The Legacy Cycle uses challenges as anchors for learning. The challenges are designed to create an increasing depth of knowledge in a specific subject, with each challenge presented as one cycle of the Legacy shell. The combination of well-designed challenges and meaningful learning activities provides a rich environment for both the students and the instructor.

The six steps constituting each cycle of Legacy are

• Look Ahead and Reflect Back, which allows students to see where they are going and to reflect back on where they have been; for example, students are able to see how the concepts underlying any given challenge map into the taxonomy of knowledge for solid biomechanics



• Generate Ideas allows students to explore, within a group setting, their initial thoughts and ideas about the challenge at hand



• Multiple Perspectives gives students the opportunity to listen to experts in the field describe their own hypotheses and ideas about the same problem



• Research and Revise allows students to test their own hypotheses concerning a challenge; for example, through advanced computer-based simulations, students are able to vary parameters of a model and study the effects that these changes have on model performance



• Test Your Mettle provides a means of formative assessment, allowing students to reflect on what they have learned thus far, and to identify any weaknesses or misconceptions they still may have



• Go Public encourages students to share their thoughts and ideas with their peers and provides a summative assessment