Engineering Design Process in the Physics and Physical Science Classroom

EDP Opener - Match the name of each step in the engineering design process pictured in the graphic with its description.

*Notes

Scientific Method vs. EDP

Scientific Method / EDP / How are these the same OR different?
State your question / Identify and define
Do background research / Gather Information
Formulate your Hypothesis / Identify Alternatives
Design experiment / Select the best solution
Test hypothesis with experiment / Implement Solution
Analyze Results, Draw conclusions / Evaluate solution
Revise Hypothesis / Refine
Communicate Results / Communicate solution
Overall:
Scientific Method / Overall:
EDP

Energy Conservation and Transformation - Rube Goldberg (Lillian Sims)

EDP Step / Implementation in Unit / Notes / Questions
Identify and define
Gather Information
Identify Alternatives
Select the best solution
Implement Solution
Evaluate solution
Refine
Communicate solution

Density - Submarines (Paul Schember)

EDP Step / Implementation in Unit / Notes / Questions
Identify and define / Challenge: Design and build a submarine that can sink, hover, return to surface, and retrieve an object from the bottom of the tank.
Gather Information / 1. Guided web research
2. Cartesian Diver Lab
3. Density Lab
Identify Alternatives / Brainstorming and Planning worksheet: list group’s ideas on the first page and sketch possible ideas on the back.
Select the best solution / Brainstorming and Planning Worksheet:select the best ideas and draw a refined sketch with labels and materials list.
Implement Solution / Build the submarine model according to the plans.
Evaluate solution / Test the submarine in a 75-gallon aquarium set up for this purpose.
Refine / Make changes to the submarine and test again until it does everything that it was designed to do.
Communicate solution / On the final launch day, demonstrate the sub’s capabilities to the rest of the class.

Physical Properties of Matter - Sorting Recyclable Materials (Kathleen Jones)

EDP Step / Implementation in Unit / Notes / Questions
Identify and define / Goals: Develop a process that will separate 6 recyclable materials by their physical Properties.
Constraints: Equipment available identified
Gather Information / Labs: physical vs. chemical properties / changes
Density Lab
Investigating physical properties of recyclables
Identify Alternatives / Groups: Each student develops a draft of the steps process, and share with the group for feedback.
Select the best solution / Best solution may include the best steps from different drafts based on available materials, likelihood of success.
Develop flow chart for process.
Implement Solution / Students test ALL steps based on their plan, even if a step does not work, to generate the most information.
Evaluate solution / Each step evaluated for effectiveness. Which steps worked as anticipated? Which didn’t? Which could be improved? Could the process be improved by rearranging the order?
Refine / Process refined based on first tests, new flow chart generated and final test performed.
Primary goal is to improve
Communicate solution / Group produces a flow chart on powerpoint or poster to illustrate their final procedure. Each group presents to the class.

STEM Conference 2014 1 University of Cincinnati