Excellent Methodology for informed design

As we realign curricula to incorporate more engineering and inquiry design, we must also adjust our approach to the "scientific method." I could really appreciate this approach, because it a... See More

As we realign curricula to incorporate more engineering and inquiry design, we must also adjust our approach to the "scientific method." I could really appreciate this approach, because it also aligns very nicely with what other disciplines use for a design framework, including software and engineering product design. The approach uses eight practices for understanding ill-defined problems, and designing and developing approaches to solve them. Issues that beginners encounter - like assuming an easy solution based on limited information, prototype testing that confuses two or more variable effects, developing appropriate models, and engaging in argument from evidence - are not only problems that students encounter in science classrooms, but adults encounter everyday in real life. We all know that the new standards change the playing field - the classroom, but the practices described in this article give our students a head start on solving real problems using an authentic approach.

Engineering Design

Students just starting out with a design challenge may have some misconceptions or habits that prevent them from having a good experience with the design challenge. The author of this artic... See More

Students just starting out with a design challenge may have some misconceptions or habits that prevent them from having a good experience with the design challenge. The author of this article describes many "habits or misconceptions" for teacher to be aware of in students. The author then gives concise, well written ideas of how to address these problem areas.