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Recommended for: Grades 3-12

Resource: What Is the Design Process?

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Media Type:
QuickTime Video

Length: 4m 51s
Size: 7.5 MB

This video segment, adapted fromThinking Big, Building Small, demonstrates each part of the engineering design process, which is fundamental to any successful project. Though it does this in the context of building skyscrapers, the process is applicable to any sort of project, including constructing schools, building bridges, and even manufacturing sneakers. Students will recognize the value of going through its steps sequentially when constructing scale models.

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Teachers' Domain, What Is the Design Process?, published January 22, 2004, retrieved on ,
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.engin.design.desprocess/

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When engineers prepare to design something, be it a skyscraper, a cell phone, or a bicycle, they follow certain steps that we call the design process. The design process provides general direction when engineers set out to solve problems. By working through these steps sequentially, they increase the odds that their concepts will work when built.

Identify the Challenge. You need to recognize the heart of any problem before attempting to solve it. You must also know the constraints placed upon you. Are there any size, weight, or budget limitations? Will the structure need to support a fixed amount of weight, or will the load vary according to how many people or cars are on it? Once you know just what you are trying to accomplish, you can continue forward.

Research and Brainstorm. Research all that's related to the challenge at hand, like the site conditions, materials available, and public opinion. Has the challenge been met before? If so, how? If not, why not? Then, because the best solution to a problem is not always the first idea conceived, exchange ideas in an open forum. To spark creativity, let the invited participants know that there is no such thing as a bad idea, no matter how crazy it may seem.

Design a Solution. Once you've settled on an idea to develop, prepare detailed drawings and engineering plans and solicit feedback. These designs may need to be modified depending on any feedback you receive.

Test Ideas. The only way to know if your design will work in real-world conditions is to build a model, or prototype, and then test it. If it's a building, will it stand up against wind and weather? What about gravity? If it's a large passenger ship, will it float?

Evaluate. If your initial design doesn't fully solve the problem or meet the challenge (or can't do so for the money you have to spend), go back and repeat the above steps. You'll know what doesn't work and be in a better position to develop an idea that does. If your design does solve the problem, then it's on to the final step.

Build It!