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Module #2: "Engineering Design"

Submitted by andrewstillman on Mon, 02/05/2007 - 5:14pm.
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Gather activities and lessons that introduce students to the engineering design process while building on the concepts from Module #1.

The outline below was again plucked from the Massechusetts Science and Technology standards:

Broad Concept: Engineering design is an iterative process involving modeling and optimizing for developing technological solutions to problems within given constraints.

2.1 Identify and explain the steps of the engineering design process, i.e., identify the need or problem, research the problem, develop possible solutions, select the best possible solution(s), construct a prototype, test and evaluate, communicate the solution(s), and redesign.
2.2 Demonstrate methods of representing solutions to a design problem, e.g., sketches, orthographic projections, multiview drawings.
2.3 Describe and explain the purpose of a given prototype.
2.4 Identify appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design.
2.5 Explain how such design features as size, shape, weight, function, and cost limitations would affect the construction of a given prototype.
2.6 Identify the five elements of a universal systems model: goal, inputs, processes, outputs, and feedback.

Suggested Learning Activities

  • Given a prototype, design a test to evaluate whether it meets the design specifications. (2.1)
  • Using test results, modify the prototype to optimize the solution, i.e., bring the design closer to meeting the design constraints. (2.1)
  • Communicate the results of an engineering design through a coherent written, oral, or visual presentation. (2.1)
  • Develop plans, including drawings with measurements and details of construction, and construct a model of the solution, exhibiting a degree of craftsmanship. (2.2)

Links to possible activities (gathered by Stefan Sobolowski):

  1. Leonardo's Machines: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=6&DocID=345
  2. Design a running shoe: (perhaps add an environmentally sustainable component to this (e.g. all materials must be recylcled or recycleable)) http://www.swe.org/iac/LP/triathlete_01.html
  3. Design for living and working in space: (check out the space station/shuttle for examples of how this challenge has been met in the past) http://www.swe.org/iac/LP/space_01.html
  4. The Bicycle as a System: Introduce students to sytems oriented thinking and thus, systems oriented design. http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=11&DocID=12
  5. Design boats/rafts out of old plastic bottles or something even more interesting like paper towel tubes. Here are some related links: http://www.swe.org/iac/LP/deep_01.html , http://www.xanga.com/fallenkiwi/489249083/glory.html , http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/sodabottleboat.html
  6. Building a water clock: More systems related fun. http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?Grade=6-8&BenchmarkID=11&DocI...
  7. Design a car-free city. What would a city center with no car/truck traffice look like? How would people get around? Tons of related links a great way to introduce students to computer design software: http://www.carfree.com/library.html , http://www.carfree.com/library.html , http://www.xs4all.nl/~rigolett/carfree/design.htm
  8. Various activities in a curriculum designed by the ASME. Download PDF here.
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jay's picture

a great lesson idea, but need suitable activities

Submitted by jay on Tue, 03/27/2007 - 11:36am.

It is a great idea to expose students to the overall engineering design process from identifying the needs or problems till a finished product. I looked through the activities posted online and found most of them were more abstract and conceptual than hands-on. It would be great to have a semester-long project to design something from ground zero, but it may not be feasible with such young group of children and also given the uncertainty of amount of resources available. Instead, one could examine an everyday object and trace it backwards to reverse the circular 8-step process shown in figure 1: steps of engineering design process.

A good book to begin with:

Michael Graves Designs: The Art of the Everyday Object

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