/set-72157628501331195/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6545676187/in/photostream
Photo;

## Task 9: Make those "peer to peer" 
Come up with ways to encourage the peers who will be taking your challenge to teach and give feedback to each other

Challenges are designed to provide opportunities for peers to work together and assess each others work. In this task you will come up with ways to encourage the peers who will be taking your challenge to teach and give feedback to each other. For example, are there certain tasks from your trajectory that could work better when they are collaborative? How could you encourage discussion in your challenge? Make a list of ideas for your challenge and share it with the other peers in the discussion wall.

Graphics; 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544961529/in/set-72157628501331195/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544961929/in/set-72157628501331195
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p2puniversity/6544962397/in/set-72157628501331195/

## Task 10 - You are live!
Post your first challenge at p2pu.org and share with your peers

The moment you were waiting for is here, go to p2pu.org/contribute, create a study group, and start crafting your first challenge! If you get stuck, we are here to help; watch this screen-cast we made here at p2pu.org of how to use the interface to post your first challenge. 
To complete this task post a link of your new challenge on the discussion wall.

Link;
Screencast, TBA 

## Bonus Task -Test and Iterate your Challenge
Find out what works and what doesn't in your own and your peers' challenges

Once you have created your first challenge you can think of it as a growing organism constantly evolving based on testing and iteration. You can test your challenge in three phases; first go through it yourself, then have other experienced users play through and then have new users test it out. Learn from this process and find ways to incorporate the feedback through various iterations even after you have gone through the initial testing. 

To complete this challenge test at least one of your peers' challenge. Try to finish the challenge and answer (some of) the following questions. 


If you have collected some feedback about your own challenge and you feel that it could benefit from a revision then go ahead edit your challenge and post a new iteration of your masterpiece on the discussion wall. 


# Bonus Task: Playstorm! 
Play a word-matching game with a friend or your peers to brainstorm a context for your challenge.

If you are finding yourself getting stuck to come up with an idea for your challenge you can brainstorm ideas for challenges by playing a word-matching game. 

This task is best completed with a partner in crime. Just ask a friend to help you or pair up with another peer who is taking the same p2pu challenge. You can see all the peers who are taking the  challenge under the task list. 

To begin write down on pieces of paper or index cards the words from the two lists below and separate them accordingly in two piles; one should be mechanics and one should be goals.

List # 1 Mechanics; things your peers do in their challenge
producing
making
hacking
crafting
tinkering
exploring
debating
battling
showing
(add your own here)


List # 2 Goals; thinkgs your peers can make in their challenge
video tutorial
song
mockumentary
drawing
photo
game
robots
recipe
(add your own here)

Then write down on another piece of paper a short sentence that describes what you want your peers to understand, i.e."how the web works". Without looking have you or your peer pick a card from each pile, i.e. producing + video tutorial.  Now spend no more than 10 minutes working together to combine them with the short sentence you wrote, i.e. "how the web works" and come up with some fun challenge ideas. To get a better idea you can watch a video of game play here {link}

Complete  this task by coming up with as many one sentence ideas for challenges. You can use this sentence  as a guide;

In my _______(awesome title) challenge my peers will understand _______(what you want to teach)  by _________ (mechanic) to make _________ (goal)


Here is an example.

In my "Web; The Movie" challenge my peers will understand how the web works by producing a mockumentary.

If  you have ideas for new mechanics and goals go ahead and add them to  the mix or make a suggestion here [link to google form]. Don't forget to post your one sentences to the discussion walls and comment on other people's posts. Which ones do you think

Link;
TBA - Mozilla Festival Video

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