Delivered via the Makers Empire 3D design app, Challenge Courses provide a complete design program for students and can be easily assessed by teachers using our built-in progress reports and assessment tools.
Challenge courses comprise videos, quizzes, step-by-step tutorials and design challenges. They are aligned to curriculum outcomes, centred around a theme and are designed to take 4-10 weeks to complete.
All classes and schools with a paid Makers Empire subscription can access most of these curriculum-aligned courses as part of their Makers Empire plan. These Challenge Courses are available on-demand and can be assigned to classes at any time via the Teacher Dashboard.
A selection of challenge courses are sponsored by corporate partners, education and training organisations, education departments, trusts and foundations and are available to a selected group of schools as part of a customised customised school industry and education outreach program.
Browse available Challenge Courses below and learn more about teaching with Challenge Courses.
Click the relevant heading to view the challenge courses available to your school, students or children.
All classes and schools with a paid Makers Empire subscription can access these curriculum-aligned courses as part of their Makers Empire plan. These Challenge Courses are available on-demand and can be assigned to classes at any time via the Teacher Dashboard.
This course is a great introduction to Makers Empire and is suitable for students in years 3-6. In this challenge course, students are introduced to the world of 3D and learn to create their first basic designs. Students will learn about key terminology and concepts used in 3D design and the basic tools required to make a 3D design. They will consider a design brief and follow step-by-step instructions to create a 3D design that is also a printable 3D product.
Students examine elements of familiar fairy tales. They explore video content focussing on the fairy tale genre and common features fairy tales have such as magic, royalty, castles, a group of 3, problems to solve, and happy endings. The course includes 3 interactive quizzes and students are provided with tutorials to design elements from familiar fairy tales. Students are provided with scaffolding to create 3 fairy tale themed designs of their own.
Mission to Mars is aimed at years 3-4 and helps students learn about Mars and space travel. A series of design challenges ask students to work through the design thinking process. These are presented with briefs for designing a rocket, a spacecraft landing device, a space helmet, a Mars Rover, and a sleeping station. Finally, students will design a toy or gadget that could be fun or useful on Mars keeping in mind design criteria and constraints. They then evaluate their designs.
This Challenge Course introduces the concept of sustainable communities, and sustainable practices regarding the use of resources (rethink, reduce, refuse, repair, reuse & recycle). Students respond to video content by participating in in-app quizzes and design tutorials related to the information shared. The Challenge Course concludes with a design thinking project which challenges students to identify an opportunity to use resources within their school in more sustainable ways. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals: #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and #12 Responsible Consumption and Production.
How can we prepare for and respond to problems caused by natural disasters such as bushfire, earthquake, floods and volcanoes? In this challenge course, students will develop an understanding about different types of natural disasters and create designs to help. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal: #13 Climate Action.
Through purpose-made video content, students explore the importance of the world’s oceans to our planet’s health and learn about some of the issues impacting our oceans. Students respond to the video content by participating in in-app quizzes and design tutorials related to the information shared. It concludes with a design thinking project that challenges students to design a new invention for keeping our oceans clean and healthy. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal: #14 Life Below Water.
In this course, grade 3+ students will learn how to design simple jewellery pieces. They will meet a professional jewellery designer, learn about the importance of understanding your customer and practise working with precise design constraints around size and material properties. Students will complete two interactive quizzes to test their understanding of the content, three step-by-step tutorials to help them practise working to precise measurements and will finally be challenged to create a wearable accessory of their own design.
In this course, students will learn about the Olympic Games. They will explore video content focusing on the history, structure, symbols, traditions, sporting events, equipment and design elements of the games and how scientific and design concepts relate to these topics. The challenge course includes four quizzes and students are provided with tutorials for creating designs related to the theme. Students are asked to use their design skills and ideas to create four Olympic Games themed designs. |
In this course aimed at years 5-6, students learn about adaptations in animals and biomimicry. They explore video content showing features that let animals survive in different environments and examples of natured-inspired solutions to human problems. Next, three interactive quizzes to put students’ knowledge to the test. Students are also provided with step-by-step tutorials for designing animals with specific features. Finally, students are also asked to use their design skills and ideas to create four animal inspired designs.
How good are you at saving your pocket money? Have you ever thought about setting up your own business? In this Challenge Course for grades 5-7, students will learn about how to be wise consumers, and savers and explore enterprise opportunities. They will bring their entrepreneurial ideas to life and explore the world of start-up companies. This challenge course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #12: Responsible Consumption & Production.
How are your navigation skills? How do you find your way around unfamiliar places? How can technology help? Have you ever wondered how people found their way around before there were maps or GPS? This Challenge Course explores the history of navigation including traditional knowledge and how mapping and navigation technologies have developed over time. Grade 3-5 students will activate their spatial skills and solve real-world navigation problems. This challenge course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
The Earth’s climate is changing. Human activity is causing temperatures to rise around the globe. Science can help us understand why this is happening and the actions we need to take to protect the Earth. In this Challenge Course, grade 5-7 students will think about changes they can make in their daily lives that will help slow global warming and design innovative solutions for addressing this global problem. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #13 Climate Action.
The Earth’s climate is changing. Human activity is causing temperatures to rise around the globe. Science can help us understand why this is happening and the actions we need to take to protect the Earth. In this Challenge Course, grade 5-7 students will think about changes they can make in their daily lives that will help slow global warming and design innovative solutions for addressing this global problem. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #13 Climate Action.
In this challenge course, students will reflect on the characteristics and interests that make them unique. They will watch two videos created by Ukrainian-speaking children and respond to reflection questions about their interests, and activities they like to do. They will design their own 3D avatar to share some of the things they like to do. Students will also learn how to create simple 3D models including a photo frame and a fun toy.
Grade 3-6 students discover the process behind creating a monster or creature. They will be given historical and literary context for monsters and build their own character, taking into consideration the monster’s habitat, purpose and narrative. The video content for this challenge course was developed by the Adelaide Festival Centre and presented by digital artist Jess Taylor. She explains important elements to consider when making a monster, including where they come from, their story, their features, their environment and how it affects their appearance and whether or not they should be scary.
This course celebrates the contributions and achievements of the Chinese community in Australia. Students learn about the history of Chinese people in Australia and explore their contributions. Students respond to videos by participating in quizzes and tutorials. It concludes with a design thinking project that asks students to create a design that celebrates multiculturalism and diversity. This course is funded by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and is in partnership with the Museum of Chinese Australian History (Chinese Museum) and the History Trust of SA.
How can you keep your mind and your body well? What can you do to improve your well being? How can you help others? This Challenge Course explores strategies for keeping our minds and bodies healthy and asks grade 3-6 students to design solutions that contribute to healthy happy communities. This challenge course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-being.
What makes a structure strong? How many cars can a bridge hold? How tall can a tower be before it becomes unstable? How can we build things that stand the test of time? Grade 5-7 students will be challenged to think like architects and civil engineers and design strong, sustainable structures for a range of purposes. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals: #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
How can we design products that help others? In this upcoming challenge course due October 2022, students will learn about social enterprise and use Makers Empire to design a product that can be sold to support those in need. This challenge course includes purpose-made video content, in-app quizzes and design tutorials and concludes with a design thinking project to design a product to help others. This challenge course aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as any additional goals that students’ specific projects align to.
Nature can be an amazing inspiration for creating art. Nature also creates its own awe-inspiring art. In this Challenge Course, students explore how artists find inspiration in the natural world, and meet some talented Australian artists who are inspired by nature to create amazing artworks using glass. Students will then design their own nature-inspired creations. For South Australian schools, this challenge course is timed to coincide with the Chihuly exhibition at the Botanic Garden and State Herbarium until 29th April 2025. This course is designed for grade 3-6 students.
For customers, the Challenge Course are available anytime on demand. Customers can also join complimentary managed projects for extra support and complete them over fixed dates during school terms. For non-customers, these Challenge Courses are available as paid managed school pilots and run during fixed dates during school terms.
Nature can be an amazing inspiration for creating art. Nature also creates its own awe-inspiring art. In this Challenge Course, students explore how artists find inspiration in the natural world, and meet some talented Australian artists who are inspired by nature to create amazing artworks using glass. Students will then design their own nature-inspired creations. For South Australian schools, this managed project is timed to coincide with the Chihuly exhibition at the Botanic Garden and State Herbarium until 29th April 2025.
How good are you at saving your pocket money? Have you ever thought about setting up your own business? In this Challenge Course for grades 5-7, students will learn about how to be wise consumers, and savers and explore enterprise opportunities. They will bring their entrepreneurial ideas to life and explore the world of start-up companies. This course aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals including
The Earth’s climate is changing. Human activity is causing temperatures to rise around the globe. Science can help us understand why this is happening and the actions we need to take to protect the Earth. In this Challenge Course, grade 5-7 students will think about changes they can make in their daily lives that will help slow global warming and design innovative solutions for addressing this global problem. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #13 Climate Action.
How are your navigation skills? How do you find your way around unfamiliar places? How can technology help? Have you ever wondered how people found their way around before there were maps or GPS? This Challenge Course explores the history of navigation including traditional knowledge and how mapping and navigation technologies have developed over time. Grade 3-5 students will activate their spatial skills and solve real-world navigation problems. This challenge course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
The Earth’s climate is changing. Human activity is causing temperatures to rise around the globe. Science can help us understand why this is happening and the actions we need to take to protect the Earth. In this Challenge Course, grade 5-7 students will think about changes they can make in their daily lives that will help slow global warming and design innovative solutions for addressing this global problem. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #13 Climate Action.
How can you keep your mind and your body well? What can you do to improve your well being? How can you help others? This Challenge Course explores strategies for keeping our minds and bodies healthy and asks grade 3-6 students to design solutions that contribute to healthy happy communities. This challenge course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-being.
What makes a structure strong? How many cars can a bridge hold? How tall can a tower be before it becomes unstable? How can we build things that stand the test of time? Grade 5-7 students will be challenged to think like architects and civil engineers and design strong, sustainable structures for a range of purposes. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals: #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
How can we design products that help others? In this upcoming challenge course due October 2022, students will learn about social enterprise and use Makers Empire to design a product that can be sold to support those in need. This challenge course includes purpose-made video content, in-app quizzes and design tutorials and concludes with a design thinking project to design a product to help others. This challenge course aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as any additional goals that students’ specific projects align to.
This Challenge Course introduces the concept of sustainable communities, and sustainable practices regarding the use of resources (rethink, reduce, refuse, repair, reuse & recycle). Students respond to video content by participating in in-app quizzes and design tutorials related to the information shared. The Challenge Course concludes with a design thinking project which challenges students to identify an opportunity to use resources within their school in more sustainable ways. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals: #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and #12 Responsible Consumption and Production.
How can we prepare for and respond to problems caused by natural disasters such as bushfire, earthquake, floods and volcanoes? In this challenge course, students will develop an understanding about different types of natural disasters and create designs to help. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal: #13 Climate Action.
Through purpose-made video content, students explore the importance of the world’s oceans to our planet’s health and learn about some of the issues impacting our oceans. Students respond to the video content by participating in in-app quizzes and design tutorials related to the information shared. It concludes with a design thinking project that challenges students to design a new invention for keeping our oceans clean and healthy. This course aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal: #14 Life Below Water.
Makers Empire partners with corporate sponsors, trusts and foundations, training and membership organisations and other partners to deliver customised school industry and education outreach programs to groups of schools and students via its challenge course platform. Are you at a school interested in doing one of these courses? Schools can register their interest to be considered for an upcoming sponsored education program.
This challenge course with RAA and the Lifetime Support Authority (LSA) introduces students to the concept of Road Safety. Students explore the themes of Safe Systems, Safe Pedestrians, Safe Passengers, Safe Cyclists and Safety on Wheels. They respond to video content by participating in in-app quizzes and design tutorials related to the information shared. The challenge course concludes with a design thinking project which challenges students to design something to help people in their community to keep safe. The solution might help pedestrians, passengers, drivers, cyclists, or wheel users.
In this challenge course with the Gold Coast Manufacturing Hub and Queensland Government, students are introduced to the advanced manufacturing industry through a series of locally made videos. The videos explore the role that the manufacturing industry plays, the breadth and depth of roles and opportunities, and possible pathways. Students participate in in-app quizzes and design tutorials and complete a research assignment on a local business. Supported by experts, students work in groups to identify a problem or challenge within their school, local community, or industry partner context, that may lead to a manufactured solution. They work through a design thinking process to develop solutions to the problem.
In this challenge course with the Andy Thomas Space Foundation and the Australian Space Agency, students learn about Australia’s role in the space industry and the exciting and diverse career opportunities field offered. Students will explore problems scientists need to solve to enable space exploration to occur, including the ethical considerations this creates. Students will develop a greater understanding of how we use and benefit from space technologies on Earth. Students participate in in-app quizzes and design tutorials. It concludes with a design thinking project to design something that might help astronauts to work and live in space or use space technologies to design something to help solve a problem on Earth.
Makers Empire has partnered with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to create a pioneering challenge course to help deliver education and awareness of jobs in the construction industry to middle school students. Students will learn about the construction industry through a series of locally made videos that explore the important role that the construction industry plays in society, the breadth and depth of roles and opportunities within the industry, possible pathways into the industry, as well as hearing from industry experts. Students will be challenged to solve a related construction problem using Design Thinking and Makers Empire.
In this Challenge Course, a collaboration between Growing with Gratitude, Bushfire Kids Connect, and Makers Empire, students explore strategies for building resilience and well-being, particularly during times when their families and communities have been impacted by a natural disaster. A series of specially made videos introduces students to the key skills of gratitude, empathy, self-awareness, ownership, and kindness/service, and unpacks how these skills can help during challenging times. Students are guided through a series of relevant design tutorials to help them develop 3D design skills needed for the final design challenge in this Challenge Course. It concludes with a design thinking project which asks students to design something to help a family impacted by a natural disaster.
The Water Warriors Challenge Course has been created in partnership with SA Water. Through purpose-made video content, students are introduced to a range of water-related information and issues to engage them in the topic and to support them in identifying an opportunity to solve a water-related problem that they care about. Video content draws upon SA Water’s previously developed resources and introduces students to SA Water’s water management practices and services. Students respond to the video content by participating in in-app quizzes and design tutorials related to the information shared. It with a design thinking project which challenges students to identify an opportunity to design a solution for a water-related problem within their school or community or to propose a local response to a global problem.
The Bushfire Brave Challenge Course has been created in partnership with Bushfire Kids Connect. Students will learn background information about bushfires, including why they happen, what to expect during a fire, and Indigenous perspectives. They will develop empathy for bushfire-affected families and explore strategies for dealing with big feelings. Students will work through 3 design tutorials, learning how to create items that might help bushfire-affected families. They will then work through design thinking processes to invent and create a new product to help a family recover and feel happy after a bushfire. Learn more about the pilot program and about the pilot showcase day.
In this challenge course created in partnership with the National Trust of SA, students will engage with stories from the past, representing a range of perspectives from early life at Moonta Mines, with a particular focus on First Nations perspectives and Cornish heritage. Stories are presented as purpose-made videos and include themes of daily life, school life, work, technology, and significant events and developments. The challenge course content is delivered as 5 purpose-designed videos, quizzes, and reflection tasks. Students are also provided with step-by-step design tutorials aligned to each story theme. They then work on an open-ended design challenge to create artefacts that represent significant stories, events, or people that help others understand life in the past.
This course celebrates the contributions and achievements of the Chinese community in Australia. Students learn about the history of Chinese people in Australia and explore their contributions. Students respond to videos by participating in quizzes and tutorials. It concludes with a design thinking project that asks students to create a design that celebrates multiculturalism and diversity. This course is funded by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and is in partnership with the Museum of Chinese Australian History (Chinese Museum) and the History Trust of SA.
In this course created in partnership with the History Trust of South Australia, students will learn about what it means to be a leader reflect on their own leadership qualities. They will examine objects and stories from the History Trust’s collections to explore key qualities that great leaders often have and understand how these qualities are represented in actions. As they work through the challenge course, students will complete a series of design challenges based on design thinking processes. They will be introduced to objects and museum artefacts through short videos and interactive quizzes. This course will be offered to SA Schools in 2022 as an ongoing, digital program of the History Trust. |
The below Challenge Courses are automatically available at anytime in the Challenge Central section of the Makers Empire 3D design app to individual home users using a free Makers Empire account. Please note that users need to be a Makers Empire member (it’s free!) to access challenge courses.
This course is a great introduction to Makers Empire and is suitable for students in years 3-6. In this challenge course, students are introduced to the world of 3D and learn to create their first basic designs. Students will learn about key terminology and concepts used in 3D design and the basic tools required to make a 3D design. They will consider a design brief and follow step-by-step instructions to create a 3D design that is also a printable 3D product.
Grade 3+ students learn how to design simple jewellery pieces. They meet a jewellery designer, learn about the importance of understanding your customer and practise working with precise design constraints around size and material properties. Students complete two quizzes to test their understanding, three step-by-step tutorials to help them practise working to precise measurements and are challenged to create a wearable accessory of their own design.
In this module, students will reflect on the characteristics and interests that make them unique. They will watch two videos created by Ukrainian-speaking children and respond to reflection questions about their interests, and activities they like to do. They will design their own 3D avatar to share some of the things they like to do. Students will also learn how to create simple 3D models including a photo frame and a fun toy.
Nature can be an amazing inspiration for creating art. Nature also creates its own awe-inspiring art. In this Challenge Course, students explore how artists find inspiration in the natural world, and meet some talented Australian artists who are inspired by nature to create amazing artworks using glass. Students will then design their own nature-inspired creations. For South Australian schools, this challenge course is timed to coincide with the Chihuly exhibition at the Botanic Garden and State Herbarium until 29th April 2025. This course is designed for grade 3-6 students.
This course celebrates the contributions and achievements of the Chinese community in Australia. Students learn about the history of Chinese people in Australia and explore their contributions. Students respond to videos by participating in quizzes and tutorials. It concludes with a design thinking project that asks students to create a design that celebrates multiculturalism and diversity. This course is funded by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and is in partnership with the Museum of Chinese Australian History (Chinese Museum) and the History Trust of SA.
