Engineering Resources

The LAUSD's

Engineering Design Process (EDP)

• The Engineering Design Process is a series of steps engineers follow to come up with a solution to a problem. many times the solution involves designing a product (like a machine or a computer code) or a process that meets certain criteria and / or accomplishes a certain task.

 

• "Engineers do not always follow the engineering design process steps in order, one after another. It is very common to design something, test it, find a problem, and then go back to an earlier step to make a modification or change the design. this way is called iteration, and it is likely that your process will do the same!" 

 

• This is very similar to the EDP of the Boston's Science museum: 
  • uses a five step process
  • uses terms students will understand
  • uses guide questions
  • not linear but circular
  • uses a mnemonic device (A-B-C-D-E)
    • A for Ask
    • B for Brainstorm
    • C for Create-a-Design
    • D for Develop-a-Prototype
    • E for evaluate

 

 

 

 

 

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from: Smithsonian: Science for Makerspaces

Smithsonian Science for Makerspaces is a series of free engineering design challenges for students to engage with emerging technologies through hands-on learning. Inspired by Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, these activities bridge formal science education and the makerspace movement by helping educators and teachers engage with digital and physical technologies within the context of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) by asking them to make something new.

Smithsonian Science for Makerspaces include 3-D models and thoughtfully designed lesson plans that will guide educators and students throughout the engineering design process by observing, making, designing and testingsolutions to a problem.

• Use Smithsonian resources to introduce the topics
• Teacher support is provided through step-by-step instructions
• Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards
• Available for free
• Designed for grades 1-5 
• Can be used in the classroom and makerspaces

 

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