A development team has launched a project to develop a new educational toy that will appeal to toddlers and preschoolers while also offering educational value. Today, the team meets to discuss what they know about similar toys and their performance in their market. At which step in “KWL” process is the team?
What do we know?
What do we want to know?
What have we leamed?
What will this cost?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The team is at the “What do we know?” step in the “KWL” process.
The KWL method is a learning strategy that stands for “Know,” “Want to know,” and “Learned.” It helps teams or individuals organize their thoughts and knowledge before starting a project or study. In the initial phase, “What do we know?” participants list the information they already have on the topic, which serves as a foundation for deeper exploration.
In this case, the development team is discussing what they know about similar educational toys and their performance in the market. By reviewing this existing knowledge, they are setting the stage for further inquiry into other aspects of the project. This step helps them understand the current landscape, such as market trends, consumer preferences, and the features of competing products. The information gathered here will influence the next steps, such as identifying gaps in the market, deciding what additional information they need, and formulating questions they need to address to successfully develop the new toy.
Once the “What do we know?” phase is complete, the team can move on to the “What do we want to know?” phase, where they define the areas they need more information on to fill knowledge gaps. For example, they might want to learn about the latest toy safety standards, manufacturing costs, or specific educational benefits for toddlers and preschoolers. This structured approach allows for systematic investigation and effective project planning, ensuring that the final product is both innovative and educationally valuable.