Ford CCL Level 3 involves students working on complex, open-ended challenges similar to those encountered in real life. It is unique in that it presents an overarching challenge for students to address through identifying embedded sub-problems, drawing on specialized knowledge and skills, collaborating to design innovative solutions, and ensuring solutions meet clear criteria for success as determined by stakeholders. The video clip from Apollo 13 demonstrates these characteristics as NASA engineers worked to solve problems and save the astronauts despite equipment malfunctions.

2. Module 2
Section 1: Setting the Stage

3. How is Level 3 Different?
Before you ask academy and employer partners
to commit to a year of in-depth, exciting,
difficult, and trailblazing collaboration, it’s
important to stop and think about what it is we
are actually asking them to do, and why. What
kinds of learning do we want students to engage
in during Level 3, and how is that different from
what they may have already experienced in the
past?

4. Apollo 13
Educators and employers alike have stated that students
rarely get the chance to explore truly messy challenges -
the kinds they encounter in real life. To understand what
we mean by “messy,” take a look at this clip from Apollo
13. As you watch, think about how the challenge these
NASA employees are faced with is similar to, or different
from, the kinds of problems students usually are asked to
solve.

5. Why Ford CCL Level 3 is Unique
The Apollo 13 video clip shows a number of things
that are essential to understanding what makes
Ford CCL Level 3 unique. Review the next slides to
see five key factors of what makes Ford CCL Level 3
Unique.

6. Why Ford CCL Level 3 is Unique
1. There is an overarching and important challenge that
the organization is grappling with.
In this case, the larger challenge faced by NASA is that
the astronauts need to find a way to get back to Earth
despite malfunctioning equipment. The leadership at
NASA has determined that getting the astronauts home
alive is a priority and is worth the commitment of time
and resources to solve - we see managers and engineers
all working overtime to figure out what to do.

7. Why Ford CCL Level 3 is Unique
2. There are many smaller problems embedded within the
larger challenge that need to be identified and prioritized.
For anyone who has seen Apollo 13, you know that more
than one problem besets the astronauts. In this case, one
specific problem is that they don’t have enough oxygen to
breathe. Management at the organization has
determined that this problem is highest priority for this team
to solve. This requires the ability to identify problems,
prioritize, and come up with a game plan for tackling them -
all essential project management skills that require an
understanding of different components of the larger system.

8. Why Ford CCL Level 3 is Unique
3. The problem-solving team needs to draw on specific
content knowledge and skills in order to decide on a course
of action.
Drawing on their expertise and knowledge of the spacecraft
components, the engineers have concluded that there is no
adequate air filtration system on the LEM, and that they will
need to create one if the astronauts are to have oxygen.
They need to know what equipment and supplies are already
on board, and be able to communicate what to do with them
to the astronauts.

9. Why Ford CCL Level 3 is Unique
4. The team needs to collaborate and come up with an
innovative designed solution.
Each engineer has to be able to work with the others to
brainstorm solutions that have never been designed before.
They also need to communicate with the company that
designed the LEM to know the craft’s limitations and abilities.
The engineers need to consider how the astronauts will
understand and apply their instructions -knowing they are
dealing with low temperatures and compromised brain
function which will impact their ability to assemble the filter
in space. This requires that the team be able to apply skills in
innovation, collaboration, and communication, as well as seek
out and incorporate multiple perspectives.

10. Why Ford CCL Level 3 is Unique
5. There are clear criteria for a successful design.
It doesn’t get much clearer than in this example - if
the design is successful, the astronauts will be able to
breathe! However, in any designed solution to a
challenge, it needs to be clear to the team what the
end user thinks is most important for success. The
organization or company that is facing the
challenge is the MOST important stakeholder when
determining whether a solution works - or doesn’t.

11. Conclusion
Once you have a feel for what distinguishes Ford CCL Level
3 from other kinds of inquiry- and problem-based learning
experiences, you will need to be able to explain Ford CCL
Level 3 in more specific terms. As you reach out to academy
and employer teams, you will want to have a solid
understanding of what the Ford CCL Level 3 cycle looks like,
what each stage entails, and lessons learned from the field
that will help teams work together more efficiently and
effectively.