Engineering Design

Design brief: EVSC is attempting to ensure 100% wifi

access at Learnitall Elementary School. To do so it wants to
hire you to design the tallest wireless tower possible using
innovative materials. The materials are lightweight
aluminum held together by a new form of titanium
wrapping. A special metal cutter is available to use in the
construction. The tower will be placed in the middle of the
schools courtyard allowing secure, easy, and continuous
access. They need the tower right away to award a contract
at the next Board meeting. A requirement of the prototype
is that it be freestanding. You have paper, tape, and scissors
to represent the materials for prototype construction.

Resources

Background

Engineering Design Process

What is it: Use a learning cycle

of Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, and
Improve to construct a product or
process that solves a problem or
helps people.

Lessons aligned to IN standards

Advantages: Teaches
authentic-based STEAM content, keeps students from being bored,
and increases citizenship skills in the classroom.

Essential features:
Client-driven and goal oriented
Authentic context
Constraints
Materials, resources, & tools familiar to students
Solution is a product or process
Multiple solutions
Teamwork
QR 1: http://www.eie.org/overview/engineering-design-process
QR 2: https://stemedhub.org/groups/sled/design_resources
QR 3: http://tryengineering.org/
QR 4: http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=145153

Searchable database of lessons

MR Livebinder resources

Kim Johnson, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation; Kimberly.Johnson@evsc.k12.in.us

Jeff Thomas; University of Southern Indiana; jathomas@usi.edu