BELLWORK- Draw this visual on p.7 in class notes. Take up the whole page.

Collect Information

State the Question

Record & Study Data

Test the Hypothesis

(Experiment)

Form a Hypothesis

Draw a Conclusion

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The Engineering Design Process

The Scientific Method The Engineering Design Process

State your question Define the problem

Do background research Do background research

Formulate your hypothesis, identify variables Specify requirements

Design experiment, establish procedure Create alternative solutions, choose the best one and develop it

Test your hypothesis by doing an experiment Build a prototype

Analyze your results and draw conclusions Test and redesign as necessary

Communicate results Communicate results

Scientific Method vs Engineering Design Process

The Engineering Design ProcessWhat is technology?• Technology- refers to the products

and processes that are designed to serve our needs.

• Technology is not just “new” inventions. Compared to a computer, a typewriter is old technology.

• Can you think of anything that might be considered “old technology?”

The Engineering Design ProcessWhat is engineering?• Engineering- the process of creating

technology.• You do not have to be an engineer to engage

in engineering.

The Engineering Design Process

• The Engineering design process is what engineers use to develop a new technology.

The Engineering Design ProcessSTEP 1- ASK• The 1st step is to identify a need.• Engineers define and research a

need or problem they are trying to solve.

• Example: The problem may be to provide prosthetic devices to people who are missing limbs, enabling them to perform everyday activities. Engineers might need to research the person’s needs, limitations of current prosthetic devices, and the biomechanics of limbs.

The Engineering Design ProcessSTEP 2- IMAGINE• The 2nd step is to develop

possible solutions.• This step includes

brainstorming for ideas. Engineers discuss and share ideas in order to promote additional ideas.

• Example: A type of prosthetic foot was designed similar to the springs in a car.

The Engineering Design ProcessSTEP 3- PLAN• The 3rd step is to begin making a prototype.• Prototype- a test model of the product.• Building a prototype will allow engineers to see if

their design works the way they expect it to.

The Engineering Design ProcessSTEP 4- CREATE• The 4th step is to test and

evaluate the prototype.• Engineers need to make sure

that the technology does the job that it was designed to do.

• Cost-Benefit Analysis- Engineers make sure that the cost of designing and producing the new product is worth the benefit.

The Engineering Design ProcessSTEP 5- IMPROVE• The 5th step is to modify and retest

the solution.• If the prototype is unsuccessful or did

not work well, the engineers would use this step.

• Engineers can modify the 1st model or try a new solution.

• Engineers will also look for other possible uses for the new product.

• Example: CAT scanning is used to see internal structures in the body. Scientists are now using CAT scanning to help model limbs for improved fit of prosthetics.

The Engineering Design ProcessIntended Benefits & Unintended Consequences• When developing a new technology, engineers have intended

benefits in mind. An intended benefit refers to the expected outcome.

• Sometimes unintended consequences can result from a new technology. An unintended consequence is something that the engineers did not mean for the technology to cause.

• Can you think of intended benefits and unintended consequences of motorized vehicles?

The Engineering Design ProcessBioengineering• Assistive bioengineering- technologies that are

developed to help organisms without changing them. (Ex: contact lenses, crutches)

• Adaptive bioengineering- technologies that are developed to actually change an organism. (Ex: artificial skin, injecting cells with genetic material)