The engineering design process

• is a series of steps that engineers follow to help them find a solution to a problem.
• Often, the solution is an invention or innovation which needs to be designed to do a specific task,
• It usually needs to meet specific requirements or criteria.
• The invention or innovation could be anything from clothing to vehicles to a computer program.

Vocabulary:

Invention - a new item or process resulting from research and experimentation

Innovation - An improvement of something that already exists, via research and experimentation

Criteria - Things that the invention or innovation must be able to do

Constraints - the things that will m ake it difficult to create a design, such as limited time or materials.

Let's watch this video about the Engineering Design Process.

THE ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS

Last semester, I found my students had trouble brainstorming. First let's discuss the rules for brainstorming.

Let's practice it together. Open the brainstorming practice page for your class, and
let's brainstorm some ideas on the most useful kind of robot to have in a school.

Blue class .... Purple Class .

Now, your task is to create an invention, using the steps of the Engineering Design Process.

You will need to have me check each step before you can go on to the next step. Once you have completed
the steps, you will need to write a Design Brief for your client, explaining what you saw as the problem, and
explaining your solution. (I am your client - your grade is your 'pay'.)

Vocabulary:

Design brief - a written description of what a new project or product should do, what supplies you need to make it, how long it will take, and so on.

Today, we won't try to solve a problem - I will give you a Challenge instead:

The challenge:

I need a LEGO car that is powered by an elastic band, and that can
move straight forward for at least a meter. The faster it can go, the
better, but all its wheels must stay on the ground the whole time.

Let's watch this video about the EDP.

Then:

1. In your Google Drive, drag the Engineering Design Process Document from 'Shared with me' to your LEGO folder.

2. Add your name and the date.

3. In the correct box, describe the challenge in your own words. (Step 1 - Define the problem.)

Call me to check this!

When I have checked this, move on to Step 2 - Brainstorming and Research.