This practice promotes noticing, play, and exploration. When learners have time to tinker with materials they can gain an understanding of the affordances, possibilities, and constraints inherent in a variety of making materials.
This tool is connected to the Agency by Design Making Moves. The Making Moves identifies three maker capacities that support a sensitivity to design, along with their associated learning moves. Here you’ll find three observation sheets, one for each of the maker capacities: Looking Closely, Exploring Complexity, and Finding Opportunity.
AbD researchers describe how their use of agency “vignettes” help them gain new understandings around the concept of agency.
这个思维习惯鼓励学生思考在一个特定的系统里不同人物的观点。其目标是帮助学生理解基於在系統里的不同角色，不同的人物会有不同的思考、感受以及他们关心的事情。这个思维习惯培育学生的思考观点与角度，提出问题和明确下一步的研究。
Boston-based architect David Stephen discusses his experiences developing “Maker Campus Master Plans” with various members of Agency by Design’s Oakland Learning Community.
這個思維習慣鼓勵學生慢下來，仔細觀察一個系統。通過這樣幫助學生更好地認知具體系統裡無論是直接相關還是不直接相關的人物。
这个思维习惯鼓励学生先练习把思想发散，为一件物品/系统思考各种新的可能性。然后再鼓励学生把新想法融合起来，决定一个有效率的方法去建立，修缮，打破物件/系统原貌，或者是重新设计一个物品/系统。
AbD researcher Jessica Ross elaborates on her role in the Open Portfolio Project by asking the question: What advice can we offer young makers as they document their making throughout their lifetimes?
Mechanical dissections are a practice that allows learners to discover the often hidden design of objects.