Introduction
All humans have the ability to design and solve problems. Design is a creative process that allows people to realize their dreams and ideas to improve their lives. Good designs turn ideas into products and systems to please the consumer. Engineers and designers use a systematic method of solving problems called the design process. The design process is never finished; there are always multiple solutions to problems. As new technology is available, there may be new solutions that are now feasible. Can you imagine if we were still driving the first automobile invented? Innovations to the automobile have occurred because of new technology available and the ideas and dreams of consumers.
Equipment
· GTT notebook
· Computer with Internet access
· Headphones to plug into computer
Procedure
In this activity you will learn about the 9 steps in the GTT Design Process and apply them to a challenge completed by the PBS Kids Design Squad team.
1. Complete Design Process Notes page of the handout attached as your teacher explains the GTT Design Process using the Design Process presentation.
2. Log in to a computer with headphones and listen to one of the Design Squad videos from Season 2. Use this url: http://pbskids.org/designsquad/ then choose from one of the design challenges that the design squad completed. You can choose from: Cardboard Furniture, PVC Kayak, Green Machines, Gravity Bikes, Water Dancing, Backyard Thrill Ride, Big Bugs, Aquatic Robotics, Band Cam, No Crying in Baseball, Hockey Net Target, Off-Road Go-Karts1 and Off-Road Go-Karts 2.
3. Complete the Design Squad area of the handout after watching the video on the computer.
4. Complete the conclusion questions and turn in the activity to your instructor.
Design Process Notes
1. What is design?
A creative planning process that leads to useful products & systems.
2. What is the design process? A purposeful method of planning practical solutions to problems.
Design Process Step Definition Example
Define the Problem / -Like conducting detective work-You must look at the evidence you have to make conclusions. / -A car that can communicate with other cars to stop car accidents from happening.
Brainstorm / -Putting a large group of people together to think of many ideas. Then use the best one. / -To make a plastic athletic shoe that will have grip on the floor, the ankle support will be good, and there will be air vents. The bottom will be made out of rubber.
Research / -It may require the following: Going to the library, using a computer, writing letters, doing experiments, and asking questions. / -Watch videos, read books, search your topic on the internet, ask questions, and maybe make a survey.
Develop Ideas / -Create ideas that will solve the problem you have. Make sure it meets your standards. / -Look at your criteria, and constraints. Make sure you have everything needed.
Choose Best Idea / -Agree on and idea that best meets the standards, and has a very low number of things that you’re not supposed to do. / -List the strengths and weaknesses on a piece of paper and pick the one that has the most strengths and least weaknesses.
Model or Prototype / -Gathering more information than you need and testing your ideas to make sure it’s good. / Examples:
-Realistic drawings
-3D CAD
-Prototype
Test and Evaluate / -The designs must be tested and the most important questions should be answered during the evaluation. / Questions like:
Is it safe?
Is it comfortable?
Is it affordable?
Does it work?
Improve Design / -After studying all of the information, make your changes. / -You may consider new ideas. Find the best solution.
Communicate Results / -Share your design ideas with other people to show that the design is worth making. / Examples:
Poster
Drawings
Charts
Power Point Presentation
Reports
Discussion
Design Squad
1. Which video did you watch? Water Dancing
2. In your own words, describe the problem/challenge that was given to the teams.
They had to come up with prosthetics that this lady could use to swim. She had no arms or legs. She wanted to swim like a sea creature.
3. List the criteria and constraints that were given to the teams.
Has to be like a sea creature. They need to propel her through the water. Non-traditional materials will be used.
4. Complete the table below, describing what each team did at each stage of the design process.
Green Team Purple Team
Brainstorm / They wrote down ideas of animals on a white board.Research / They looked up different sea animals and picked one of the best ones.
Develop Ideas / They thought of using an umbrella to make her way through the water.
Choose Best Idea / They used umbrellas for the hands.
Model or Prototype / They used 2 umbrellas and used hand guards.
Test and Evaluate / The umbrella broke because of the latch that they took out. The fins on the feet worked really well!
Improve Design / They tried to glue in the bottom piece on the umbrella. They need to make more streamers on the bottom fins.
Communicate Results / As they talked to Lisa she told them what they needed more and less of. As they fixed it, it improved.
Conclusion
1. Why do we use a design process?
To help us make sure that the project is complete and good.
2. Which stage in the design process do you think is most important? Why?
The test and evaluate part to see if it actually works.
3. Teamwork is an important part in completing projects and design challenges. If you were working on a team, how would you contribute to the team?
I would do whatever would help. I would tell them what I am good at and ask if I could help there.
4. Which team won the challenge that you viewed? Based on what you saw, how would you explain their success?
Green team won and it was because purple team didn’t really try hard enough to fix the umbrellas so when she used them they broke.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010
GTT – Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 – Activity 1.2.1 – Design Process – Page 3