FlorkPal

​                                                                  FlorkPal: A CS Project Management Assignment​

Abstract
"Flork, Inc. is currently in the process of creating FlorkPal, a new toy which will teach kids CS in a fun way. However, Flork’s R&D team has run into some setbacks and needs your team to brainstorm creative solutions for them TODAY!" After being greeted with this prompt, each team member is then assigned a different task: FlorkPal’s material requirements, what programming concepts the toy will teach kids, FlorkPal’s design, and a test plan. While each student is tasked with a particular area, the team works together to come up with a "product pitch” they then present to their peers at the end of class. 

Adaptable for an advanced CS2 or later course, FlorkPal leverages team members’ skills to come up with a solution that reinforces key learning objectives within the CS curriculum — requirements, design, implementation, and testing — in an engaging way. Moreover, this project management activity asks students to practice creative collaboration, make connections, and give a short presentation — skills they will be using in their coursework and beyond. At SIGCSE 2025, I will first give a brief summary of how I have used FlorkPal in my classes, followed by a discussion of the requisite materials and handouts, assessment approaches, and finally, a discussion of the breadth of student work generated during the activity. FlorkPal models active learning, creative problem-solving and reinforcement of CS pedagogy, and team-based project management skills all in a “nifty” way, and I look forward to sharing the assignment with the SIGCSE community.

What is the FlorkPal assignment?
The FlorkPal assignment provides students an opportunity to practice project management and requirements, design, implementation, and testing in a fun context. The assignment consist of a handout with directions as well as a deliverable: a "product pitch" students submit to the course Google Drive.

What makes the FlorkPal assignment great?
The FlorkPal assignment gives students a fun way to practice key pedagogical goals in CS: articulating requirements, design, implementation, and testing for their software project; preparing an oral presentations with slides; and working with a team to manage a project. Moreover, it fosters team cohesiveness, connection, and creativity in the guise of a fun toy prototype!

​How are the FlorkPal assignment materials structured?
The assignment consists of the following:

• • A handout with the problem statement, directions, and individual team member tasks outlined

  • Whiteboards (in classroom) for team brainstorming

  • Craft supplies (instructor-provided) for iterating on design

  • Laptops (student-provided) for drafting team "product pitches" and then submitting slides to the course Google Drive​

  • Assessment rubric (adaptable depending upon each instructor's needs)