The Engineering Design Process

Bridge Activity: Day 1-4

vs.The Scientific Method

What is the Scientific Method?• The Scientific Method is a step by step process

used for observations and experiments.• Although many scientists will revisit steps of

the Scientific Method, it is typically done in a linear manner.• Think about a puppy going down a staircase.

• In order for the puppy to get down the stairs successfully, he/she must go down each stair one at a time until he/she arrives at the destination.

Scientific Method Steps

• Ask a Question• Do Background Research• Construct a Hypothesis• Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an

Experiment• Analyze Your Data and Draw a

Conclusion• Communicate Your Results

What is the Engineering Design Process?

• The Engineering Design Process is a cycle that engineers use to create and test different ideas.• It is a CYCLE, which means there is no particular

start or end point.• ASK• RESEARCH• IMAGINE• PLAN• CREATE• TEST• IMPROVE

The Engineering Design Process

• Ask: Identify the need & constraints• Research the Problem: Talk about what materials are needed

and what is necessary to resolving the problem• Imagine: Develop possible solutions. Use TEAMWORK and

brainstorm as many solutions as possible.• Plan*: As a team, select the solution that would yield the most

promising results.• Create: Build a prototype. Use your creativity, imagination, and

experiences in design to start building out your solution.• Test and Evaluate: Test the prototype to make sure it works.

Does it work? Does it solve the problem? If not, analyze it and decide what needs to be improved/changed.

• Improve: As a team, discuss how you could improve your solution. Make revisions and draw out new designs.

Your Turn:Comparisons & Contrasts

• Draw a Venn Diagram on a blank sheet of paper in your binder.• Label one side Engineering Design and the other Scientific Method.• Write down at least 3 things that are different for each process (you should

have 6 differences total).• You must have at least 3 things that are similar about these two processes

(3 things in the middle overlapping area).

• Afterwards, write one scenario where you would use 1+ steps from the Engineering Design Process and one scenario where you’d use 1+ steps from the Scientific Design Process. Use at least 3 sentences in your scenarios.

• Cannot use this example: A new Wal-Mart is being built in my neighborhood. An architect from Bob’s Builders, Inc. was hired to make blueprints of the building. This is an example of the “Plan” step in the Engineering Design Process.

TURN THIS IN FOR A CLASSWORK GRADE!