Responses do not have to be technological improvements, but rather any type of improvement, whether in design, material, or concept. If students seem to be focusing only on technological improvements, ask them to think about board games, sporting equipment, art products, and print materials like books and magazines. Write all responses on the board. Discuss why consumers purchase items with these improvements when the old item still serves its purpose. Students then discuss why people are interested in sports cards, why this change in sports cards was made, whether or not it is an improvement, how this change affects the nature and use of sports cards, and what effects this may have on the trading card and sports industries.
Students work in small groups to develop an improvement of a current entertainment product.
They may choose their product from their earlier brainstorm or select a different product. Small groups will begin creating marketing plans for their product. Their ad should include the answers to all of the questions above, as well as all of the marketing tools developed. Each group then affixes an envelope to the back of their board to be used for product evaluations. Students will now evaluate their classmates' products.