What exactly does an engineer do? Learners find out through a activity that asks them to solve a problem that affects a target population. Aspiring engineers learn the steps of the engineering design process as they apply it to a challenge of their choosing. This first part of the unit gives attention to defining the problem.  

Concepts

design, engineering design, prototypes, technology resources

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Instructional Ideas

• Allow each group to brainstorm a separate design project for this unit 
• Propose several "target populations" and ask for corresponding design projects that could benefit them

Classroom Considerations

• Part one of a six-part engineering design unit
• The suggestion is to keep the same groups throughout the unit.

Pros

• Gives good examples for design projects
• Provides a pre-project activity to reinforce understanding of the Engineering Design Loop
• Contains assessment of lesson and activity extensions

Cons

• None