Engineering Design Process
Engineering Design Process emphasizes open-ended problem solving and encourages students to learn from failure.
This process nurtures students’ abilities to create innovative solutions to challenges in any subject!
The Engineering Design Process is a series of steps that guides engineering teams as we solve problems. The design process is iterative, meaning that we repeat the steps as many times as needed, making improvements along the way as we learn from failure and uncover new design possibilities to arrive at great solutions.
Overarching themes of the engineering design process are teamwork and design. Strengthen your students’ understanding of open-ended design as you encourage them to work together to brainstorm new ideas, apply science and math concepts, test prototypes and analyze data—and aim for creativity and practicality in their solutions. Project-based learning engages learners of all ages—and fosters STEM literacy.
Engineers ask critical questions about what they want to create, whether it be a skyscraper, amusement park ride, bicycle or smartphone. These questions include: What is the problem to solve? What do we want to design? Who is it for? What do we want to accomplish? What are the project requirements? What are the limitations? What is our goal?
This includes talking to people from many different backgrounds and specialties to assist with researching what products or solutions already exist, or what technologies might be adaptable to your needs.
You work with a team to brainstorm ideas and develop as many solutions as possible. This is the time to encourage wild ideas and defer judgment! Build on the ideas of others! Stay focused on topic, and have one conversation at a time! Remember: good design is all about teamwork! Help students understand the brainstorming guidelines by using the TE handout and two sizes of classroom posters.
For many teams this is the hardest step! Revisit the needs, constraints and research from the earlier steps, compare your best ideas, select one solution and make a plan to move forward with it.
Building a prototype makes your ideas real! These early versions of the design solution help your team verify whether the design meets the original challenge objectives. Push yourself for creativity, imagination and excellence in design.
Does it work? Does it solve the need? Communicate the results and get feedback. Analyze and talk about what works, what doesn't and what could be improved.
Discuss how you could improve your solution. Make revisions. Draw new designs. Iterate your design to make your product the best it can be.
And now, REPEAT!
Engineering Design Process Curricula
ActivityVideoBacteria! It’s Everywhere!By playing the role of biochemical engineers, students investigate what causes them to become sick during the school year. Students use the…
ActivityVideoBe “Cool” with Popsicle EngineeringBeginning kindergarteners are introduced to science and engineering concepts through questions such as “What is a Scientist?” and “What is an…
ActivityDesigning Musical Art to Help See SoundWhy do guitars create amazing sounds using just a few strings? In this activity, students explore how sound is created. After researching with…
ActivityVideoEngineering an Animal’s SurvivalThis unique engineering activity explores helping animals that cannot help themselves. Students perform research and design prosthetic prototypes for…
ActivityVideoInvent a Backscratcher from Everyday MaterialsBeing able to recognize a problem and design a potential solution is the first step in the development of new and useful products. In this activity…
ActivityLet’s Save Our Clothes with Avocados!Students use parts of the engineering design process to change the matter properties (e.g., the color) of dye in order to save old clothes from a…
ActivityVideoDesign a Better BandageIn this maker challenge, students follow the engineering design process and use water-absorbing crystals to create a bandage that can be used in a…
ActivityVideoInundation InspirationStudents employ the engineering design process to create a device that uses water-absorbing crystals for use during a flood or storm surge. Students…
ActivityKeeping Damp in a DroughtIn this maker challenge, students utilize the engineering design process as they design a way for mint plants to keep a constant moisture level for…
ActivityVideoSilkworm Strength!In this maker challenge, students use the engineering design process to design a bridge out of silkworm cocoons that can hold at least 50 grams.…
ActivityStop Freewheeling Using Friction!In this maker challenge, students use the engineering design process to design a covering for a portable wheelchair ramp for their school. The design…
LessonBiodomes are Engineered Ecosystems: A Mini WorldAs students learn about the creation of biodomes, they are introduced to the steps of the engineering design process, including guidelines for…
ActivityVideoAmusement Park Ride: Ups and Downs in DesignStudents design, build and test model roller coasters using foam tubing, toothpicks and masking tape. As if they are engineers, teams compete to…
ActivityVideoBalsa TowersStudents groups use balsa wood and glue to build their own towers using some of the techniques they learned from the associated lesson. While general…
ActivityVideoCleaning the AirEngineers design methods of removing particulate matter from industrial sources to minimize negative effects of air pollution. In this activity…
ActivityVideoClearing a Path to the HeartFollowing the steps of the engineering design process and acting as biomedical engineers, student teams use everyday materials to design and develop…
ActivityVideoCool Puppy! A Doghouse Design ProjectStudents are given the engineering challenge to design and build doghouses that shelter a (toy) puppy from the heat—and to create them within…
ActivityVideoCooler Design ChallengeStudents learn and apply concepts in thermodynamics and energy—mainly convection, conduction, and radiation— to solve a challenge. This is…
ActivityBalloonsStudents follow the steps of the engineering design process as they design and construct balloons for aerial surveillance. After their first attempts…
ActivityVideoBio-Engineering: Making and Testing Model ProteinsStudents act as if they are biological engineers following the steps of the engineering design process to design and create protein models to replace…
ActivityVideoBoom ConstructionStudent teams design their own booms (bridges) and engage in a friendly competition with other teams to test their designs. Each team strives to…
ActivityVideoBuild Your Own Night-Light with ArduinoWhether you want to light up a front step or a bathroom, it helps to have a light come on automatically when darkness falls. For this maker…
ActivityVideoCreating Mini Wastewater Treatment PlantsStudent teams design and then create small-size models of working filter systems to simulate multi-stage wastewater treatment plants. Drawing from…
ActivityDesign a Bicycle HelmetStudents are introduced to the biomechanical characteristics of helmets, and are challenged to incorporate them into designs for helmets used for…
