Taking Engineering Design to the Next Level

Taking Engineering Design to the Next Level

Patricia WatsonSkyline Middle School STEM Coordinator

Nov. 21, 2015

Stand up - Sit down

• I know what a design challenge is.• I have read several design challenges.• I have used a design challenge created by

others in my class.• I have written my own design challenge.• I use design challenges in my class

regularly.• I teach engineering skills explicitly.

If the statement is true for you, stand up

Introductions

• About [email protected] http://staff.harrisonburg.k12.va.us/~pwatson

• Introduce yourself - Turn and TalkWhere do you teachWhat do you teachDescribe a design brief you have used in your classroom

Science vs. Engineering

Use a non-linear process

Many disciplines

Questions about the natural world

Publish freely

1 correct answer

Solve societal problem

Many correct answers

Patent & sell

Iterative process

Engineering Design Challenges

ES

T

M

Design Better Challenges

• Put it in context• Begin with the end in mind• Add some constraints• Tweak the resources list

Put it in context

Put it in context

Begin with the end in mind

Add some constraints

Tweak the resources list

Design Better Ideas

• Facilitate brainstorming• Individual vs. group brainstorming• SCAMPER• Brainsteering

● Defer judgement● Build on other’s ideas● Be visual● Encourage wild ideas● Go for quantity

Facilitate brainstorming

(Engineer Your Life, 2008)

Facilitate brainstorming

Individual vs. group brainstorming

SCAMPER

• substitute• combine• adapt• modify• put to another use• eliminate and/or• reverse an idea

(Mind Tools Editorial Team, n.d.)

Brainsteering

● Focus on criteria● Start from existing ideas (research)● Use guiding questions

● Can you change the material? inputs? outputs? What if the user is ___?

● Become an expert first● Understand the science/math/tech

content● Divide and conquer

● Group by similar personalities● Quality (3-4 from each small group) over

quantity(Coyne & Coyne, 2011)

Brainstorming Resources

• Engineering Design Process: Brainstorming and Assessing Alternatives

• Judy Lee: Creativity has its rewards• Tips for Structuring Better Brainstorming

Sessions• Seven steps to better brainstorming• SCAMPER: Improving Products and

Services

Design Better Solutions

• Science experiment to research • Decision matrix• Prototyping• Have a plan

Science experiments

Science experiments

Decision matrix

Criteria Idea 1 Idea 2 Idea 3

Can hold enough dirty water 0 +1 0

Can hold enough clean water 0 0 +1

Easy to get clean water 0 +2 -2

Easy to assemble 0 -1 0

Durable for one year 0 -1 0

Won’t tip over or spill 0 -2 +2

Total 0 -1 1

Rank 2nd 3rd 1st

Prototyping

Have a plan

Have a plan

Designing Better Communication

• Oral presentations• Academic language• Going beyond the report

Oral presentations

Academic language

Going beyond the report



Turn and Talk

Which of these strategies do you see incorporating into your classroom?

OR

What do you do in your classroom to increase engineering knowledge and/or skills?

General Resources

Engineering Design Process presentationInternational Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Virginia Technology & Engineering Education Association

Integrative STEM Education at Virginia TechLinkEngineeringEngineering is Elementary

Sources

Coyne, K. P., & Coyne, S. T. (2011, March). Seven steps to better brainstorming. Retrieved

November 20, 2015, from McKinsey Quarterly website:

http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/strategy/seven_steps_to_better_brainstorming

DiSpezio, M. A., Frank, M., Heithaus, M. R., & Ogle, D. M. (2013). Virginia science fusion. Holt

McDougal.

Engineer Your Life. (2008, November 25). Judy Lee: Creativity has its rewards [Video file].

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_bd8Uc9MiM

Mind Tools Editorial Team. (n.d.). SCAMPER: Improving products and services. Retrieved

November 20, 2015, from Mind Tools website: https://www.mindtools.

com/pages/article/newCT_02.htm