Engineering Design Process

Engineering design principles offer students real-life opportunities in defining problems that people need to address, generating and evaluating solutions, building and testing prototypes or models, and optimizing their solutions. Through the engineering design process students will better understand how science and engineering can be used to address major challenges that confront our global society today and help inspire students to solve those challenges in the future.

K-2. Engineering Design

This early exposure to engineering activities and understanding how science is relevant to both their lives and their futures may ignite students' interest in the study of STEM majors and/or future careers in science. K-2 students are introduced to identifying problems that can be solved through engineering, developing models of their solutions, and testing them to see if they work.

3-5. Engineering Design

In 3-5 grade the engineering design process becomes more complex. Not only are students looking at problems but they are also thinking about the criteria and constraints that a solution must meet. They are also taught how to research and explore before developing their own possible solution. Lastly, after testing their solution they think about how they can improve their design.
Non-Cognitive Skills Through Engineering
Engaging in engineering design provides an opportunity for students to engage in the four C's (collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity) which in turn, allows for the integration of instruction on non-cognitive skills.