Engineering Practice: Use a Structured Problem-Solving Process
Engineers use a structured, iterative process—an engineering design process—to solve problems. Named phases guide activity. This is not a rigid template; rather, engineers move back and forth among phases.
“Here We Go—Testing!”
Students test their hand pollinators and decide if their design is effective. Watch & Reflect:
Reflection Questions
Students were testing their hand pollinators. They had a clear understanding of which designs did and did not meet the criteria They understood which phase comes next in the design process—to improve.
A structured problem-solving process helps guide students who are new to engineering. It encourages them to slow down and think about the problem before creating.
“You Are Such Great Engineers”
A teacher discusses the Engineering Design Process with students, and how they are great engineers. Watch & Reflect:
Related Practices: Identify as Engineers, Communicate Effectively
Featured Unit: Designing Windmills
Reflection Questions
To help students identify as engineers, we need to remind them that the process used is something engineers use too.
To help students remember the process, they need repeated interactions with key words.
Reviewing the process will help students to remember their goals for the day—what phase(s) of the Engineering Design Process are they focusing on today?
When students hit metaphorical walls, encourage them to return to an earlier phase. Can’t agree on a plan? Maybe they need to do some more asking or imaging. Did their tests show that their design did not meet the criteria and constraints? Students may need to return to the plan or the ask phase.