Pilot lesson: observation form
Run the pilot with 6–8 students in one 60-minute session, with two adults observing. Print this page or fill it in on a laptop. Do not write student names: use the pilot code printed on the base plate or a number.
Gate for the lesson: at least 80% of students finish a working ship within 60 minutes.
1. Session
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date and class | |
| Students / adults in the room | |
| Kits used (with spares) | |
| Cells counted in / out | / |
| Covers closed and checked before leaving the table | yes / no |
| Observer names (adults only) |
2. Timeline
Write the real clock time when each phase starts and ends.
| Phase | Planned | Real start | Real end | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show finished ship, question | 0–7 | |||
| FabLab intro | 7–12 | |||
| Stickers | 12–20 | |||
| Copper rails | 20–32 | |||
| LEDs and polarity check | 32–42 | |||
| Battery, ON, test, troubleshooting | 42–48 | |||
| Mechanical assembly | 48–55 | |||
| Lights off, all together | 55–60 |
3. Per student (one row each)
Use the CSV template pilot-log-template.csv, or tick here.
| Code | Total minutes | Worked on first try? | Needed an adult? | Step where stuck | Fixed it by themselves? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4. What went wrong (tally each time you see it)
| Problem | Count |
|---|---|
| Cell in the wrong way or switch left OFF | |
| LED in backwards | |
| Copper tape lifted or wrinkled | |
| Copper tape patch bridging both rails | |
| LED leg not touching the tape | |
| Panel slot too tight (needed force) | |
| Panel slot too loose (wobbles) | |
| Panels fell over before the nose cone was on | |
| Wing leans or came out | |
| Nose cone does not fit | |
| Sticker on a tab, on the plate edge or on the electronics area | |
| Other |
5. The ship
- Does it stand upright on the table, without wobbling?
- Can a child change the cell and reach the switch easily?
- Dark room: are all three LEDs clearly visible from 3 m?
- Is the nose cone visibly lit? (assumption A10)
- Photos taken (no student faces): yes / no
6. Student survey (3 questions, 1 minute)
Ask at the end. One tick each: 1 = not really, 2 = a bit, 3 = yes!
| Statement | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I made something that works. | |||
| I can tell a friend what the lab machines do. | |||
| I want to design my own part next time. |
Optional: "What would you change on your ship?"
7. Adult debrief (10 minutes after the lesson)
- Which step cost the most time?
- Which instruction did students not understand?
- Which tolerance or part should change before the next class?
- Was the adult-to-student ratio enough? Where did you wish for a fourth adult?
- Gate: did 80% finish within 60 minutes?
8. Decisions
Record them in a Test result issue, change parameters in a pull request and update the assumptions log.
| Decision | Owner | Issue |
|---|---|---|