Activity1.7Discover Engineering and Design Innovation

Introduction

What is engineering? Many people have difficulty answering this question. In fact, engineering is a diverse field – there are many disciplines within engineering that can involve the application of a very different body of knowledge and skills.Nearly everything that is not “natural” (i.e., created by Mother Nature) most likely was designed and created with input from engineers. The shampoo you used this morning to wash your hair, the technology that cleans the water you drink, the buildings in which you live, work, and attend school, and the iPhone you use to communicate all involved the expertise of engineers in the initial design, building and testing, and final production.

All engineers are problems solvers. The differences among engineers in varying disciplines are dependent on the types of problems that they solve. In general there are four major disciplines within the engineering field: chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical. Many other engineering disciplines are derived as an extension of or specialization within one of these major disciplines. For example, environmental engineering is a subcategory of civil engineering. Other engineering disciplines have resulted from the combination of aspects of two or more of the major disciplines. Mechatronics is a relatively new branch of engineering that incorporates both mechanical and electrical engineering principles.

In this activity you will investigate the four major disciplines of engineering and consider their impact on you and the world.

Equipment

  • Engineering notebook
  • Pencil
  • Computer with internet access

PART 1 - Procedure

  1. What is engineering? Based on your current perception, in a few sentences define the term “engineering”.

Now investigate the engineering profession. Some websites that may be helpful in your research include the following.

  • Discover Engineering.
  • Engineering Degrees 101.
  • Engineer Girl.
  • National Engineers Week.
  • The Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.
  • Try Engineering.

As you perform your research, record information that will help you respond to the following question. Once you have gathered sufficient information, write your responses in the spaces provided.

  1. Describe the four major disciplines of engineering and identify one project that an engineer in each discipline might encounter.
  • Chemical engineering
  • Civil engineering
  • Electrical engineering
  • Mechanical engineering

Conclusion

  1. What is it about “engineering” that is common to all disciplines of engineering? That is, what makes an “engineer” an “engineer” regardless of the work one does?
  1. Why do you think engineering has been called the stealth profession?
  1. How is an engineer different from a scientist?
  1. What interpersonal characteristics do you think are important to the success of an engineer of any discipline?

PART 2 - CREATE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

Prepare to make an3 to 5 minutepowerpointpresentation to your peers. Include a minimum of the information requested below.

  1. First Slide: Include your name, class, period.
  2. Answer the following: Where were you born? How many siblings do you have? What is the most interesting thing you did over the summer and why? Tell us one more thing about you(something unique)
  1. Second Slide:Choose a discipline of engineering (other than chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical) that is of interest to you. Describe this engineering field and explain how it is an extension of, specialization within, or combination of one or more of the four major engineering disciplines. Create one slide to describe your chosen engineering discipline.
  1. INVENTION TO INNOVATION Select an invention that you will research. Examples are listed below, though the possibilities are numerous so you don’t have to choose off of the list below. You could also look at .

  1. Anti-lock brakes
  2. Multiplane camera
  3. 3D printer
  4. Bullet-proof glass
  5. Internet based social network
  6. Garbage disposal
  7. Tetracyline
  8. Optical fiber
  9. Random access memory
  10. Playable/recordable sound media
  11. Gaming control device
  12. Bicycle
/
  1. GPS
  2. Crop rotation
  3. Hybrid plant
  4. Low level laser therapy
  5. Cataract surgery
  6. Teflon
  7. Air conditioner
  8. Calculator
  9. Eye glasses
  10. Kevlar
  11. Coffee maker
  12. Elevator

Record the invention you chose______

Teacher approval of invention ______

  1. Third/ Fourth Slide: Research the invention. Discover at least the information below and place on 2 powerpoint slides
  1. When was the product invented?
  2. Who invented the product?
  3. What materials were originally used to make the product?
  4. How was the product originally made?
  5. What improvements/major changes have been made to the product?
  6. Why were these improvements made?
  7. Who uses the product?
  8. What is the global impact on society of the invention and subsequent innovations?
  9. If you had the ability to change this product in any way, what would you change?
  1. Fifth Slide:A list of three reasons that make engineering appealing to you.
  2. Sixth Slide: Provide a reference page of at least four Internet sites and other sources used to gather your presentation information. Record all citations in APA or MLA style.
  1. Timeline:The teacher will provide a timeline template and eachperson will include their invention on the timeline. The timeline scale will show development pace including time lapse between achievements.Print out the 11x17 timeline with your invention and information.

PART 2

RUBRIC ACTIVITY 1.7Needs WorkGood

Time (duration btwn3-5 minutes)………………………0234

CONTENT-SLIDE REQUIREMENTSNeeds WorkGood

Discipline of Engineering included………………………..1234

Invention/Innovation included…………………………….1234

Three Reasons Engineering appeals to you…………..1234

Reference slide included…………………………………….1234

APPEARANCE Needs Work Good

Readable (size, clarity of typeface, color) ……………….1234

Appropriate use of clipart/pictures …………………………1234

PERFORMANCENeeds Work Good

Professionalism (composure) …………………………………1234

Voice Quality (volume, clarity) ……………………………….1234

Eye Contact ………………………………………………………….1234

Bearing (Posture, Poise) ………………………………………..1234

Pace (timing)………………………………………………………..1234

WRITTEN(submitted on website)Needs Work Good

Activity 1.7 written work………………………………………..1234

Invention/Innovation Timeline………………………………..1234

RAW SCORE ______/56RECORDED SCORE ______/20

Project Lead The Way, Inc. ● Copyright 2012 ● IED–Activity 1.7/1.9 Discover Engineering and Design Innovation– Page 1