iST MLearn Different

1

MIDDLE SCHOOL

STEM FAIR STUDENT HANDBOOK

MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIRSTUDENT HANDBOOK

Spring 2013

Table of Contents

Review of the Engineering Design Processhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 3Understanding your Topichelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 4Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquohelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 5Project Researchhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 6Brainstorming - Developing a Hypothesishelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 7Documenting ndash Engineering Journalhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 8ldquoPlanrdquo - Engineering Design amp Testing Procedureshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 8ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Constructionhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 9ldquoTestrdquo - Collecting amp Analyzing Datahelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 10ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retesthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 11Developing a Conclusionhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 11Display Size and Setuphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 12Digital Presentationhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 13Oral Presentationhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 14

2

School Level STEM Fair Informationhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 15

Forms

Student Timeline for STEM Fairhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 16Introductory Letter to Parentshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 17Helpful Hints for Parentshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 18Project Information Formhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 19Project Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 20Project Approval Formhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 21Studentsrsquo Research Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 22Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Scaled Drawings helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 23Studentsrsquo Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 27Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Purchase Orderhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 29Studentsrsquo Observation Chart Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 30Studentsrsquo Charts and Graphs Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 32Studentsrsquo Conclusion Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 33Studentsrsquo Identifying the Prototypersquos ldquoProblem(s)rdquoLoghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 34Student Final Completion Checklisthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 35Student STEM Fair Registration Formhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 36

The Engineering Design Process

The engineering design process is the set of steps that a designer takes from identifying a problem or need to creating and developing a solution that solves the problem or meets the need

The steps of the engineering design process are toAsko Define the Problemo Do Background ResearchImagineo Brainstormo Create Alternative Solutionso HypothesizePlano Choose the Best Solutiono Do Development Worko Specify Requirements

Design ndash Scaled Drawings Materials ndash Costs Technical Procedures

Createo Build a Prototypeo Testing and Data Analysis Improveo Modify and Redesigno Follow the EDP again to create the best piece of technology

During the engineering design process designers frequently jump back and forth between steps

3

Going back to earlier steps is common This way of working is called iteration and it is likely that your process will do the same

The Engineering Design Process

The Engineering Design processUsing this process you will define a need for the product connect the need to a design goal establish the requirements needed for product development write up a procedure with preliminary designs gather the materials needed build a prototype (a model of the product) according to the designs test the prototype redesign if necessary to meet the stated design goal and connect or apply the value of the prototype to real world situations

The Eng ineer ing Des ig n Ou tlin e

When using the Engineering Design process while doing a science fair project all of these steps listed below are required in the order shown During the process of completing each step each step needs to be written in your journal and later put on your display board A judge will ask you about the Engineering Design process in your interview

Problem - Define a Need

Research amp Documentationo Developing a Hypothesiso Engineering Journal

Plan - Engineering Designo Design Requirements

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o Preliminary and Final Designso Materials Neededo Step-by-step Procedure

Create - Build and Test the Prototypeo Build the Prototype

Test the Prototypeo Record the Datao Analyze the Datao If it doesnrsquot work according to the ldquoDesign Requirementsrdquothenhellip

Modify - Redesign and Retest as Necessary

Conclusion

The the next section The Engineering Design ldquoThe Procedurerdquo (pages 4a - 4b) gives a detailed description of what to do for each step of the Engineering Design process Please read the next section carefully to know what to do for each step

5

The Engineering Design Process

The major objective is to understand the process of designing something and building a prototype (model of the product) The engineering project should be one that is a novel idea It cannot be a purchased kit The materials are to be raw materials found around the house andor purchased at a store

Students who want to build a prototype for the science fair are required to follow The Engineering Design process described below As students follow the Engineering Design Process they must write about each of the following steps in a journal The interviewer can question everything that is in the journal

1 Define a NeedBegin by writing a need for something you want to construct and to explain its purpose It could be for a problem that needs to be solved or a situation that needs improvement Write it so the need is clearly understood The goal of this engineering project is to design and construct a prototype for someone to use to perform a useful function Example ldquoThe goal of this project is to design build and test a way to minimize waiting time at stop lights in the cityrdquo

2 ResearchYou need to research your topic using library materials Internet sites magazines textbooks encyclopedias experts and other available and reliable sources At least five sources must be used for the research You should write a summary paragraph (commonly referred to as an abstract) about each of the five sources you choose to cite as well as a shorter paragraph arguing why the source should be trusted and a longer paragraph documenting what you learned from the source Therefore there will be three separate paragraphs one for each source used Create an MLA citation for each of the five sources where you find useful information Copying a page from a book or Internet and placing it in the journal is not research The research needs to be be handwritten or typedmdashnot pasted The interviewer can question all that is written in the journal

3 Design RequirementsNext you need to establish the requirements needed for the development of the prototype to decide how it will be built Typical requirements relate to shape size weight appearance physical features performance use cost time and money Another part of the design requirements is to tell the prototype expectations and how it will be tested to meet the desired expectations

4 Preliminary and Final DesignsBeginning designso Here you need to draw the beginning designs of the prototype with labeled parts They can be

brainstorming designs showing two or three ideasFinal designso As you focus into one type of design you need to show the changes needed as the designs get

closer to the requirements and expectation of the prototype The changed designs need to show progress from design to design

List of materialso Make a list of all the materials and equipment you will use for building the prototypeo Using descriptive words to describe the materials and equipment are important Any materials

that are measured should have the measurements listed Step-by-step procedure o Write a step-by-step procedure you will follow to build the prototype Write it in the order you

want to follow Be very descriptive in your writing6

7

5 Build Test and Record and Analyze the Results of the PrototypeBuilding the prototype

o Build a prototype according to the design requirements drawn designs list of supplies and equipment and the step-by-step procedure You need to write about the experience building the prototype

Testing and data recordingo After it is built you need to test the prototype to see if it works according to the

testing procedure stated in the design requirements You need to write down what is actually happening during the testing You should be as descriptive as possible Testing the prototype two or three times is important to make sure the test data is accurate

Data is analyzed if redesigning is necessaryo Analyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not

redesigning is necessary

6 Redesign Retest Record and Analyze As NecessaryAfter the first tests you may need to make adjustments by redesigning parts of the prototype that need adjusting You need to show the adjustments with diagrams and labeling Keeping accurate notes of the changes is very important in this part of the engineering projectRetesting is always necessary after redesigning has occurred When you are retesting you need to write down data as to what is happeningAnalyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not redesigning is necessary

o Redesigning and retesting of the prototype is a major part of the project Keeping notes of the changes and the results are very important You should be able to can see at a glance what changes have been made and what happened when these changes are retested You need to be able to recall the changes and results if needed

When you feel that the prototype has reached its greatest efficiency according to the design requirements you can then go on to the conclusion If you feel that more designing and testing is needed then you need to continue to redesign and retest writing down the data until you feel the prototype is finished The prototype needs to work and meet the design requirements

7 ConclusionWhen writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned The conclusion summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions How do the results validate what was expected to happen What was learned from building the prototype In what way is this prototype important Is there more that could be done to improve the prototype

o How does this prototype help people understand the world better How can this information be applied to real life What new insights were discovered What knowledge was gained by designing and building to prototype

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply to life andor the real world Write about the final prototype by looking at its merits originality and usefulness

8

Understanding your Topic

Engineering is the designing building and testing of a made-at-home product It is the invention category of the science fair A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the student After the prototype is built it needs to be tested to see if it works The data is analyzed It is to be compared to the design requirements If it doesnrsquot perform according to the design requirements the student needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design requirements The product results have to be useful and apply to real world situations The prototype cannot be made from a kit

Unsolved Problems

One problem identified in the bug list above is the issue of food getting stuck in a vending machine There is currently no solution for this problem If you put your money in the machine select the food that you want and then the food gets stuck before it can drop to where you can reach itmdashyou are out of luck You might try shaking or kicking the machine but those are not designed solutions to the problem In cases of unsolved problems your engineering project would be to attempt to solve the problem For this example possible project ideas might be to design a product that can be used to remove stuck foods from vending machines or a new vending machine that makes it impossible for food to get stuck

Poorly Solved Problems

An example of a poorly solved problem from the bug list above is the issue of cat or dog hair getting stuck on clothing There is currently a solution to this problemmdashthe lint brush However many people still complain about annoying pet hair on their clothes Clearly the lint brush is not the perfect solution In cases of poorly solved problems your engineering project would be to improve the existing solution or to replace the existing solution with something more successful For the pet hair example possible project ideas might be to make the lint brush more effective at removing hair from clothing or to design something better than the lint brush for the same purpose

Whether you want to choose an unsolved problem or a poorly solved problem for your engineering project there are plenty of problems out there Keep in mind that the problems already exist you just need to identify them and their users Also doing an engineering design project doesnt always mean inventing something brand newmdashit often involves bettering the projects of those before you

9

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

MIDDLE SCHOOL

STEM FAIR STUDENT HANDBOOK

MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIRSTUDENT HANDBOOK

Spring 2013

Table of Contents

Review of the Engineering Design Processhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 3Understanding your Topichelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 4Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquohelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 5Project Researchhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 6Brainstorming - Developing a Hypothesishelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 7Documenting ndash Engineering Journalhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 8ldquoPlanrdquo - Engineering Design amp Testing Procedureshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 8ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Constructionhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 9ldquoTestrdquo - Collecting amp Analyzing Datahelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 10ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retesthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 11Developing a Conclusionhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 11Display Size and Setuphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 12Digital Presentationhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 13Oral Presentationhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 14

2

School Level STEM Fair Informationhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 15

Forms

Student Timeline for STEM Fairhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 16Introductory Letter to Parentshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 17Helpful Hints for Parentshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 18Project Information Formhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 19Project Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 20Project Approval Formhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 21Studentsrsquo Research Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 22Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Scaled Drawings helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 23Studentsrsquo Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 27Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Purchase Orderhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 29Studentsrsquo Observation Chart Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 30Studentsrsquo Charts and Graphs Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 32Studentsrsquo Conclusion Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 33Studentsrsquo Identifying the Prototypersquos ldquoProblem(s)rdquoLoghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 34Student Final Completion Checklisthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 35Student STEM Fair Registration Formhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 36

The Engineering Design Process

The engineering design process is the set of steps that a designer takes from identifying a problem or need to creating and developing a solution that solves the problem or meets the need

The steps of the engineering design process are toAsko Define the Problemo Do Background ResearchImagineo Brainstormo Create Alternative Solutionso HypothesizePlano Choose the Best Solutiono Do Development Worko Specify Requirements

Design ndash Scaled Drawings Materials ndash Costs Technical Procedures

Createo Build a Prototypeo Testing and Data Analysis Improveo Modify and Redesigno Follow the EDP again to create the best piece of technology

During the engineering design process designers frequently jump back and forth between steps

3

Going back to earlier steps is common This way of working is called iteration and it is likely that your process will do the same

The Engineering Design Process

The Engineering Design processUsing this process you will define a need for the product connect the need to a design goal establish the requirements needed for product development write up a procedure with preliminary designs gather the materials needed build a prototype (a model of the product) according to the designs test the prototype redesign if necessary to meet the stated design goal and connect or apply the value of the prototype to real world situations

The Eng ineer ing Des ig n Ou tlin e

When using the Engineering Design process while doing a science fair project all of these steps listed below are required in the order shown During the process of completing each step each step needs to be written in your journal and later put on your display board A judge will ask you about the Engineering Design process in your interview

Problem - Define a Need

Research amp Documentationo Developing a Hypothesiso Engineering Journal

Plan - Engineering Designo Design Requirements

4

o Preliminary and Final Designso Materials Neededo Step-by-step Procedure

Create - Build and Test the Prototypeo Build the Prototype

Test the Prototypeo Record the Datao Analyze the Datao If it doesnrsquot work according to the ldquoDesign Requirementsrdquothenhellip

Modify - Redesign and Retest as Necessary

Conclusion

The the next section The Engineering Design ldquoThe Procedurerdquo (pages 4a - 4b) gives a detailed description of what to do for each step of the Engineering Design process Please read the next section carefully to know what to do for each step

5

The Engineering Design Process

The major objective is to understand the process of designing something and building a prototype (model of the product) The engineering project should be one that is a novel idea It cannot be a purchased kit The materials are to be raw materials found around the house andor purchased at a store

Students who want to build a prototype for the science fair are required to follow The Engineering Design process described below As students follow the Engineering Design Process they must write about each of the following steps in a journal The interviewer can question everything that is in the journal

1 Define a NeedBegin by writing a need for something you want to construct and to explain its purpose It could be for a problem that needs to be solved or a situation that needs improvement Write it so the need is clearly understood The goal of this engineering project is to design and construct a prototype for someone to use to perform a useful function Example ldquoThe goal of this project is to design build and test a way to minimize waiting time at stop lights in the cityrdquo

2 ResearchYou need to research your topic using library materials Internet sites magazines textbooks encyclopedias experts and other available and reliable sources At least five sources must be used for the research You should write a summary paragraph (commonly referred to as an abstract) about each of the five sources you choose to cite as well as a shorter paragraph arguing why the source should be trusted and a longer paragraph documenting what you learned from the source Therefore there will be three separate paragraphs one for each source used Create an MLA citation for each of the five sources where you find useful information Copying a page from a book or Internet and placing it in the journal is not research The research needs to be be handwritten or typedmdashnot pasted The interviewer can question all that is written in the journal

3 Design RequirementsNext you need to establish the requirements needed for the development of the prototype to decide how it will be built Typical requirements relate to shape size weight appearance physical features performance use cost time and money Another part of the design requirements is to tell the prototype expectations and how it will be tested to meet the desired expectations

4 Preliminary and Final DesignsBeginning designso Here you need to draw the beginning designs of the prototype with labeled parts They can be

brainstorming designs showing two or three ideasFinal designso As you focus into one type of design you need to show the changes needed as the designs get

closer to the requirements and expectation of the prototype The changed designs need to show progress from design to design

List of materialso Make a list of all the materials and equipment you will use for building the prototypeo Using descriptive words to describe the materials and equipment are important Any materials

that are measured should have the measurements listed Step-by-step procedure o Write a step-by-step procedure you will follow to build the prototype Write it in the order you

want to follow Be very descriptive in your writing6

7

5 Build Test and Record and Analyze the Results of the PrototypeBuilding the prototype

o Build a prototype according to the design requirements drawn designs list of supplies and equipment and the step-by-step procedure You need to write about the experience building the prototype

Testing and data recordingo After it is built you need to test the prototype to see if it works according to the

testing procedure stated in the design requirements You need to write down what is actually happening during the testing You should be as descriptive as possible Testing the prototype two or three times is important to make sure the test data is accurate

Data is analyzed if redesigning is necessaryo Analyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not

redesigning is necessary

6 Redesign Retest Record and Analyze As NecessaryAfter the first tests you may need to make adjustments by redesigning parts of the prototype that need adjusting You need to show the adjustments with diagrams and labeling Keeping accurate notes of the changes is very important in this part of the engineering projectRetesting is always necessary after redesigning has occurred When you are retesting you need to write down data as to what is happeningAnalyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not redesigning is necessary

o Redesigning and retesting of the prototype is a major part of the project Keeping notes of the changes and the results are very important You should be able to can see at a glance what changes have been made and what happened when these changes are retested You need to be able to recall the changes and results if needed

When you feel that the prototype has reached its greatest efficiency according to the design requirements you can then go on to the conclusion If you feel that more designing and testing is needed then you need to continue to redesign and retest writing down the data until you feel the prototype is finished The prototype needs to work and meet the design requirements

7 ConclusionWhen writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned The conclusion summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions How do the results validate what was expected to happen What was learned from building the prototype In what way is this prototype important Is there more that could be done to improve the prototype

o How does this prototype help people understand the world better How can this information be applied to real life What new insights were discovered What knowledge was gained by designing and building to prototype

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply to life andor the real world Write about the final prototype by looking at its merits originality and usefulness

8

Understanding your Topic

Engineering is the designing building and testing of a made-at-home product It is the invention category of the science fair A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the student After the prototype is built it needs to be tested to see if it works The data is analyzed It is to be compared to the design requirements If it doesnrsquot perform according to the design requirements the student needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design requirements The product results have to be useful and apply to real world situations The prototype cannot be made from a kit

Unsolved Problems

One problem identified in the bug list above is the issue of food getting stuck in a vending machine There is currently no solution for this problem If you put your money in the machine select the food that you want and then the food gets stuck before it can drop to where you can reach itmdashyou are out of luck You might try shaking or kicking the machine but those are not designed solutions to the problem In cases of unsolved problems your engineering project would be to attempt to solve the problem For this example possible project ideas might be to design a product that can be used to remove stuck foods from vending machines or a new vending machine that makes it impossible for food to get stuck

Poorly Solved Problems

An example of a poorly solved problem from the bug list above is the issue of cat or dog hair getting stuck on clothing There is currently a solution to this problemmdashthe lint brush However many people still complain about annoying pet hair on their clothes Clearly the lint brush is not the perfect solution In cases of poorly solved problems your engineering project would be to improve the existing solution or to replace the existing solution with something more successful For the pet hair example possible project ideas might be to make the lint brush more effective at removing hair from clothing or to design something better than the lint brush for the same purpose

Whether you want to choose an unsolved problem or a poorly solved problem for your engineering project there are plenty of problems out there Keep in mind that the problems already exist you just need to identify them and their users Also doing an engineering design project doesnt always mean inventing something brand newmdashit often involves bettering the projects of those before you

9

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

School Level STEM Fair Informationhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 15

Forms

Student Timeline for STEM Fairhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 16Introductory Letter to Parentshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 17Helpful Hints for Parentshelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 18Project Information Formhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 19Project Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 20Project Approval Formhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 21Studentsrsquo Research Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 22Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Scaled Drawings helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 23Studentsrsquo Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 27Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Purchase Orderhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 29Studentsrsquo Observation Chart Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 30Studentsrsquo Charts and Graphs Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 32Studentsrsquo Conclusion Loghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 33Studentsrsquo Identifying the Prototypersquos ldquoProblem(s)rdquoLoghelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 34Student Final Completion Checklisthelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 35Student STEM Fair Registration Formhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 36

The Engineering Design Process

The engineering design process is the set of steps that a designer takes from identifying a problem or need to creating and developing a solution that solves the problem or meets the need

The steps of the engineering design process are toAsko Define the Problemo Do Background ResearchImagineo Brainstormo Create Alternative Solutionso HypothesizePlano Choose the Best Solutiono Do Development Worko Specify Requirements

Design ndash Scaled Drawings Materials ndash Costs Technical Procedures

Createo Build a Prototypeo Testing and Data Analysis Improveo Modify and Redesigno Follow the EDP again to create the best piece of technology

During the engineering design process designers frequently jump back and forth between steps

3

Going back to earlier steps is common This way of working is called iteration and it is likely that your process will do the same

The Engineering Design Process

The Engineering Design processUsing this process you will define a need for the product connect the need to a design goal establish the requirements needed for product development write up a procedure with preliminary designs gather the materials needed build a prototype (a model of the product) according to the designs test the prototype redesign if necessary to meet the stated design goal and connect or apply the value of the prototype to real world situations

The Eng ineer ing Des ig n Ou tlin e

When using the Engineering Design process while doing a science fair project all of these steps listed below are required in the order shown During the process of completing each step each step needs to be written in your journal and later put on your display board A judge will ask you about the Engineering Design process in your interview

Problem - Define a Need

Research amp Documentationo Developing a Hypothesiso Engineering Journal

Plan - Engineering Designo Design Requirements

4

o Preliminary and Final Designso Materials Neededo Step-by-step Procedure

Create - Build and Test the Prototypeo Build the Prototype

Test the Prototypeo Record the Datao Analyze the Datao If it doesnrsquot work according to the ldquoDesign Requirementsrdquothenhellip

Modify - Redesign and Retest as Necessary

Conclusion

The the next section The Engineering Design ldquoThe Procedurerdquo (pages 4a - 4b) gives a detailed description of what to do for each step of the Engineering Design process Please read the next section carefully to know what to do for each step

5

The Engineering Design Process

The major objective is to understand the process of designing something and building a prototype (model of the product) The engineering project should be one that is a novel idea It cannot be a purchased kit The materials are to be raw materials found around the house andor purchased at a store

Students who want to build a prototype for the science fair are required to follow The Engineering Design process described below As students follow the Engineering Design Process they must write about each of the following steps in a journal The interviewer can question everything that is in the journal

1 Define a NeedBegin by writing a need for something you want to construct and to explain its purpose It could be for a problem that needs to be solved or a situation that needs improvement Write it so the need is clearly understood The goal of this engineering project is to design and construct a prototype for someone to use to perform a useful function Example ldquoThe goal of this project is to design build and test a way to minimize waiting time at stop lights in the cityrdquo

2 ResearchYou need to research your topic using library materials Internet sites magazines textbooks encyclopedias experts and other available and reliable sources At least five sources must be used for the research You should write a summary paragraph (commonly referred to as an abstract) about each of the five sources you choose to cite as well as a shorter paragraph arguing why the source should be trusted and a longer paragraph documenting what you learned from the source Therefore there will be three separate paragraphs one for each source used Create an MLA citation for each of the five sources where you find useful information Copying a page from a book or Internet and placing it in the journal is not research The research needs to be be handwritten or typedmdashnot pasted The interviewer can question all that is written in the journal

3 Design RequirementsNext you need to establish the requirements needed for the development of the prototype to decide how it will be built Typical requirements relate to shape size weight appearance physical features performance use cost time and money Another part of the design requirements is to tell the prototype expectations and how it will be tested to meet the desired expectations

4 Preliminary and Final DesignsBeginning designso Here you need to draw the beginning designs of the prototype with labeled parts They can be

brainstorming designs showing two or three ideasFinal designso As you focus into one type of design you need to show the changes needed as the designs get

closer to the requirements and expectation of the prototype The changed designs need to show progress from design to design

List of materialso Make a list of all the materials and equipment you will use for building the prototypeo Using descriptive words to describe the materials and equipment are important Any materials

that are measured should have the measurements listed Step-by-step procedure o Write a step-by-step procedure you will follow to build the prototype Write it in the order you

want to follow Be very descriptive in your writing6

7

5 Build Test and Record and Analyze the Results of the PrototypeBuilding the prototype

o Build a prototype according to the design requirements drawn designs list of supplies and equipment and the step-by-step procedure You need to write about the experience building the prototype

Testing and data recordingo After it is built you need to test the prototype to see if it works according to the

testing procedure stated in the design requirements You need to write down what is actually happening during the testing You should be as descriptive as possible Testing the prototype two or three times is important to make sure the test data is accurate

Data is analyzed if redesigning is necessaryo Analyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not

redesigning is necessary

6 Redesign Retest Record and Analyze As NecessaryAfter the first tests you may need to make adjustments by redesigning parts of the prototype that need adjusting You need to show the adjustments with diagrams and labeling Keeping accurate notes of the changes is very important in this part of the engineering projectRetesting is always necessary after redesigning has occurred When you are retesting you need to write down data as to what is happeningAnalyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not redesigning is necessary

o Redesigning and retesting of the prototype is a major part of the project Keeping notes of the changes and the results are very important You should be able to can see at a glance what changes have been made and what happened when these changes are retested You need to be able to recall the changes and results if needed

When you feel that the prototype has reached its greatest efficiency according to the design requirements you can then go on to the conclusion If you feel that more designing and testing is needed then you need to continue to redesign and retest writing down the data until you feel the prototype is finished The prototype needs to work and meet the design requirements

7 ConclusionWhen writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned The conclusion summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions How do the results validate what was expected to happen What was learned from building the prototype In what way is this prototype important Is there more that could be done to improve the prototype

o How does this prototype help people understand the world better How can this information be applied to real life What new insights were discovered What knowledge was gained by designing and building to prototype

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply to life andor the real world Write about the final prototype by looking at its merits originality and usefulness

8

Understanding your Topic

Engineering is the designing building and testing of a made-at-home product It is the invention category of the science fair A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the student After the prototype is built it needs to be tested to see if it works The data is analyzed It is to be compared to the design requirements If it doesnrsquot perform according to the design requirements the student needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design requirements The product results have to be useful and apply to real world situations The prototype cannot be made from a kit

Unsolved Problems

One problem identified in the bug list above is the issue of food getting stuck in a vending machine There is currently no solution for this problem If you put your money in the machine select the food that you want and then the food gets stuck before it can drop to where you can reach itmdashyou are out of luck You might try shaking or kicking the machine but those are not designed solutions to the problem In cases of unsolved problems your engineering project would be to attempt to solve the problem For this example possible project ideas might be to design a product that can be used to remove stuck foods from vending machines or a new vending machine that makes it impossible for food to get stuck

Poorly Solved Problems

An example of a poorly solved problem from the bug list above is the issue of cat or dog hair getting stuck on clothing There is currently a solution to this problemmdashthe lint brush However many people still complain about annoying pet hair on their clothes Clearly the lint brush is not the perfect solution In cases of poorly solved problems your engineering project would be to improve the existing solution or to replace the existing solution with something more successful For the pet hair example possible project ideas might be to make the lint brush more effective at removing hair from clothing or to design something better than the lint brush for the same purpose

Whether you want to choose an unsolved problem or a poorly solved problem for your engineering project there are plenty of problems out there Keep in mind that the problems already exist you just need to identify them and their users Also doing an engineering design project doesnt always mean inventing something brand newmdashit often involves bettering the projects of those before you

9

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Going back to earlier steps is common This way of working is called iteration and it is likely that your process will do the same

The Engineering Design Process

The Engineering Design processUsing this process you will define a need for the product connect the need to a design goal establish the requirements needed for product development write up a procedure with preliminary designs gather the materials needed build a prototype (a model of the product) according to the designs test the prototype redesign if necessary to meet the stated design goal and connect or apply the value of the prototype to real world situations

The Eng ineer ing Des ig n Ou tlin e

When using the Engineering Design process while doing a science fair project all of these steps listed below are required in the order shown During the process of completing each step each step needs to be written in your journal and later put on your display board A judge will ask you about the Engineering Design process in your interview

Problem - Define a Need

Research amp Documentationo Developing a Hypothesiso Engineering Journal

Plan - Engineering Designo Design Requirements

4

o Preliminary and Final Designso Materials Neededo Step-by-step Procedure

Create - Build and Test the Prototypeo Build the Prototype

Test the Prototypeo Record the Datao Analyze the Datao If it doesnrsquot work according to the ldquoDesign Requirementsrdquothenhellip

Modify - Redesign and Retest as Necessary

Conclusion

The the next section The Engineering Design ldquoThe Procedurerdquo (pages 4a - 4b) gives a detailed description of what to do for each step of the Engineering Design process Please read the next section carefully to know what to do for each step

5

The Engineering Design Process

The major objective is to understand the process of designing something and building a prototype (model of the product) The engineering project should be one that is a novel idea It cannot be a purchased kit The materials are to be raw materials found around the house andor purchased at a store

Students who want to build a prototype for the science fair are required to follow The Engineering Design process described below As students follow the Engineering Design Process they must write about each of the following steps in a journal The interviewer can question everything that is in the journal

1 Define a NeedBegin by writing a need for something you want to construct and to explain its purpose It could be for a problem that needs to be solved or a situation that needs improvement Write it so the need is clearly understood The goal of this engineering project is to design and construct a prototype for someone to use to perform a useful function Example ldquoThe goal of this project is to design build and test a way to minimize waiting time at stop lights in the cityrdquo

2 ResearchYou need to research your topic using library materials Internet sites magazines textbooks encyclopedias experts and other available and reliable sources At least five sources must be used for the research You should write a summary paragraph (commonly referred to as an abstract) about each of the five sources you choose to cite as well as a shorter paragraph arguing why the source should be trusted and a longer paragraph documenting what you learned from the source Therefore there will be three separate paragraphs one for each source used Create an MLA citation for each of the five sources where you find useful information Copying a page from a book or Internet and placing it in the journal is not research The research needs to be be handwritten or typedmdashnot pasted The interviewer can question all that is written in the journal

3 Design RequirementsNext you need to establish the requirements needed for the development of the prototype to decide how it will be built Typical requirements relate to shape size weight appearance physical features performance use cost time and money Another part of the design requirements is to tell the prototype expectations and how it will be tested to meet the desired expectations

4 Preliminary and Final DesignsBeginning designso Here you need to draw the beginning designs of the prototype with labeled parts They can be

brainstorming designs showing two or three ideasFinal designso As you focus into one type of design you need to show the changes needed as the designs get

closer to the requirements and expectation of the prototype The changed designs need to show progress from design to design

List of materialso Make a list of all the materials and equipment you will use for building the prototypeo Using descriptive words to describe the materials and equipment are important Any materials

that are measured should have the measurements listed Step-by-step procedure o Write a step-by-step procedure you will follow to build the prototype Write it in the order you

want to follow Be very descriptive in your writing6

7

5 Build Test and Record and Analyze the Results of the PrototypeBuilding the prototype

o Build a prototype according to the design requirements drawn designs list of supplies and equipment and the step-by-step procedure You need to write about the experience building the prototype

Testing and data recordingo After it is built you need to test the prototype to see if it works according to the

testing procedure stated in the design requirements You need to write down what is actually happening during the testing You should be as descriptive as possible Testing the prototype two or three times is important to make sure the test data is accurate

Data is analyzed if redesigning is necessaryo Analyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not

redesigning is necessary

6 Redesign Retest Record and Analyze As NecessaryAfter the first tests you may need to make adjustments by redesigning parts of the prototype that need adjusting You need to show the adjustments with diagrams and labeling Keeping accurate notes of the changes is very important in this part of the engineering projectRetesting is always necessary after redesigning has occurred When you are retesting you need to write down data as to what is happeningAnalyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not redesigning is necessary

o Redesigning and retesting of the prototype is a major part of the project Keeping notes of the changes and the results are very important You should be able to can see at a glance what changes have been made and what happened when these changes are retested You need to be able to recall the changes and results if needed

When you feel that the prototype has reached its greatest efficiency according to the design requirements you can then go on to the conclusion If you feel that more designing and testing is needed then you need to continue to redesign and retest writing down the data until you feel the prototype is finished The prototype needs to work and meet the design requirements

7 ConclusionWhen writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned The conclusion summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions How do the results validate what was expected to happen What was learned from building the prototype In what way is this prototype important Is there more that could be done to improve the prototype

o How does this prototype help people understand the world better How can this information be applied to real life What new insights were discovered What knowledge was gained by designing and building to prototype

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply to life andor the real world Write about the final prototype by looking at its merits originality and usefulness

8

Understanding your Topic

Engineering is the designing building and testing of a made-at-home product It is the invention category of the science fair A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the student After the prototype is built it needs to be tested to see if it works The data is analyzed It is to be compared to the design requirements If it doesnrsquot perform according to the design requirements the student needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design requirements The product results have to be useful and apply to real world situations The prototype cannot be made from a kit

Unsolved Problems

One problem identified in the bug list above is the issue of food getting stuck in a vending machine There is currently no solution for this problem If you put your money in the machine select the food that you want and then the food gets stuck before it can drop to where you can reach itmdashyou are out of luck You might try shaking or kicking the machine but those are not designed solutions to the problem In cases of unsolved problems your engineering project would be to attempt to solve the problem For this example possible project ideas might be to design a product that can be used to remove stuck foods from vending machines or a new vending machine that makes it impossible for food to get stuck

Poorly Solved Problems

An example of a poorly solved problem from the bug list above is the issue of cat or dog hair getting stuck on clothing There is currently a solution to this problemmdashthe lint brush However many people still complain about annoying pet hair on their clothes Clearly the lint brush is not the perfect solution In cases of poorly solved problems your engineering project would be to improve the existing solution or to replace the existing solution with something more successful For the pet hair example possible project ideas might be to make the lint brush more effective at removing hair from clothing or to design something better than the lint brush for the same purpose

Whether you want to choose an unsolved problem or a poorly solved problem for your engineering project there are plenty of problems out there Keep in mind that the problems already exist you just need to identify them and their users Also doing an engineering design project doesnt always mean inventing something brand newmdashit often involves bettering the projects of those before you

9

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

o Preliminary and Final Designso Materials Neededo Step-by-step Procedure

Create - Build and Test the Prototypeo Build the Prototype

Test the Prototypeo Record the Datao Analyze the Datao If it doesnrsquot work according to the ldquoDesign Requirementsrdquothenhellip

Modify - Redesign and Retest as Necessary

Conclusion

The the next section The Engineering Design ldquoThe Procedurerdquo (pages 4a - 4b) gives a detailed description of what to do for each step of the Engineering Design process Please read the next section carefully to know what to do for each step

5

The Engineering Design Process

The major objective is to understand the process of designing something and building a prototype (model of the product) The engineering project should be one that is a novel idea It cannot be a purchased kit The materials are to be raw materials found around the house andor purchased at a store

Students who want to build a prototype for the science fair are required to follow The Engineering Design process described below As students follow the Engineering Design Process they must write about each of the following steps in a journal The interviewer can question everything that is in the journal

1 Define a NeedBegin by writing a need for something you want to construct and to explain its purpose It could be for a problem that needs to be solved or a situation that needs improvement Write it so the need is clearly understood The goal of this engineering project is to design and construct a prototype for someone to use to perform a useful function Example ldquoThe goal of this project is to design build and test a way to minimize waiting time at stop lights in the cityrdquo

2 ResearchYou need to research your topic using library materials Internet sites magazines textbooks encyclopedias experts and other available and reliable sources At least five sources must be used for the research You should write a summary paragraph (commonly referred to as an abstract) about each of the five sources you choose to cite as well as a shorter paragraph arguing why the source should be trusted and a longer paragraph documenting what you learned from the source Therefore there will be three separate paragraphs one for each source used Create an MLA citation for each of the five sources where you find useful information Copying a page from a book or Internet and placing it in the journal is not research The research needs to be be handwritten or typedmdashnot pasted The interviewer can question all that is written in the journal

3 Design RequirementsNext you need to establish the requirements needed for the development of the prototype to decide how it will be built Typical requirements relate to shape size weight appearance physical features performance use cost time and money Another part of the design requirements is to tell the prototype expectations and how it will be tested to meet the desired expectations

4 Preliminary and Final DesignsBeginning designso Here you need to draw the beginning designs of the prototype with labeled parts They can be

brainstorming designs showing two or three ideasFinal designso As you focus into one type of design you need to show the changes needed as the designs get

closer to the requirements and expectation of the prototype The changed designs need to show progress from design to design

List of materialso Make a list of all the materials and equipment you will use for building the prototypeo Using descriptive words to describe the materials and equipment are important Any materials

that are measured should have the measurements listed Step-by-step procedure o Write a step-by-step procedure you will follow to build the prototype Write it in the order you

want to follow Be very descriptive in your writing6

7

5 Build Test and Record and Analyze the Results of the PrototypeBuilding the prototype

o Build a prototype according to the design requirements drawn designs list of supplies and equipment and the step-by-step procedure You need to write about the experience building the prototype

Testing and data recordingo After it is built you need to test the prototype to see if it works according to the

testing procedure stated in the design requirements You need to write down what is actually happening during the testing You should be as descriptive as possible Testing the prototype two or three times is important to make sure the test data is accurate

Data is analyzed if redesigning is necessaryo Analyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not

redesigning is necessary

6 Redesign Retest Record and Analyze As NecessaryAfter the first tests you may need to make adjustments by redesigning parts of the prototype that need adjusting You need to show the adjustments with diagrams and labeling Keeping accurate notes of the changes is very important in this part of the engineering projectRetesting is always necessary after redesigning has occurred When you are retesting you need to write down data as to what is happeningAnalyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not redesigning is necessary

o Redesigning and retesting of the prototype is a major part of the project Keeping notes of the changes and the results are very important You should be able to can see at a glance what changes have been made and what happened when these changes are retested You need to be able to recall the changes and results if needed

When you feel that the prototype has reached its greatest efficiency according to the design requirements you can then go on to the conclusion If you feel that more designing and testing is needed then you need to continue to redesign and retest writing down the data until you feel the prototype is finished The prototype needs to work and meet the design requirements

7 ConclusionWhen writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned The conclusion summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions How do the results validate what was expected to happen What was learned from building the prototype In what way is this prototype important Is there more that could be done to improve the prototype

o How does this prototype help people understand the world better How can this information be applied to real life What new insights were discovered What knowledge was gained by designing and building to prototype

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply to life andor the real world Write about the final prototype by looking at its merits originality and usefulness

8

Understanding your Topic

Engineering is the designing building and testing of a made-at-home product It is the invention category of the science fair A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the student After the prototype is built it needs to be tested to see if it works The data is analyzed It is to be compared to the design requirements If it doesnrsquot perform according to the design requirements the student needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design requirements The product results have to be useful and apply to real world situations The prototype cannot be made from a kit

Unsolved Problems

One problem identified in the bug list above is the issue of food getting stuck in a vending machine There is currently no solution for this problem If you put your money in the machine select the food that you want and then the food gets stuck before it can drop to where you can reach itmdashyou are out of luck You might try shaking or kicking the machine but those are not designed solutions to the problem In cases of unsolved problems your engineering project would be to attempt to solve the problem For this example possible project ideas might be to design a product that can be used to remove stuck foods from vending machines or a new vending machine that makes it impossible for food to get stuck

Poorly Solved Problems

An example of a poorly solved problem from the bug list above is the issue of cat or dog hair getting stuck on clothing There is currently a solution to this problemmdashthe lint brush However many people still complain about annoying pet hair on their clothes Clearly the lint brush is not the perfect solution In cases of poorly solved problems your engineering project would be to improve the existing solution or to replace the existing solution with something more successful For the pet hair example possible project ideas might be to make the lint brush more effective at removing hair from clothing or to design something better than the lint brush for the same purpose

Whether you want to choose an unsolved problem or a poorly solved problem for your engineering project there are plenty of problems out there Keep in mind that the problems already exist you just need to identify them and their users Also doing an engineering design project doesnt always mean inventing something brand newmdashit often involves bettering the projects of those before you

9

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

The Engineering Design Process

The major objective is to understand the process of designing something and building a prototype (model of the product) The engineering project should be one that is a novel idea It cannot be a purchased kit The materials are to be raw materials found around the house andor purchased at a store

Students who want to build a prototype for the science fair are required to follow The Engineering Design process described below As students follow the Engineering Design Process they must write about each of the following steps in a journal The interviewer can question everything that is in the journal

1 Define a NeedBegin by writing a need for something you want to construct and to explain its purpose It could be for a problem that needs to be solved or a situation that needs improvement Write it so the need is clearly understood The goal of this engineering project is to design and construct a prototype for someone to use to perform a useful function Example ldquoThe goal of this project is to design build and test a way to minimize waiting time at stop lights in the cityrdquo

2 ResearchYou need to research your topic using library materials Internet sites magazines textbooks encyclopedias experts and other available and reliable sources At least five sources must be used for the research You should write a summary paragraph (commonly referred to as an abstract) about each of the five sources you choose to cite as well as a shorter paragraph arguing why the source should be trusted and a longer paragraph documenting what you learned from the source Therefore there will be three separate paragraphs one for each source used Create an MLA citation for each of the five sources where you find useful information Copying a page from a book or Internet and placing it in the journal is not research The research needs to be be handwritten or typedmdashnot pasted The interviewer can question all that is written in the journal

3 Design RequirementsNext you need to establish the requirements needed for the development of the prototype to decide how it will be built Typical requirements relate to shape size weight appearance physical features performance use cost time and money Another part of the design requirements is to tell the prototype expectations and how it will be tested to meet the desired expectations

4 Preliminary and Final DesignsBeginning designso Here you need to draw the beginning designs of the prototype with labeled parts They can be

brainstorming designs showing two or three ideasFinal designso As you focus into one type of design you need to show the changes needed as the designs get

closer to the requirements and expectation of the prototype The changed designs need to show progress from design to design

List of materialso Make a list of all the materials and equipment you will use for building the prototypeo Using descriptive words to describe the materials and equipment are important Any materials

that are measured should have the measurements listed Step-by-step procedure o Write a step-by-step procedure you will follow to build the prototype Write it in the order you

want to follow Be very descriptive in your writing6

7

5 Build Test and Record and Analyze the Results of the PrototypeBuilding the prototype

o Build a prototype according to the design requirements drawn designs list of supplies and equipment and the step-by-step procedure You need to write about the experience building the prototype

Testing and data recordingo After it is built you need to test the prototype to see if it works according to the

testing procedure stated in the design requirements You need to write down what is actually happening during the testing You should be as descriptive as possible Testing the prototype two or three times is important to make sure the test data is accurate

Data is analyzed if redesigning is necessaryo Analyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not

redesigning is necessary

6 Redesign Retest Record and Analyze As NecessaryAfter the first tests you may need to make adjustments by redesigning parts of the prototype that need adjusting You need to show the adjustments with diagrams and labeling Keeping accurate notes of the changes is very important in this part of the engineering projectRetesting is always necessary after redesigning has occurred When you are retesting you need to write down data as to what is happeningAnalyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not redesigning is necessary

o Redesigning and retesting of the prototype is a major part of the project Keeping notes of the changes and the results are very important You should be able to can see at a glance what changes have been made and what happened when these changes are retested You need to be able to recall the changes and results if needed

When you feel that the prototype has reached its greatest efficiency according to the design requirements you can then go on to the conclusion If you feel that more designing and testing is needed then you need to continue to redesign and retest writing down the data until you feel the prototype is finished The prototype needs to work and meet the design requirements

7 ConclusionWhen writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned The conclusion summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions How do the results validate what was expected to happen What was learned from building the prototype In what way is this prototype important Is there more that could be done to improve the prototype

o How does this prototype help people understand the world better How can this information be applied to real life What new insights were discovered What knowledge was gained by designing and building to prototype

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply to life andor the real world Write about the final prototype by looking at its merits originality and usefulness

8

Understanding your Topic

Engineering is the designing building and testing of a made-at-home product It is the invention category of the science fair A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the student After the prototype is built it needs to be tested to see if it works The data is analyzed It is to be compared to the design requirements If it doesnrsquot perform according to the design requirements the student needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design requirements The product results have to be useful and apply to real world situations The prototype cannot be made from a kit

Unsolved Problems

One problem identified in the bug list above is the issue of food getting stuck in a vending machine There is currently no solution for this problem If you put your money in the machine select the food that you want and then the food gets stuck before it can drop to where you can reach itmdashyou are out of luck You might try shaking or kicking the machine but those are not designed solutions to the problem In cases of unsolved problems your engineering project would be to attempt to solve the problem For this example possible project ideas might be to design a product that can be used to remove stuck foods from vending machines or a new vending machine that makes it impossible for food to get stuck

Poorly Solved Problems

An example of a poorly solved problem from the bug list above is the issue of cat or dog hair getting stuck on clothing There is currently a solution to this problemmdashthe lint brush However many people still complain about annoying pet hair on their clothes Clearly the lint brush is not the perfect solution In cases of poorly solved problems your engineering project would be to improve the existing solution or to replace the existing solution with something more successful For the pet hair example possible project ideas might be to make the lint brush more effective at removing hair from clothing or to design something better than the lint brush for the same purpose

Whether you want to choose an unsolved problem or a poorly solved problem for your engineering project there are plenty of problems out there Keep in mind that the problems already exist you just need to identify them and their users Also doing an engineering design project doesnt always mean inventing something brand newmdashit often involves bettering the projects of those before you

9

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

7

5 Build Test and Record and Analyze the Results of the PrototypeBuilding the prototype

o Build a prototype according to the design requirements drawn designs list of supplies and equipment and the step-by-step procedure You need to write about the experience building the prototype

Testing and data recordingo After it is built you need to test the prototype to see if it works according to the

testing procedure stated in the design requirements You need to write down what is actually happening during the testing You should be as descriptive as possible Testing the prototype two or three times is important to make sure the test data is accurate

Data is analyzed if redesigning is necessaryo Analyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not

redesigning is necessary

6 Redesign Retest Record and Analyze As NecessaryAfter the first tests you may need to make adjustments by redesigning parts of the prototype that need adjusting You need to show the adjustments with diagrams and labeling Keeping accurate notes of the changes is very important in this part of the engineering projectRetesting is always necessary after redesigning has occurred When you are retesting you need to write down data as to what is happeningAnalyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not redesigning is necessary

o Redesigning and retesting of the prototype is a major part of the project Keeping notes of the changes and the results are very important You should be able to can see at a glance what changes have been made and what happened when these changes are retested You need to be able to recall the changes and results if needed

When you feel that the prototype has reached its greatest efficiency according to the design requirements you can then go on to the conclusion If you feel that more designing and testing is needed then you need to continue to redesign and retest writing down the data until you feel the prototype is finished The prototype needs to work and meet the design requirements

7 ConclusionWhen writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned The conclusion summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions How do the results validate what was expected to happen What was learned from building the prototype In what way is this prototype important Is there more that could be done to improve the prototype

o How does this prototype help people understand the world better How can this information be applied to real life What new insights were discovered What knowledge was gained by designing and building to prototype

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply to life andor the real world Write about the final prototype by looking at its merits originality and usefulness

8

Understanding your Topic

Engineering is the designing building and testing of a made-at-home product It is the invention category of the science fair A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the student After the prototype is built it needs to be tested to see if it works The data is analyzed It is to be compared to the design requirements If it doesnrsquot perform according to the design requirements the student needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design requirements The product results have to be useful and apply to real world situations The prototype cannot be made from a kit

Unsolved Problems

One problem identified in the bug list above is the issue of food getting stuck in a vending machine There is currently no solution for this problem If you put your money in the machine select the food that you want and then the food gets stuck before it can drop to where you can reach itmdashyou are out of luck You might try shaking or kicking the machine but those are not designed solutions to the problem In cases of unsolved problems your engineering project would be to attempt to solve the problem For this example possible project ideas might be to design a product that can be used to remove stuck foods from vending machines or a new vending machine that makes it impossible for food to get stuck

Poorly Solved Problems

An example of a poorly solved problem from the bug list above is the issue of cat or dog hair getting stuck on clothing There is currently a solution to this problemmdashthe lint brush However many people still complain about annoying pet hair on their clothes Clearly the lint brush is not the perfect solution In cases of poorly solved problems your engineering project would be to improve the existing solution or to replace the existing solution with something more successful For the pet hair example possible project ideas might be to make the lint brush more effective at removing hair from clothing or to design something better than the lint brush for the same purpose

Whether you want to choose an unsolved problem or a poorly solved problem for your engineering project there are plenty of problems out there Keep in mind that the problems already exist you just need to identify them and their users Also doing an engineering design project doesnt always mean inventing something brand newmdashit often involves bettering the projects of those before you

9

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

5 Build Test and Record and Analyze the Results of the PrototypeBuilding the prototype

o Build a prototype according to the design requirements drawn designs list of supplies and equipment and the step-by-step procedure You need to write about the experience building the prototype

Testing and data recordingo After it is built you need to test the prototype to see if it works according to the

testing procedure stated in the design requirements You need to write down what is actually happening during the testing You should be as descriptive as possible Testing the prototype two or three times is important to make sure the test data is accurate

Data is analyzed if redesigning is necessaryo Analyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not

redesigning is necessary

6 Redesign Retest Record and Analyze As NecessaryAfter the first tests you may need to make adjustments by redesigning parts of the prototype that need adjusting You need to show the adjustments with diagrams and labeling Keeping accurate notes of the changes is very important in this part of the engineering projectRetesting is always necessary after redesigning has occurred When you are retesting you need to write down data as to what is happeningAnalyze the data See if the results match the design requirements If not redesigning is necessary

o Redesigning and retesting of the prototype is a major part of the project Keeping notes of the changes and the results are very important You should be able to can see at a glance what changes have been made and what happened when these changes are retested You need to be able to recall the changes and results if needed

When you feel that the prototype has reached its greatest efficiency according to the design requirements you can then go on to the conclusion If you feel that more designing and testing is needed then you need to continue to redesign and retest writing down the data until you feel the prototype is finished The prototype needs to work and meet the design requirements

7 ConclusionWhen writing your conclusion you need to show evidences of what was learned The conclusion summarizes the learning by answering some of these questions How do the results validate what was expected to happen What was learned from building the prototype In what way is this prototype important Is there more that could be done to improve the prototype

o How does this prototype help people understand the world better How can this information be applied to real life What new insights were discovered What knowledge was gained by designing and building to prototype

The conclusion needs to show the value of the project and the prototype and how it can apply to life andor the real world Write about the final prototype by looking at its merits originality and usefulness

8

Understanding your Topic

Engineering is the designing building and testing of a made-at-home product It is the invention category of the science fair A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the student After the prototype is built it needs to be tested to see if it works The data is analyzed It is to be compared to the design requirements If it doesnrsquot perform according to the design requirements the student needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design requirements The product results have to be useful and apply to real world situations The prototype cannot be made from a kit

Unsolved Problems

One problem identified in the bug list above is the issue of food getting stuck in a vending machine There is currently no solution for this problem If you put your money in the machine select the food that you want and then the food gets stuck before it can drop to where you can reach itmdashyou are out of luck You might try shaking or kicking the machine but those are not designed solutions to the problem In cases of unsolved problems your engineering project would be to attempt to solve the problem For this example possible project ideas might be to design a product that can be used to remove stuck foods from vending machines or a new vending machine that makes it impossible for food to get stuck

Poorly Solved Problems

An example of a poorly solved problem from the bug list above is the issue of cat or dog hair getting stuck on clothing There is currently a solution to this problemmdashthe lint brush However many people still complain about annoying pet hair on their clothes Clearly the lint brush is not the perfect solution In cases of poorly solved problems your engineering project would be to improve the existing solution or to replace the existing solution with something more successful For the pet hair example possible project ideas might be to make the lint brush more effective at removing hair from clothing or to design something better than the lint brush for the same purpose

Whether you want to choose an unsolved problem or a poorly solved problem for your engineering project there are plenty of problems out there Keep in mind that the problems already exist you just need to identify them and their users Also doing an engineering design project doesnt always mean inventing something brand newmdashit often involves bettering the projects of those before you

9

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Understanding your Topic

Engineering is the designing building and testing of a made-at-home product It is the invention category of the science fair A prototype is built according to the requirements set up by the student After the prototype is built it needs to be tested to see if it works The data is analyzed It is to be compared to the design requirements If it doesnrsquot perform according to the design requirements the student needs to go back and redesign the prototype on paper Adjustments are made on the prototype and retested This process of redesigning and making adjustments continues until it works according to the design requirements The product results have to be useful and apply to real world situations The prototype cannot be made from a kit

Unsolved Problems

One problem identified in the bug list above is the issue of food getting stuck in a vending machine There is currently no solution for this problem If you put your money in the machine select the food that you want and then the food gets stuck before it can drop to where you can reach itmdashyou are out of luck You might try shaking or kicking the machine but those are not designed solutions to the problem In cases of unsolved problems your engineering project would be to attempt to solve the problem For this example possible project ideas might be to design a product that can be used to remove stuck foods from vending machines or a new vending machine that makes it impossible for food to get stuck

Poorly Solved Problems

An example of a poorly solved problem from the bug list above is the issue of cat or dog hair getting stuck on clothing There is currently a solution to this problemmdashthe lint brush However many people still complain about annoying pet hair on their clothes Clearly the lint brush is not the perfect solution In cases of poorly solved problems your engineering project would be to improve the existing solution or to replace the existing solution with something more successful For the pet hair example possible project ideas might be to make the lint brush more effective at removing hair from clothing or to design something better than the lint brush for the same purpose

Whether you want to choose an unsolved problem or a poorly solved problem for your engineering project there are plenty of problems out there Keep in mind that the problems already exist you just need to identify them and their users Also doing an engineering design project doesnt always mean inventing something brand newmdashit often involves bettering the projects of those before you

9

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Define the Problem

The engineering design process starts when you ask the questions below about problems that you observe

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Finding an idea for your engineering project requires you to identify the needs of yourself another person or a group of people The act of looking at the world around you to identify these needs is called need finding

To help you find an idea for your engineering projectCreate a list of all the things that annoy or bother the people around you Record this bug list in your Design NotebookMind Map possible design problems ideas or areas of interest to you

Once you have found an idea for your engineering project describe the problem by writing a problem statement Your problem statement must answer three questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The format for writing a problem statement uses your answers to the questions above and follows these guidelines

Who need(s) what because why_____ need(s) _________ because ________

10

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquo

Defining the Problem

Engineers solve problems by creating new products systems or environments Before creating something it is very important to define the problem Otherwise you might build something only to find that it does not meet the original goal

To define your problem answer each of these questions

What is the problem or needWho has the problem or needWhy is it important to solve

The answers to these three questions are the what who and why of your problem Your problem statement should incorporate the answers as follows

[Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

In design terms who what and why can be defined as

Who = userWhat = needWhy = insight

The problem statement for any good engineering design project should be able to follow the format above Your problem statement should always look like this

need(s) because

If you are improving an existing solution for your project keep in mind that the improvements will be part of your problem statement Making something better faster or cheaper should be part of your statementmdasheither in the what portion andor the why portion For example if you are improving a car radio your problem statement might be

People need cheaper and better-performing car radios because current radios are expensive and poor at picking up weak radio signals

11

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Identifying the ldquoProblemrdquoProblem Statement Examples

Here are some additional examples of engineering design problem statements

Students need an easier way to lock their lockers at school because combination locks are hard to unlock and often get jammedDogs need a way to go to the bathroom inside homes because dogs dont like to go outside in bad weather and there are times when people cant take their dogs outdoorsTeachers need a better way to erase chalkboards because erasers are messy and dont remove all of the chalkParents need a way to store lunchboxes in the refrigerator because they often make their childrens lunches the night before school

Evaluating Your Problem Statement

The problem that you select for your engineering design project is the cornerstone of your work Your research and design work will all revolve around finding a solution to the problem you describe Here are some characteristics of a good problem statement

The problem should be interesting enough to read about and work on for the next five daysThere should be at least five sources of written information on the subject as well as similar products to analyze You want to be able to build on the experience of othersThe problem is specific enough to allow you to design a solution

For an engineering project it is important to think ahead to avoid difficulties and save you lots of unhappiness later Imagine what you might design and make to solve your engineering problem How does your possible solution stack up against these issues

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etcCan you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose ofDo you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low costDo you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first timeDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for your science fair if you are entering one Have you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

12

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Project Research

The Focus of Your Background Research

For an engineering design project you should do background research in two major areas

Users or customersExisting solutions

bull Research your target user or customer Everything humans design is ultimately for the use of another human (Think about itmdash even products designed for animals or plants are first purchased by another human) Your choice of target user will sometimes have a big impact on your design requirements For example if you design something for a toddler you need to make sure that there are no small parts that could be swallowed Some customers are more sensitive to the cost than others and so forth You might describe your target user in any number of ways Here are some examples

Age (old young infant)GenderOccupationHobby interestsAmateur or professionalWhether users have disabilities and require accommodationsSizeFirst-time user or experienced user

Existing Solutions

bull Research the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar No one wants to go to all the trouble of designing something they think is new only to find that several people have already done it That would be depressing So you want to investigate whats already out there Only then can you be sure that youre making something that more effectively fills a need And keep in mind that what is better depends on your requirements You might want to build something thats been around for hundreds of years but do it with recycled materials from around the house The device might be old but the construction materials would be new (or used)

bull Research how your product will work and how to make it When it comes time to build their solution savvy designers also want to use their research to help them find the best materials and way to do things rather than starting from scratch Background research is also important to help you understand the science or theory behind your solution If you are entering a STEM Fair judges like to see that you understand why your product works the way it does and what causes it to perform better than other products

13

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Project Research

How to Conduct the Research

Engineers are lucky because there are three ways to do research regarding users and existing solutions

Observe users first-hand either as they use a similar product or solution or in the environment in which they encounter the problemExamine and analyze similar products and solutions Looking at similar products is extremely important Other engineers spent a lot of time designing them so you might as well learn everything you can from their work And it is fun You might even want to take similar products apart (Ask first)Conduct library and Internet researchMaking a Background Research Plan How to Know What Information to Look For (Is this a link A subtitle for the next section)

When you or your parents are driving a car there are two ways to find your destination drive around randomly until you finally stumble upon what youre looking for OR use a GPS or look at a map before you start Finding information for your background research is similar Since libraries and the Internet both contain millions of pages of information and facts you might never find what youre looking for unless you start with a map To avoid getting lost you need a background research plan

Target Users

To help clarify the definition of your target user youll want to ask questions like this

Who needs _________Who wants _________Who buys _________What does my target user [a child an elderly person etc] need or want in a _________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _________What size should I make _________ for my target user

Similar Products

Then ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built these products design them the way they didHow can I measure my designs improvement over existing designs

14

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Project Research

How It Works and How to Make It

These are some example questions that will help you understand the science behind your design

Who invented _________How does a __________ workWhat are the different parts of a __________What are the important characteristics of a __________How is performance measured for a _________Where does _________ get usedWhat is __________ made ofWhy is __________ made from or using __________What is the best material component or algorithm for building ________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

Talk to People with More Experience Networking

One of the most important things you can do while working on your project is talk to other people with more experience than yourself your parents teachers and advisors This process is called networking Some advisors or mentors may have had classes or work experience related to the science involved in your project Others may have used or even designed products like the one you are researching Ask them What science concepts should I study to better understand my project Better yet be as specific as you can when asking your questions

And by the way networking is something many adults dont expect students to be good at so you can probably surprise them by doing a good job at it The best networkers of course enjoy the spoils of victory In other words they get what they want more quickly efficiently and smoothly

The reality is we have all networked at some point in our lives Remember how you networked with your mom to buy you that cool water gun or networked with your grandpa to buy you that video game you always wanted Well now you are networking for knowledge Train yourself to become a good networker and you might just end up with a better project (and dont forget that youll get a little smarter too in the process) So take our advice work hard but network harder

15

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Brainstorming ndash Mind Maps

Mind mapping refers to a technique that designers and engineers use to express and generate ideas All that mind mapping really is however is a way to get all of the ideas in your head down onto paper There is no right or wrong way to mind map It is simply a visual representation of the thoughts in your head and it often looks like organized chaos

Why Mind Map

Mind mapping helps you to release all of the ideas in your head and gives you the opportunity to see those ideas visually It is a fast and simple way to get your creative juices flowing and the only tools you need are a pen or pencil and your design notebook

How to Mind Map

To start a mind map write down one central idea or theme in the middle of a blank page All mind maps have this common starting point Then stem off of the central idea by writing down anything that comes to your mind when thinking about the idea You can include drawings questions comments solutions problems etc There are no limits Simply write down everything that relates to the central theme or anything that enters your mind

When and What to Mind Map

You can create a mind map at any stage in your design process and for absolutely any purpose You can mind map at the very beginning before you have even decided what problem you are going to solve You can also mind map to generate possible solutions to your problem or to identify different types of users for your project Mind map whenever you feel the need to empty the thoughts in your head or whenever you feel stuck during the design process

16

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Brainstorming ndash Developing a Hypothesis

1 Rule when creating alternative solutions DONT SETTLE FOR YOUR FIRST IDEA

bull Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best This creative process of developing ideas is called ideationbull Methods of ideation include

Examining existing solutionsCreating and using analogiesConducting brainstorming sessionsSketching and doodling

Why Create Alternatives

When solving a design problem there are always many possible good solutions If you focus on just one before looking at the alternatives it is almost certain that you are overlooking a better solution Good designers try to generate as many possible solutions as they can before choosing one that they feel is the best Even wild and crazy design ideas that you end up rejecting might have some pieces that can make other designs better

Ideation

Ideation also known as idea generation is the creative process of developing ideas Start ideation after you have settled on a design problem that you want to solve and have done your background research including the analysis of existing solutions If you have not researched existing solutions be sure to do so before starting ideation Existing solutions are a great place to begin the ideation phase of your process because they give you a starting platform for ideas

Generating lots of ideas is important to solving your design problem so follow these key rules One key rule for successful ideation is no limits Start huge Dont confine yourself to only one or two great ideas and dont be afraid to think outside the box No solutions are impossible during the ideation phase so consider even the craziest of ideas There will come a time later on when you will weigh your ideas against one another based on how easy they are to implement but not yet Ideation is the perfect time to put aside all judgment and see how many design solutions you can come up with

1 Rule when Ideating Dont settle for your first idea

If you think you have a great solution to your problem right from the beginning you might be tempted to stick with that original idea Even if its the most perfect without-a-doubt best possible way to solve your problem -- dont stop here Fixating on your first idea is a terrible mistake because it stops your creative process before it even has the chance to get going You never know what new ideas could branch off of your original idea or what new ideas might come to you over time so you have to give the process (and yourself) a chance

17

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Below are many creative techniques to help you come up with design ideas

Existing Solutions

Existing solutions to your problem (or similar problems) are one of the best sources for creating design alternatives Studying these designs will give you creative ideas of your own Can the best features of existing solutions be combined in new ways Can two entire solutions be combined to form one better solution Are there pieces missing from existing designs that if added might make the designs more successful Ask yourself these questions and see what new ideas you can come up with

Analogies

By comparing your design problem to an entirely different situation you may notice solutions that never would have come to mind otherwise Try to create analogies between your design problem and random objects and people For example ask yourself

How is my design problem like [random object or problem]How would I solve my problem using a [random object]How would [random person company or group] solve my problem

Choose random objects and people to create these analogies Even though they may seem unrelated the analogy will force your mind to come up with ideas to fit the specific cases of the random objects and people

Example Imagine you are designing a better lunchbox for students Try these analogies to spark new and interesting design ideas

Analogy How is designing a lunchbox like designing a hotel

Answer When designing a hotel you need to design for the people who will be staying in it Think about the furniture the decorations the size of the rooms etc Try applying these to your lunchbox What about the size of the lunchbox Are there any components you could add to your lunchbox to serve as furniture-like features Does the food in the lunchbox need furniture to sit on You may never have considered these ideas without comparing a lunchbox to a hotel

Analogy How would I design a lunchbox using a skateboard

Answer You might create a lunchbox that has wheels or a lunchbox that could be attached to a skateboard or a skateboard that has a compartment to store food or a lunchbox that could strap to the bottom of someones feet All of these are lunchbox designs that you might never have considered

Analogy How would Facebook design a lunchbox

Answer Facebook might design a lunchbox that you can take pictures with or a lunchbox that has a computer screen on the inside All of these are lunchbox designs you may never have thought about

18

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Brainstorming

Group brainstorming is a great way to generate lots and lots of ideas Ask your friends parents and relatives if they would be willing to help you brainstorm ideas to your design problem Gather a few of these people together for 30 minutes to an hour and tell them about your design problem Then leave the rest to discussion Keep in mind

Fewer than five or six people per brainstorming session are bestNo judgment No ideas are bad ideas during ideationPost-it notes are a great way for the people to show their ideas to the groupYou should write down all of the ideas mentioned in your design notebook

Sketching and Doodling

You can come up with great ideas by using all of the techniques above but ideation really isnt complete without sketching and doodling Drawing is an ideal way to express your ideas and to visually connect multiple ideas to one another Draw everything on your mind Even if the idea is not fully developed try to draw it and see what it looks like Sketch all of the ideas that you have already come up with using other ideation techniques By sketching you will see new aspects of those ideas and be able to come up with even more

Sleep on It

Ideation isnt a one-day activity In fact it should be the longest phase of your entire design process So dont feel like you need to come up with your perfect solution in one sitting Ideate until you feel like youve run out of ideas Then sleep on it and return to ideation the next day or a few days after that You will be surprised at how many more ideas you are able to come up with

Alternative Solutions Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if you considered enough alternative solutions

What Makes Good Alternative Solutions For Good Alternative Solutions You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Did you use more than one of these ideation techniques to generate alternative solutions for your problem

bull Examining existing solutionsbull Creating and using analogiesbull Conducting brainstorming sessions

Yes No

19

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

bull Sketching and doodling

Did you come up with several possible solutions for your problem Yes No

Developing a Hypothesis

After students have researched their STEM Fair problem they should have an educated guess based on the information gathered about their problem statement The educated guess will be the studentsrsquo hypothesis

The hypothesis should be worded so that it can be tested in an experiment trial A student will do this by expressing the hypothesis using their independent variable (the variable the student will change during their experiment) and their dependent variable (the variable the student observe) The dependent variable changes depending on the changes in the independent variable The hypothesis will be stated in an ldquoIf then becauserdquo statement ldquoIf a particular independent variable is changed then there is also a change in a certain dependent variable because ________rdquo

Example Hypotheses

ldquoIf I open the faucet (faucet opening size is the independent variable) then it will increase the flow of water (flow of water is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoRaising the temperature of a cup of water (temperature is the independent variable) will increase the amount of sugar that dissolves (the amount of sugar is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf a plant receives fertilizer (having fertilizer is the independent variable) then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not receive fertilizer (plant size is the dependent variable) because ________ (reasoning)rdquo

ldquoIf I put fenders on a bicycle (having fenders is the independent variable) then they will keep the rider dry when riding through puddles (the dependent variable is how much water splashes on the rider) because the location of the fenders blocks water from splashing onto a bicycle rider (reasoning)rdquo

Note When students write their own hypothesis they can leave out the part in the above examples that is the brackets ( )

Notice in each of the examples it will be easy to measure the independent and dependent variables This is another important characteristic of a good hypothesis A hypothesis is testable if it can readily measure the variables

20

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Documenting ndash Engineering JournalAll students who are entering an engineering design project in the school science fair must have a journal (log) The journal is the way that you connect your writing thinking research planning building testing and conclusion to your engineering design project The interviewer can question everything that is written in the journal

Th e journa l consist s o f fou r mai n parts Title pageTable of Contents pageThe Engineering Design pagesThe Bibliography (Works Cited) page

1 Titl e Pag e The title page consists of the project title student name school and date

2 Tabl e o f Content s Make a table of contents that shows where the pages of the Engineering Design process steps are found with page numbers so these steps are easily found

Define a needResearchDesign RequirementsProject Prototype Designs

o Beginning Prototype Designso Final Prototype Designso List of Materialso Step-by-Step Procedure

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeRedesigning Retesting and Recording and Analyzing the PrototypeConclusion

3 Th e Engineerin g Desig nIn this section you will write what you did or discovered by following each part of the Engineering Design process See the Engineer Design process pages (4a and 4b) to know what should be written on each page

Define a Need pageResearch pageDesign Requirement pageProject Designs

o Beginning Designs pageo Final Designs pageo List of Materials pageo Step-by-Step Procedure page

Building Testing and Recording and Analyzing the Prototypeo Building the Prototype pageo Testing and Recording pageo Analysis page

Redesigning Retesting and Recording Analyzing the Prototype

21

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

o Redesigning pageo Retesting and Recording pageo Analysis page

Conclusion page4 Bibliograph y

Write a list of the three or more sources you used for research by telling the type of source title and page numbers (if applicable)

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

Samples of design notebook entries Top left a 1503 page from Leonardo daVincis notebooksdepicts his work on water wheels and Archimedes pumps Top right an entry from the notebooksof Alexander Graham Bell Bottom entries from the notebooks of Thomas Edison involving fromleft to right the phonograph the electric generator and the incandescent lightbulb Images courtesyof Thomas Edison National Historical Park

22

Documenting ndash Engineering Journal

What is a design notebook

A design notebook is a way for a designer or engineer to keep a history of his or her design project from start to finish It is a place to record research observations ideas drawings comments and questions during the design process At the end of your project someone reviewing your design notebook should be able to understand fully how you got to your solution

What goes in a design notebookEverything goes in a design notebook Your design notebook starts when you begin thinking about possible problems to solve Write down everything you know about these problems and why you want to solve them Then write down draw sketch glue or tape in every step of your process between this first step and your final solution

Here are examples of what you might find in a design notebookNotes on background researchInterviews with users or expertsDrawings and sketchesPhotos of competing productsLists of design requirementsQuestionsissues you face

What type of design notebook should I get

Use either a quadrille-ruled (graph paper) notebook or one with blank pages On plain or gridded paper you will be able to not only make notes but also sketch You can find these types of notebooks at your local arts and crafts store art supply store or often at the local drug storeThe size of your design notebook is up to you Some designers and engineers prefer smaller notebooks because they are easier to carry with them at all times Others like larger notebooks because the pages are bigger for sketching This is your design notebook so pick one that you are excited about using

23

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

Of course the primary goal of the PLAN stage is to make a workable solution to your problem This goal is true of all planning efforts

Risk Reduction

In any complicated planning effort for example building a robot for a competition you will be uncertain about how well certain elements of your design solution will work In a situation like this it is very important to eliminate the uncertainty as soon as possible This is called risk reduction The longer you wait to eliminate the risk the more likely that you will waste time on a solution that will fail It is much better to find out that a potential solution will not work early in the design process before choosing your final solution for development Fail fast fail earlyTo do risk reduction use an appropriate method of planning (described below) For example one strategy is to prototype just a small part of the potential solution the risky part to make sure that it will work

Drawings

Designers use drawings to record ideas so that they are not forgotten to communicate ideas to others and to study how different parts of a design work together during developmentThere are several types of drawings Sketches are rough freehand drawings done very quickly and usually showing just the outlines of an object Pictorial drawings portray a photo-like view of objects Technical drawing is an accurate way of drawing that shows an objects true size and shape It is often done with CAD (computer-aided design) software and is used in plans and blueprints that show how to construct an object Technical drawings show in detail how the pieces of something relate to each other

Prototyping

A prototype is an operating version of a solution Often a designer makes a prototype with different materials than the final version and generally it is not as polished Prototypes are a key step in the development of a final solution allowing the designer to test how the solution will work and even show the solution to users for feedbackOccasionally designers will prototype pieces of the final solution very early in the design process Sometimes designers will make several prototypes during the development of a solution

Storyboards

Storyboards are a series of graphic illustrations or images for the purpose of visualizing a video website software program environment user experience (like a theme park ride) or the like Storyboards show how the solution appears as the user interacts with it over time highlighting any problems in the flow of the experience

Analysis Running the Numbers

Sometimes development work can be as simple as adding up the weight of all the components of a solution to see if

24

the total weight meets the requirements Similarly you might add up the cost of all the parts to get a total cost or predict the speed of a vehicle by looking at the power of the engine Analysis of this type is an important part of the development of many solutions and it is often called running the numbers

Requirements for the PLAN Stage

The Plan stage is crucial for a successful engineering project but is often overlooked by students SO you will not receive any materials for the BUILD phase until the PLAN stage is complete You will be asked to complete three risk-reduction planning components for the PLAN stage

1 A detailed diagram involving several views drawn to scale 2 A detailed material list with costs and quantities of materials3 A prototype

These three items must be completed and approved by a project supervisor (teacher) before you may begin the BUILD stage

For each revision of your project idea you will need a scale drawing using the attached blank project sheet a detailed material list using the attached budgeting form and a completed prototype

Optimization

Almost any design problem has multiple requirements In many cases requirements might conflict with each other at least somewhat For example if you try to maximize almost any characteristic of a solution (speed appearance etc) the cost will go up Optimization is the process of finding the best trade-off between your different requirements and it is an important part of almost every planning effort

25

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

Design Requirements

Design requirements state the important characteristics that your solution must meet to be successful

For example imagine that your problem statement relates to grocery store bags You want to design a better grocery store bag--one that uses less expensive material than the paper and plastic bags that already exist Your design requirements are the important characteristics that your bag must meet to be successful Based on your problem statement a successful bag would use less expensive material than existing bags and function properly as a grocery bag Examples of some of your design requirements might be that the bag needs to

Have handles so that shoppers can carry multiple bags of groceriesHold up to five pounds of food without breakingCost less than five cents to makeCollapse so that it can be stored in large quantities at grocery stores

Effective design requirements are

Needed to solve your design problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work onFeasible A good design requirement is not just a wish Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenSubject to change as you do more research and design Always ask yourself is this requirement needed and feasible If your answers to those questions change it is OK to change the requirement

Design requirements can fall into many different categories such as size cost ease of use and environmental impact to name just a few Here is a more complete list of Design Requirement Examples

One of the best ways to identify the design requirements for your project is to use the concrete example of a similar existing product Examine it in detail-take pictures and take it apart if you have permission Analyze how and why it works the way it does Every single feature of the existing project represents a potential requirement for your design (Of course your design will have changes and improvements so the requirements will not be identical)

26

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

When you analyze an existing product you build a mental library of techniques mechanisms and clever tricks You acquire building blocks that you can use to construct your own designs As you analyze more products you can gain additional building blocks to use in your design All designers do this

These examples show how to analyze an existing product

How to Analyze a Physical ProductHow to Analyze a Software Product or WebsiteHow to Analyze an Environment (like a space where people do something)How to Analyze an Experience (like an entertainment experience)

How many design requirements should you have For a school project three to five will often be a good number For large complex projects there may be hundreds or even thousands of requirements Here is more information about How Many Design Requirements you should have

First as a group your list of design requirements should provide a complete description of the key features that will make your design successful Ask yourself is anything missing

Second as a group your list of design requirements should be feasible Individually your requirements might be feasible but all together they might not be For example you might have time (or money or resources) to make one of them happen but not all of them Another potential problem might be that it is impossible to meet two or more of your requirements at the same time For example imagine that you are designing a toaster for a bagel shop Two of your design requirements might be that the toaster needs to be large enough to toast ten bagels at a time and it needs to fit on the bagel shops counter What if a toaster large enough to hold ten bagels at a time will not fit on the shops counter In cases like this you must make a trade-off a compromise or change in one or more requirements so that they can be met at the same time In the toaster example you would need to decide which is more important toasting ten bagels at once or fitting the toaster on the counter If the changes to your requirements make it impossible to solve your problem you should look for a different problem to work on

The Design Brief

To complete the requirements step of the design process you should write a design brief A design brief gathers all the key information for solving your problem in one place It should contain

27

A description of your target userA definition of the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]A description of how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problemA list of all the requirements for your design

Experimental Design amp Procedures

Students will plan how they are going to test their experimental question You will need to explain the following information to your students before they begin designing their experiment

Relationship between the experimental trials and the hypothesiso Students should design their experiment so that it will answer their STEM Fair problem

statement The experimental trials will test whether the hypothesis is true or false

Control Groups versus Experimental Groupso Each experiment trial should have two groups an experimental group and a control group The

experimental group will receive the treatment or what the student is testing (ie the independent variable) The control group will not receive the treatment Both groups are exposed to exactly the same testing conditions such as location and time length of trial etc

Dependent versus Independent Variableso The dependent variable is the variable that is measured to determine if a change has occurred

When a student measures they are measuring the result that occurred when the student changed the independent variable The dependent variable is what the experiment is actually measuring

o The independent variable is the variable changed by the experimenter

Constant Variableso A fair experimental trial should be conducted by changing only one variable at a time while

keeping all other variables constant The variables that being maintained throughout the experimental trials are called the constant variables All factors of the control group and the experimental group must be exactly the same except for one variable the independent variable

Safety Concernso Safety is a particular concern during the experimental testing process Teachers will need to

review any safety issues as students are developing and designing their STEM Fair project

Budget for experiment amp Materials List o You will need to explain the costs of experiments Students will need to create purchase orders

that include the items needed complete the experimental trials and modifications portion of

28

their STEM Fair project The students should be mindful of their budget ($15 per group) when selecting a solution for their problem statement and designing their experiment The students should also consider the availability of items in their materials list If the availability or supply is low the cost will be higher for that item

Technical Procedures Document (including number of trials)o Students should also perform several experimental trials to give their experiment validity

meaning that their results were not just an accident Each time the student completes the experiment it is called a trial So instead of doing the experiment once the student must do each round of experimental trial two or three times

Observation Charto It is also important to maintain a data collection and observations log for analysis purposes

The chart should include their independent and dependent variable The purpose of the observation chart is to allow students to chart the changes throughout their experiment Students will chart the data from the experimental group and the control group The students will use this information to construct their results charts and graphs They will also use this information to in their conclusion

Students will maintain a log to determine if all portions of the design process are complete (ie variables groups constants materials steps and number of trials)

29

ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Construction

The next step in the Engineering Design Process is for your group to create a prototype of your design Your prototype will be constructed out of the materials you purchased and will be based off of your scaled drawings engineering design and procedures created in the previous steps of the EDP

Below are several things that you need to keep in mind as your team builds

Who is responsible for what Work together as a team making sure that every member of the group fulfills his or her role

Is the prototype high quality work Push yourselves for excellence in design Your prototype should be a good representation of the final product

What is the plan Follow the plan your team laid out in the previous steps of the EDP exactly The opportunity to make changes in the next step of the EDP

Does the prototype work Analyze the prototype and talk about what works what doesnrsquot and what could be improved

Is it worth it Conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis Do the costs of creating your design outweigh the benefits Or do the benefits outweigh the costs

30

ldquoTestrdquo ndash Collecting amp Analyzing Data

Students should carefully review all of their experimental data that they have collected Using charts and graphs will help the students to analyze the data and patterns After creating their charts and graphs students should answer the following questions

Did I get the results that I expected What did I find out from my experimental trials How does my data help me explain why I think certain things happened

Calculating and Summarizing Data

Students may need to perform calculation on their raw data to get their results used to generate a conclusion These calculations may come from know formulas that describe the relationship that they were testing such as Force = Mass x Acceleration or Volume = Mass Density While completing these calculations students may need to convert units (centimeters to millimeters etc) All units should be of the same scale Students can create a spreadsheet using programs such as Microsoft Excel to aid them in their calculations The created spreadsheet can then be used on their display boards to show their results Students must label the rows and columns in their spreadsheet They also should include their units of measurement (grams centimeters liter etc)

Students completed two or more trials for each of their experimental trial rounds Students should determine the best method for summarizing their results including each of their trials The summary could be generated from calculating the average for each group of trials or using ratios and percentages Students may also choose to display their data as individual data points

Graphs

Graphs are an excellent way for students to display their results All of the STEM Fair projects should have a minimum of one graph Below is a list of guidelines for students as they are creating their graphs for their science fair project

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axis

The axes of the graph must be label Students should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc) The graph should also have an overall title related to the information contained within the chart or graph

If students have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Students should also include a legend with clear labels

Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments A few of the possibilities are listed below

Bar Graph ndash This graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups It is also a good choice is the studentrsquos independent variable is not numerical

31

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

Of course the primary goal of the PLAN stage is to make a workable solution to your problem This goal is true of all planning efforts

Risk Reduction

In any complicated planning effort for example building a robot for a competition you will be uncertain about how well certain elements of your design solution will work In a situation like this it is very important to eliminate the uncertainty as soon as possible This is called risk reduction The longer you wait to eliminate the risk the more likely that you will waste time on a solution that will fail It is much better to find out that a potential solution will not work early in the design process before choosing your final solution for development Fail fast fail earlyTo do risk reduction use an appropriate method of planning (described below) For example one strategy is to prototype just a small part of the potential solution the risky part to make sure that it will work

Drawings

Designers use drawings to record ideas so that they are not forgotten to communicate ideas to others and to study how different parts of a design work together during developmentThere are several types of drawings Sketches are rough freehand drawings done very quickly and usually showing just the outlines of an object Pictorial drawings portray a photo-like view of objects Technical drawing is an accurate way of drawing that shows an objects true size and shape It is often done with CAD (computer-aided design) software and is used in plans and blueprints that show how to construct an object Technical drawings show in detail how the pieces of something relate to each other

Prototyping

A prototype is an operating version of a solution Often a designer makes a prototype with different materials than the final version and generally it is not as polished Prototypes are a key step in the development of a final solution allowing the designer to test how the solution will work and even show the solution to users for feedbackOccasionally designers will prototype pieces of the final solution very early in the design process Sometimes designers will make several prototypes during the development of a solution

Storyboards

Storyboards are a series of graphic illustrations or images for the purpose of visualizing a video website software program environment user experience (like a theme park ride) or the like Storyboards show how the solution appears as the user interacts with it over time highlighting any problems in the flow of the experience

Analysis Running the Numbers

Sometimes development work can be as simple as adding up the weight of all the components of a solution to see if

24

the total weight meets the requirements Similarly you might add up the cost of all the parts to get a total cost or predict the speed of a vehicle by looking at the power of the engine Analysis of this type is an important part of the development of many solutions and it is often called running the numbers

Requirements for the PLAN Stage

The Plan stage is crucial for a successful engineering project but is often overlooked by students SO you will not receive any materials for the BUILD phase until the PLAN stage is complete You will be asked to complete three risk-reduction planning components for the PLAN stage

1 A detailed diagram involving several views drawn to scale 2 A detailed material list with costs and quantities of materials3 A prototype

These three items must be completed and approved by a project supervisor (teacher) before you may begin the BUILD stage

For each revision of your project idea you will need a scale drawing using the attached blank project sheet a detailed material list using the attached budgeting form and a completed prototype

Optimization

Almost any design problem has multiple requirements In many cases requirements might conflict with each other at least somewhat For example if you try to maximize almost any characteristic of a solution (speed appearance etc) the cost will go up Optimization is the process of finding the best trade-off between your different requirements and it is an important part of almost every planning effort

25

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

Design Requirements

Design requirements state the important characteristics that your solution must meet to be successful

For example imagine that your problem statement relates to grocery store bags You want to design a better grocery store bag--one that uses less expensive material than the paper and plastic bags that already exist Your design requirements are the important characteristics that your bag must meet to be successful Based on your problem statement a successful bag would use less expensive material than existing bags and function properly as a grocery bag Examples of some of your design requirements might be that the bag needs to

Have handles so that shoppers can carry multiple bags of groceriesHold up to five pounds of food without breakingCost less than five cents to makeCollapse so that it can be stored in large quantities at grocery stores

Effective design requirements are

Needed to solve your design problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work onFeasible A good design requirement is not just a wish Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenSubject to change as you do more research and design Always ask yourself is this requirement needed and feasible If your answers to those questions change it is OK to change the requirement

Design requirements can fall into many different categories such as size cost ease of use and environmental impact to name just a few Here is a more complete list of Design Requirement Examples

One of the best ways to identify the design requirements for your project is to use the concrete example of a similar existing product Examine it in detail-take pictures and take it apart if you have permission Analyze how and why it works the way it does Every single feature of the existing project represents a potential requirement for your design (Of course your design will have changes and improvements so the requirements will not be identical)

26

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

When you analyze an existing product you build a mental library of techniques mechanisms and clever tricks You acquire building blocks that you can use to construct your own designs As you analyze more products you can gain additional building blocks to use in your design All designers do this

These examples show how to analyze an existing product

How to Analyze a Physical ProductHow to Analyze a Software Product or WebsiteHow to Analyze an Environment (like a space where people do something)How to Analyze an Experience (like an entertainment experience)

How many design requirements should you have For a school project three to five will often be a good number For large complex projects there may be hundreds or even thousands of requirements Here is more information about How Many Design Requirements you should have

First as a group your list of design requirements should provide a complete description of the key features that will make your design successful Ask yourself is anything missing

Second as a group your list of design requirements should be feasible Individually your requirements might be feasible but all together they might not be For example you might have time (or money or resources) to make one of them happen but not all of them Another potential problem might be that it is impossible to meet two or more of your requirements at the same time For example imagine that you are designing a toaster for a bagel shop Two of your design requirements might be that the toaster needs to be large enough to toast ten bagels at a time and it needs to fit on the bagel shops counter What if a toaster large enough to hold ten bagels at a time will not fit on the shops counter In cases like this you must make a trade-off a compromise or change in one or more requirements so that they can be met at the same time In the toaster example you would need to decide which is more important toasting ten bagels at once or fitting the toaster on the counter If the changes to your requirements make it impossible to solve your problem you should look for a different problem to work on

The Design Brief

To complete the requirements step of the design process you should write a design brief A design brief gathers all the key information for solving your problem in one place It should contain

27

A description of your target userA definition of the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]A description of how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problemA list of all the requirements for your design

Experimental Design amp Procedures

Students will plan how they are going to test their experimental question You will need to explain the following information to your students before they begin designing their experiment

Relationship between the experimental trials and the hypothesiso Students should design their experiment so that it will answer their STEM Fair problem

statement The experimental trials will test whether the hypothesis is true or false

Control Groups versus Experimental Groupso Each experiment trial should have two groups an experimental group and a control group The

experimental group will receive the treatment or what the student is testing (ie the independent variable) The control group will not receive the treatment Both groups are exposed to exactly the same testing conditions such as location and time length of trial etc

Dependent versus Independent Variableso The dependent variable is the variable that is measured to determine if a change has occurred

When a student measures they are measuring the result that occurred when the student changed the independent variable The dependent variable is what the experiment is actually measuring

o The independent variable is the variable changed by the experimenter

Constant Variableso A fair experimental trial should be conducted by changing only one variable at a time while

keeping all other variables constant The variables that being maintained throughout the experimental trials are called the constant variables All factors of the control group and the experimental group must be exactly the same except for one variable the independent variable

Safety Concernso Safety is a particular concern during the experimental testing process Teachers will need to

review any safety issues as students are developing and designing their STEM Fair project

Budget for experiment amp Materials List o You will need to explain the costs of experiments Students will need to create purchase orders

that include the items needed complete the experimental trials and modifications portion of

28

their STEM Fair project The students should be mindful of their budget ($15 per group) when selecting a solution for their problem statement and designing their experiment The students should also consider the availability of items in their materials list If the availability or supply is low the cost will be higher for that item

Technical Procedures Document (including number of trials)o Students should also perform several experimental trials to give their experiment validity

meaning that their results were not just an accident Each time the student completes the experiment it is called a trial So instead of doing the experiment once the student must do each round of experimental trial two or three times

Observation Charto It is also important to maintain a data collection and observations log for analysis purposes

The chart should include their independent and dependent variable The purpose of the observation chart is to allow students to chart the changes throughout their experiment Students will chart the data from the experimental group and the control group The students will use this information to construct their results charts and graphs They will also use this information to in their conclusion

Students will maintain a log to determine if all portions of the design process are complete (ie variables groups constants materials steps and number of trials)

29

ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Construction

The next step in the Engineering Design Process is for your group to create a prototype of your design Your prototype will be constructed out of the materials you purchased and will be based off of your scaled drawings engineering design and procedures created in the previous steps of the EDP

Below are several things that you need to keep in mind as your team builds

Who is responsible for what Work together as a team making sure that every member of the group fulfills his or her role

Is the prototype high quality work Push yourselves for excellence in design Your prototype should be a good representation of the final product

What is the plan Follow the plan your team laid out in the previous steps of the EDP exactly The opportunity to make changes in the next step of the EDP

Does the prototype work Analyze the prototype and talk about what works what doesnrsquot and what could be improved

Is it worth it Conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis Do the costs of creating your design outweigh the benefits Or do the benefits outweigh the costs

30

ldquoTestrdquo ndash Collecting amp Analyzing Data

Students should carefully review all of their experimental data that they have collected Using charts and graphs will help the students to analyze the data and patterns After creating their charts and graphs students should answer the following questions

Did I get the results that I expected What did I find out from my experimental trials How does my data help me explain why I think certain things happened

Calculating and Summarizing Data

Students may need to perform calculation on their raw data to get their results used to generate a conclusion These calculations may come from know formulas that describe the relationship that they were testing such as Force = Mass x Acceleration or Volume = Mass Density While completing these calculations students may need to convert units (centimeters to millimeters etc) All units should be of the same scale Students can create a spreadsheet using programs such as Microsoft Excel to aid them in their calculations The created spreadsheet can then be used on their display boards to show their results Students must label the rows and columns in their spreadsheet They also should include their units of measurement (grams centimeters liter etc)

Students completed two or more trials for each of their experimental trial rounds Students should determine the best method for summarizing their results including each of their trials The summary could be generated from calculating the average for each group of trials or using ratios and percentages Students may also choose to display their data as individual data points

Graphs

Graphs are an excellent way for students to display their results All of the STEM Fair projects should have a minimum of one graph Below is a list of guidelines for students as they are creating their graphs for their science fair project

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axis

The axes of the graph must be label Students should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc) The graph should also have an overall title related to the information contained within the chart or graph

If students have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Students should also include a legend with clear labels

Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments A few of the possibilities are listed below

Bar Graph ndash This graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups It is also a good choice is the studentrsquos independent variable is not numerical

31

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

the total weight meets the requirements Similarly you might add up the cost of all the parts to get a total cost or predict the speed of a vehicle by looking at the power of the engine Analysis of this type is an important part of the development of many solutions and it is often called running the numbers

Requirements for the PLAN Stage

The Plan stage is crucial for a successful engineering project but is often overlooked by students SO you will not receive any materials for the BUILD phase until the PLAN stage is complete You will be asked to complete three risk-reduction planning components for the PLAN stage

1 A detailed diagram involving several views drawn to scale 2 A detailed material list with costs and quantities of materials3 A prototype

These three items must be completed and approved by a project supervisor (teacher) before you may begin the BUILD stage

For each revision of your project idea you will need a scale drawing using the attached blank project sheet a detailed material list using the attached budgeting form and a completed prototype

Optimization

Almost any design problem has multiple requirements In many cases requirements might conflict with each other at least somewhat For example if you try to maximize almost any characteristic of a solution (speed appearance etc) the cost will go up Optimization is the process of finding the best trade-off between your different requirements and it is an important part of almost every planning effort

25

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

Design Requirements

Design requirements state the important characteristics that your solution must meet to be successful

For example imagine that your problem statement relates to grocery store bags You want to design a better grocery store bag--one that uses less expensive material than the paper and plastic bags that already exist Your design requirements are the important characteristics that your bag must meet to be successful Based on your problem statement a successful bag would use less expensive material than existing bags and function properly as a grocery bag Examples of some of your design requirements might be that the bag needs to

Have handles so that shoppers can carry multiple bags of groceriesHold up to five pounds of food without breakingCost less than five cents to makeCollapse so that it can be stored in large quantities at grocery stores

Effective design requirements are

Needed to solve your design problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work onFeasible A good design requirement is not just a wish Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenSubject to change as you do more research and design Always ask yourself is this requirement needed and feasible If your answers to those questions change it is OK to change the requirement

Design requirements can fall into many different categories such as size cost ease of use and environmental impact to name just a few Here is a more complete list of Design Requirement Examples

One of the best ways to identify the design requirements for your project is to use the concrete example of a similar existing product Examine it in detail-take pictures and take it apart if you have permission Analyze how and why it works the way it does Every single feature of the existing project represents a potential requirement for your design (Of course your design will have changes and improvements so the requirements will not be identical)

26

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

When you analyze an existing product you build a mental library of techniques mechanisms and clever tricks You acquire building blocks that you can use to construct your own designs As you analyze more products you can gain additional building blocks to use in your design All designers do this

These examples show how to analyze an existing product

How to Analyze a Physical ProductHow to Analyze a Software Product or WebsiteHow to Analyze an Environment (like a space where people do something)How to Analyze an Experience (like an entertainment experience)

How many design requirements should you have For a school project three to five will often be a good number For large complex projects there may be hundreds or even thousands of requirements Here is more information about How Many Design Requirements you should have

First as a group your list of design requirements should provide a complete description of the key features that will make your design successful Ask yourself is anything missing

Second as a group your list of design requirements should be feasible Individually your requirements might be feasible but all together they might not be For example you might have time (or money or resources) to make one of them happen but not all of them Another potential problem might be that it is impossible to meet two or more of your requirements at the same time For example imagine that you are designing a toaster for a bagel shop Two of your design requirements might be that the toaster needs to be large enough to toast ten bagels at a time and it needs to fit on the bagel shops counter What if a toaster large enough to hold ten bagels at a time will not fit on the shops counter In cases like this you must make a trade-off a compromise or change in one or more requirements so that they can be met at the same time In the toaster example you would need to decide which is more important toasting ten bagels at once or fitting the toaster on the counter If the changes to your requirements make it impossible to solve your problem you should look for a different problem to work on

The Design Brief

To complete the requirements step of the design process you should write a design brief A design brief gathers all the key information for solving your problem in one place It should contain

27

A description of your target userA definition of the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]A description of how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problemA list of all the requirements for your design

Experimental Design amp Procedures

Students will plan how they are going to test their experimental question You will need to explain the following information to your students before they begin designing their experiment

Relationship between the experimental trials and the hypothesiso Students should design their experiment so that it will answer their STEM Fair problem

statement The experimental trials will test whether the hypothesis is true or false

Control Groups versus Experimental Groupso Each experiment trial should have two groups an experimental group and a control group The

experimental group will receive the treatment or what the student is testing (ie the independent variable) The control group will not receive the treatment Both groups are exposed to exactly the same testing conditions such as location and time length of trial etc

Dependent versus Independent Variableso The dependent variable is the variable that is measured to determine if a change has occurred

When a student measures they are measuring the result that occurred when the student changed the independent variable The dependent variable is what the experiment is actually measuring

o The independent variable is the variable changed by the experimenter

Constant Variableso A fair experimental trial should be conducted by changing only one variable at a time while

keeping all other variables constant The variables that being maintained throughout the experimental trials are called the constant variables All factors of the control group and the experimental group must be exactly the same except for one variable the independent variable

Safety Concernso Safety is a particular concern during the experimental testing process Teachers will need to

review any safety issues as students are developing and designing their STEM Fair project

Budget for experiment amp Materials List o You will need to explain the costs of experiments Students will need to create purchase orders

that include the items needed complete the experimental trials and modifications portion of

28

their STEM Fair project The students should be mindful of their budget ($15 per group) when selecting a solution for their problem statement and designing their experiment The students should also consider the availability of items in their materials list If the availability or supply is low the cost will be higher for that item

Technical Procedures Document (including number of trials)o Students should also perform several experimental trials to give their experiment validity

meaning that their results were not just an accident Each time the student completes the experiment it is called a trial So instead of doing the experiment once the student must do each round of experimental trial two or three times

Observation Charto It is also important to maintain a data collection and observations log for analysis purposes

The chart should include their independent and dependent variable The purpose of the observation chart is to allow students to chart the changes throughout their experiment Students will chart the data from the experimental group and the control group The students will use this information to construct their results charts and graphs They will also use this information to in their conclusion

Students will maintain a log to determine if all portions of the design process are complete (ie variables groups constants materials steps and number of trials)

29

ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Construction

The next step in the Engineering Design Process is for your group to create a prototype of your design Your prototype will be constructed out of the materials you purchased and will be based off of your scaled drawings engineering design and procedures created in the previous steps of the EDP

Below are several things that you need to keep in mind as your team builds

Who is responsible for what Work together as a team making sure that every member of the group fulfills his or her role

Is the prototype high quality work Push yourselves for excellence in design Your prototype should be a good representation of the final product

What is the plan Follow the plan your team laid out in the previous steps of the EDP exactly The opportunity to make changes in the next step of the EDP

Does the prototype work Analyze the prototype and talk about what works what doesnrsquot and what could be improved

Is it worth it Conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis Do the costs of creating your design outweigh the benefits Or do the benefits outweigh the costs

30

ldquoTestrdquo ndash Collecting amp Analyzing Data

Students should carefully review all of their experimental data that they have collected Using charts and graphs will help the students to analyze the data and patterns After creating their charts and graphs students should answer the following questions

Did I get the results that I expected What did I find out from my experimental trials How does my data help me explain why I think certain things happened

Calculating and Summarizing Data

Students may need to perform calculation on their raw data to get their results used to generate a conclusion These calculations may come from know formulas that describe the relationship that they were testing such as Force = Mass x Acceleration or Volume = Mass Density While completing these calculations students may need to convert units (centimeters to millimeters etc) All units should be of the same scale Students can create a spreadsheet using programs such as Microsoft Excel to aid them in their calculations The created spreadsheet can then be used on their display boards to show their results Students must label the rows and columns in their spreadsheet They also should include their units of measurement (grams centimeters liter etc)

Students completed two or more trials for each of their experimental trial rounds Students should determine the best method for summarizing their results including each of their trials The summary could be generated from calculating the average for each group of trials or using ratios and percentages Students may also choose to display their data as individual data points

Graphs

Graphs are an excellent way for students to display their results All of the STEM Fair projects should have a minimum of one graph Below is a list of guidelines for students as they are creating their graphs for their science fair project

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axis

The axes of the graph must be label Students should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc) The graph should also have an overall title related to the information contained within the chart or graph

If students have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Students should also include a legend with clear labels

Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments A few of the possibilities are listed below

Bar Graph ndash This graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups It is also a good choice is the studentrsquos independent variable is not numerical

31

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

Design Requirements

Design requirements state the important characteristics that your solution must meet to be successful

For example imagine that your problem statement relates to grocery store bags You want to design a better grocery store bag--one that uses less expensive material than the paper and plastic bags that already exist Your design requirements are the important characteristics that your bag must meet to be successful Based on your problem statement a successful bag would use less expensive material than existing bags and function properly as a grocery bag Examples of some of your design requirements might be that the bag needs to

Have handles so that shoppers can carry multiple bags of groceriesHold up to five pounds of food without breakingCost less than five cents to makeCollapse so that it can be stored in large quantities at grocery stores

Effective design requirements are

Needed to solve your design problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work onFeasible A good design requirement is not just a wish Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenSubject to change as you do more research and design Always ask yourself is this requirement needed and feasible If your answers to those questions change it is OK to change the requirement

Design requirements can fall into many different categories such as size cost ease of use and environmental impact to name just a few Here is a more complete list of Design Requirement Examples

One of the best ways to identify the design requirements for your project is to use the concrete example of a similar existing product Examine it in detail-take pictures and take it apart if you have permission Analyze how and why it works the way it does Every single feature of the existing project represents a potential requirement for your design (Of course your design will have changes and improvements so the requirements will not be identical)

26

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

When you analyze an existing product you build a mental library of techniques mechanisms and clever tricks You acquire building blocks that you can use to construct your own designs As you analyze more products you can gain additional building blocks to use in your design All designers do this

These examples show how to analyze an existing product

How to Analyze a Physical ProductHow to Analyze a Software Product or WebsiteHow to Analyze an Environment (like a space where people do something)How to Analyze an Experience (like an entertainment experience)

How many design requirements should you have For a school project three to five will often be a good number For large complex projects there may be hundreds or even thousands of requirements Here is more information about How Many Design Requirements you should have

First as a group your list of design requirements should provide a complete description of the key features that will make your design successful Ask yourself is anything missing

Second as a group your list of design requirements should be feasible Individually your requirements might be feasible but all together they might not be For example you might have time (or money or resources) to make one of them happen but not all of them Another potential problem might be that it is impossible to meet two or more of your requirements at the same time For example imagine that you are designing a toaster for a bagel shop Two of your design requirements might be that the toaster needs to be large enough to toast ten bagels at a time and it needs to fit on the bagel shops counter What if a toaster large enough to hold ten bagels at a time will not fit on the shops counter In cases like this you must make a trade-off a compromise or change in one or more requirements so that they can be met at the same time In the toaster example you would need to decide which is more important toasting ten bagels at once or fitting the toaster on the counter If the changes to your requirements make it impossible to solve your problem you should look for a different problem to work on

The Design Brief

To complete the requirements step of the design process you should write a design brief A design brief gathers all the key information for solving your problem in one place It should contain

27

A description of your target userA definition of the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]A description of how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problemA list of all the requirements for your design

Experimental Design amp Procedures

Students will plan how they are going to test their experimental question You will need to explain the following information to your students before they begin designing their experiment

Relationship between the experimental trials and the hypothesiso Students should design their experiment so that it will answer their STEM Fair problem

statement The experimental trials will test whether the hypothesis is true or false

Control Groups versus Experimental Groupso Each experiment trial should have two groups an experimental group and a control group The

experimental group will receive the treatment or what the student is testing (ie the independent variable) The control group will not receive the treatment Both groups are exposed to exactly the same testing conditions such as location and time length of trial etc

Dependent versus Independent Variableso The dependent variable is the variable that is measured to determine if a change has occurred

When a student measures they are measuring the result that occurred when the student changed the independent variable The dependent variable is what the experiment is actually measuring

o The independent variable is the variable changed by the experimenter

Constant Variableso A fair experimental trial should be conducted by changing only one variable at a time while

keeping all other variables constant The variables that being maintained throughout the experimental trials are called the constant variables All factors of the control group and the experimental group must be exactly the same except for one variable the independent variable

Safety Concernso Safety is a particular concern during the experimental testing process Teachers will need to

review any safety issues as students are developing and designing their STEM Fair project

Budget for experiment amp Materials List o You will need to explain the costs of experiments Students will need to create purchase orders

that include the items needed complete the experimental trials and modifications portion of

28

their STEM Fair project The students should be mindful of their budget ($15 per group) when selecting a solution for their problem statement and designing their experiment The students should also consider the availability of items in their materials list If the availability or supply is low the cost will be higher for that item

Technical Procedures Document (including number of trials)o Students should also perform several experimental trials to give their experiment validity

meaning that their results were not just an accident Each time the student completes the experiment it is called a trial So instead of doing the experiment once the student must do each round of experimental trial two or three times

Observation Charto It is also important to maintain a data collection and observations log for analysis purposes

The chart should include their independent and dependent variable The purpose of the observation chart is to allow students to chart the changes throughout their experiment Students will chart the data from the experimental group and the control group The students will use this information to construct their results charts and graphs They will also use this information to in their conclusion

Students will maintain a log to determine if all portions of the design process are complete (ie variables groups constants materials steps and number of trials)

29

ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Construction

The next step in the Engineering Design Process is for your group to create a prototype of your design Your prototype will be constructed out of the materials you purchased and will be based off of your scaled drawings engineering design and procedures created in the previous steps of the EDP

Below are several things that you need to keep in mind as your team builds

Who is responsible for what Work together as a team making sure that every member of the group fulfills his or her role

Is the prototype high quality work Push yourselves for excellence in design Your prototype should be a good representation of the final product

What is the plan Follow the plan your team laid out in the previous steps of the EDP exactly The opportunity to make changes in the next step of the EDP

Does the prototype work Analyze the prototype and talk about what works what doesnrsquot and what could be improved

Is it worth it Conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis Do the costs of creating your design outweigh the benefits Or do the benefits outweigh the costs

30

ldquoTestrdquo ndash Collecting amp Analyzing Data

Students should carefully review all of their experimental data that they have collected Using charts and graphs will help the students to analyze the data and patterns After creating their charts and graphs students should answer the following questions

Did I get the results that I expected What did I find out from my experimental trials How does my data help me explain why I think certain things happened

Calculating and Summarizing Data

Students may need to perform calculation on their raw data to get their results used to generate a conclusion These calculations may come from know formulas that describe the relationship that they were testing such as Force = Mass x Acceleration or Volume = Mass Density While completing these calculations students may need to convert units (centimeters to millimeters etc) All units should be of the same scale Students can create a spreadsheet using programs such as Microsoft Excel to aid them in their calculations The created spreadsheet can then be used on their display boards to show their results Students must label the rows and columns in their spreadsheet They also should include their units of measurement (grams centimeters liter etc)

Students completed two or more trials for each of their experimental trial rounds Students should determine the best method for summarizing their results including each of their trials The summary could be generated from calculating the average for each group of trials or using ratios and percentages Students may also choose to display their data as individual data points

Graphs

Graphs are an excellent way for students to display their results All of the STEM Fair projects should have a minimum of one graph Below is a list of guidelines for students as they are creating their graphs for their science fair project

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axis

The axes of the graph must be label Students should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc) The graph should also have an overall title related to the information contained within the chart or graph

If students have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Students should also include a legend with clear labels

Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments A few of the possibilities are listed below

Bar Graph ndash This graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups It is also a good choice is the studentrsquos independent variable is not numerical

31

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design amp Testing Procedures

When you analyze an existing product you build a mental library of techniques mechanisms and clever tricks You acquire building blocks that you can use to construct your own designs As you analyze more products you can gain additional building blocks to use in your design All designers do this

These examples show how to analyze an existing product

How to Analyze a Physical ProductHow to Analyze a Software Product or WebsiteHow to Analyze an Environment (like a space where people do something)How to Analyze an Experience (like an entertainment experience)

How many design requirements should you have For a school project three to five will often be a good number For large complex projects there may be hundreds or even thousands of requirements Here is more information about How Many Design Requirements you should have

First as a group your list of design requirements should provide a complete description of the key features that will make your design successful Ask yourself is anything missing

Second as a group your list of design requirements should be feasible Individually your requirements might be feasible but all together they might not be For example you might have time (or money or resources) to make one of them happen but not all of them Another potential problem might be that it is impossible to meet two or more of your requirements at the same time For example imagine that you are designing a toaster for a bagel shop Two of your design requirements might be that the toaster needs to be large enough to toast ten bagels at a time and it needs to fit on the bagel shops counter What if a toaster large enough to hold ten bagels at a time will not fit on the shops counter In cases like this you must make a trade-off a compromise or change in one or more requirements so that they can be met at the same time In the toaster example you would need to decide which is more important toasting ten bagels at once or fitting the toaster on the counter If the changes to your requirements make it impossible to solve your problem you should look for a different problem to work on

The Design Brief

To complete the requirements step of the design process you should write a design brief A design brief gathers all the key information for solving your problem in one place It should contain

27

A description of your target userA definition of the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]A description of how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problemA list of all the requirements for your design

Experimental Design amp Procedures

Students will plan how they are going to test their experimental question You will need to explain the following information to your students before they begin designing their experiment

Relationship between the experimental trials and the hypothesiso Students should design their experiment so that it will answer their STEM Fair problem

statement The experimental trials will test whether the hypothesis is true or false

Control Groups versus Experimental Groupso Each experiment trial should have two groups an experimental group and a control group The

experimental group will receive the treatment or what the student is testing (ie the independent variable) The control group will not receive the treatment Both groups are exposed to exactly the same testing conditions such as location and time length of trial etc

Dependent versus Independent Variableso The dependent variable is the variable that is measured to determine if a change has occurred

When a student measures they are measuring the result that occurred when the student changed the independent variable The dependent variable is what the experiment is actually measuring

o The independent variable is the variable changed by the experimenter

Constant Variableso A fair experimental trial should be conducted by changing only one variable at a time while

keeping all other variables constant The variables that being maintained throughout the experimental trials are called the constant variables All factors of the control group and the experimental group must be exactly the same except for one variable the independent variable

Safety Concernso Safety is a particular concern during the experimental testing process Teachers will need to

review any safety issues as students are developing and designing their STEM Fair project

Budget for experiment amp Materials List o You will need to explain the costs of experiments Students will need to create purchase orders

that include the items needed complete the experimental trials and modifications portion of

28

their STEM Fair project The students should be mindful of their budget ($15 per group) when selecting a solution for their problem statement and designing their experiment The students should also consider the availability of items in their materials list If the availability or supply is low the cost will be higher for that item

Technical Procedures Document (including number of trials)o Students should also perform several experimental trials to give their experiment validity

meaning that their results were not just an accident Each time the student completes the experiment it is called a trial So instead of doing the experiment once the student must do each round of experimental trial two or three times

Observation Charto It is also important to maintain a data collection and observations log for analysis purposes

The chart should include their independent and dependent variable The purpose of the observation chart is to allow students to chart the changes throughout their experiment Students will chart the data from the experimental group and the control group The students will use this information to construct their results charts and graphs They will also use this information to in their conclusion

Students will maintain a log to determine if all portions of the design process are complete (ie variables groups constants materials steps and number of trials)

29

ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Construction

The next step in the Engineering Design Process is for your group to create a prototype of your design Your prototype will be constructed out of the materials you purchased and will be based off of your scaled drawings engineering design and procedures created in the previous steps of the EDP

Below are several things that you need to keep in mind as your team builds

Who is responsible for what Work together as a team making sure that every member of the group fulfills his or her role

Is the prototype high quality work Push yourselves for excellence in design Your prototype should be a good representation of the final product

What is the plan Follow the plan your team laid out in the previous steps of the EDP exactly The opportunity to make changes in the next step of the EDP

Does the prototype work Analyze the prototype and talk about what works what doesnrsquot and what could be improved

Is it worth it Conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis Do the costs of creating your design outweigh the benefits Or do the benefits outweigh the costs

30

ldquoTestrdquo ndash Collecting amp Analyzing Data

Students should carefully review all of their experimental data that they have collected Using charts and graphs will help the students to analyze the data and patterns After creating their charts and graphs students should answer the following questions

Did I get the results that I expected What did I find out from my experimental trials How does my data help me explain why I think certain things happened

Calculating and Summarizing Data

Students may need to perform calculation on their raw data to get their results used to generate a conclusion These calculations may come from know formulas that describe the relationship that they were testing such as Force = Mass x Acceleration or Volume = Mass Density While completing these calculations students may need to convert units (centimeters to millimeters etc) All units should be of the same scale Students can create a spreadsheet using programs such as Microsoft Excel to aid them in their calculations The created spreadsheet can then be used on their display boards to show their results Students must label the rows and columns in their spreadsheet They also should include their units of measurement (grams centimeters liter etc)

Students completed two or more trials for each of their experimental trial rounds Students should determine the best method for summarizing their results including each of their trials The summary could be generated from calculating the average for each group of trials or using ratios and percentages Students may also choose to display their data as individual data points

Graphs

Graphs are an excellent way for students to display their results All of the STEM Fair projects should have a minimum of one graph Below is a list of guidelines for students as they are creating their graphs for their science fair project

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axis

The axes of the graph must be label Students should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc) The graph should also have an overall title related to the information contained within the chart or graph

If students have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Students should also include a legend with clear labels

Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments A few of the possibilities are listed below

Bar Graph ndash This graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups It is also a good choice is the studentrsquos independent variable is not numerical

31

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

A description of your target userA definition of the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]A description of how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problemA list of all the requirements for your design

Experimental Design amp Procedures

Students will plan how they are going to test their experimental question You will need to explain the following information to your students before they begin designing their experiment

Relationship between the experimental trials and the hypothesiso Students should design their experiment so that it will answer their STEM Fair problem

statement The experimental trials will test whether the hypothesis is true or false

Control Groups versus Experimental Groupso Each experiment trial should have two groups an experimental group and a control group The

experimental group will receive the treatment or what the student is testing (ie the independent variable) The control group will not receive the treatment Both groups are exposed to exactly the same testing conditions such as location and time length of trial etc

Dependent versus Independent Variableso The dependent variable is the variable that is measured to determine if a change has occurred

When a student measures they are measuring the result that occurred when the student changed the independent variable The dependent variable is what the experiment is actually measuring

o The independent variable is the variable changed by the experimenter

Constant Variableso A fair experimental trial should be conducted by changing only one variable at a time while

keeping all other variables constant The variables that being maintained throughout the experimental trials are called the constant variables All factors of the control group and the experimental group must be exactly the same except for one variable the independent variable

Safety Concernso Safety is a particular concern during the experimental testing process Teachers will need to

review any safety issues as students are developing and designing their STEM Fair project

Budget for experiment amp Materials List o You will need to explain the costs of experiments Students will need to create purchase orders

that include the items needed complete the experimental trials and modifications portion of

28

their STEM Fair project The students should be mindful of their budget ($15 per group) when selecting a solution for their problem statement and designing their experiment The students should also consider the availability of items in their materials list If the availability or supply is low the cost will be higher for that item

Technical Procedures Document (including number of trials)o Students should also perform several experimental trials to give their experiment validity

meaning that their results were not just an accident Each time the student completes the experiment it is called a trial So instead of doing the experiment once the student must do each round of experimental trial two or three times

Observation Charto It is also important to maintain a data collection and observations log for analysis purposes

The chart should include their independent and dependent variable The purpose of the observation chart is to allow students to chart the changes throughout their experiment Students will chart the data from the experimental group and the control group The students will use this information to construct their results charts and graphs They will also use this information to in their conclusion

Students will maintain a log to determine if all portions of the design process are complete (ie variables groups constants materials steps and number of trials)

29

ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Construction

The next step in the Engineering Design Process is for your group to create a prototype of your design Your prototype will be constructed out of the materials you purchased and will be based off of your scaled drawings engineering design and procedures created in the previous steps of the EDP

Below are several things that you need to keep in mind as your team builds

Who is responsible for what Work together as a team making sure that every member of the group fulfills his or her role

Is the prototype high quality work Push yourselves for excellence in design Your prototype should be a good representation of the final product

What is the plan Follow the plan your team laid out in the previous steps of the EDP exactly The opportunity to make changes in the next step of the EDP

Does the prototype work Analyze the prototype and talk about what works what doesnrsquot and what could be improved

Is it worth it Conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis Do the costs of creating your design outweigh the benefits Or do the benefits outweigh the costs

30

ldquoTestrdquo ndash Collecting amp Analyzing Data

Students should carefully review all of their experimental data that they have collected Using charts and graphs will help the students to analyze the data and patterns After creating their charts and graphs students should answer the following questions

Did I get the results that I expected What did I find out from my experimental trials How does my data help me explain why I think certain things happened

Calculating and Summarizing Data

Students may need to perform calculation on their raw data to get their results used to generate a conclusion These calculations may come from know formulas that describe the relationship that they were testing such as Force = Mass x Acceleration or Volume = Mass Density While completing these calculations students may need to convert units (centimeters to millimeters etc) All units should be of the same scale Students can create a spreadsheet using programs such as Microsoft Excel to aid them in their calculations The created spreadsheet can then be used on their display boards to show their results Students must label the rows and columns in their spreadsheet They also should include their units of measurement (grams centimeters liter etc)

Students completed two or more trials for each of their experimental trial rounds Students should determine the best method for summarizing their results including each of their trials The summary could be generated from calculating the average for each group of trials or using ratios and percentages Students may also choose to display their data as individual data points

Graphs

Graphs are an excellent way for students to display their results All of the STEM Fair projects should have a minimum of one graph Below is a list of guidelines for students as they are creating their graphs for their science fair project

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axis

The axes of the graph must be label Students should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc) The graph should also have an overall title related to the information contained within the chart or graph

If students have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Students should also include a legend with clear labels

Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments A few of the possibilities are listed below

Bar Graph ndash This graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups It is also a good choice is the studentrsquos independent variable is not numerical

31

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

their STEM Fair project The students should be mindful of their budget ($15 per group) when selecting a solution for their problem statement and designing their experiment The students should also consider the availability of items in their materials list If the availability or supply is low the cost will be higher for that item

Technical Procedures Document (including number of trials)o Students should also perform several experimental trials to give their experiment validity

meaning that their results were not just an accident Each time the student completes the experiment it is called a trial So instead of doing the experiment once the student must do each round of experimental trial two or three times

Observation Charto It is also important to maintain a data collection and observations log for analysis purposes

The chart should include their independent and dependent variable The purpose of the observation chart is to allow students to chart the changes throughout their experiment Students will chart the data from the experimental group and the control group The students will use this information to construct their results charts and graphs They will also use this information to in their conclusion

Students will maintain a log to determine if all portions of the design process are complete (ie variables groups constants materials steps and number of trials)

29

ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Construction

The next step in the Engineering Design Process is for your group to create a prototype of your design Your prototype will be constructed out of the materials you purchased and will be based off of your scaled drawings engineering design and procedures created in the previous steps of the EDP

Below are several things that you need to keep in mind as your team builds

Who is responsible for what Work together as a team making sure that every member of the group fulfills his or her role

Is the prototype high quality work Push yourselves for excellence in design Your prototype should be a good representation of the final product

What is the plan Follow the plan your team laid out in the previous steps of the EDP exactly The opportunity to make changes in the next step of the EDP

Does the prototype work Analyze the prototype and talk about what works what doesnrsquot and what could be improved

Is it worth it Conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis Do the costs of creating your design outweigh the benefits Or do the benefits outweigh the costs

30

ldquoTestrdquo ndash Collecting amp Analyzing Data

Students should carefully review all of their experimental data that they have collected Using charts and graphs will help the students to analyze the data and patterns After creating their charts and graphs students should answer the following questions

Did I get the results that I expected What did I find out from my experimental trials How does my data help me explain why I think certain things happened

Calculating and Summarizing Data

Students may need to perform calculation on their raw data to get their results used to generate a conclusion These calculations may come from know formulas that describe the relationship that they were testing such as Force = Mass x Acceleration or Volume = Mass Density While completing these calculations students may need to convert units (centimeters to millimeters etc) All units should be of the same scale Students can create a spreadsheet using programs such as Microsoft Excel to aid them in their calculations The created spreadsheet can then be used on their display boards to show their results Students must label the rows and columns in their spreadsheet They also should include their units of measurement (grams centimeters liter etc)

Students completed two or more trials for each of their experimental trial rounds Students should determine the best method for summarizing their results including each of their trials The summary could be generated from calculating the average for each group of trials or using ratios and percentages Students may also choose to display their data as individual data points

Graphs

Graphs are an excellent way for students to display their results All of the STEM Fair projects should have a minimum of one graph Below is a list of guidelines for students as they are creating their graphs for their science fair project

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axis

The axes of the graph must be label Students should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc) The graph should also have an overall title related to the information contained within the chart or graph

If students have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Students should also include a legend with clear labels

Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments A few of the possibilities are listed below

Bar Graph ndash This graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups It is also a good choice is the studentrsquos independent variable is not numerical

31

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

ldquoCreaterdquo ndash Prototype Construction

The next step in the Engineering Design Process is for your group to create a prototype of your design Your prototype will be constructed out of the materials you purchased and will be based off of your scaled drawings engineering design and procedures created in the previous steps of the EDP

Below are several things that you need to keep in mind as your team builds

Who is responsible for what Work together as a team making sure that every member of the group fulfills his or her role

Is the prototype high quality work Push yourselves for excellence in design Your prototype should be a good representation of the final product

What is the plan Follow the plan your team laid out in the previous steps of the EDP exactly The opportunity to make changes in the next step of the EDP

Does the prototype work Analyze the prototype and talk about what works what doesnrsquot and what could be improved

Is it worth it Conduct a simple cost-benefit analysis Do the costs of creating your design outweigh the benefits Or do the benefits outweigh the costs

30

ldquoTestrdquo ndash Collecting amp Analyzing Data

Students should carefully review all of their experimental data that they have collected Using charts and graphs will help the students to analyze the data and patterns After creating their charts and graphs students should answer the following questions

Did I get the results that I expected What did I find out from my experimental trials How does my data help me explain why I think certain things happened

Calculating and Summarizing Data

Students may need to perform calculation on their raw data to get their results used to generate a conclusion These calculations may come from know formulas that describe the relationship that they were testing such as Force = Mass x Acceleration or Volume = Mass Density While completing these calculations students may need to convert units (centimeters to millimeters etc) All units should be of the same scale Students can create a spreadsheet using programs such as Microsoft Excel to aid them in their calculations The created spreadsheet can then be used on their display boards to show their results Students must label the rows and columns in their spreadsheet They also should include their units of measurement (grams centimeters liter etc)

Students completed two or more trials for each of their experimental trial rounds Students should determine the best method for summarizing their results including each of their trials The summary could be generated from calculating the average for each group of trials or using ratios and percentages Students may also choose to display their data as individual data points

Graphs

Graphs are an excellent way for students to display their results All of the STEM Fair projects should have a minimum of one graph Below is a list of guidelines for students as they are creating their graphs for their science fair project

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axis

The axes of the graph must be label Students should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc) The graph should also have an overall title related to the information contained within the chart or graph

If students have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Students should also include a legend with clear labels

Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments A few of the possibilities are listed below

Bar Graph ndash This graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups It is also a good choice is the studentrsquos independent variable is not numerical

31

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

ldquoTestrdquo ndash Collecting amp Analyzing Data

Students should carefully review all of their experimental data that they have collected Using charts and graphs will help the students to analyze the data and patterns After creating their charts and graphs students should answer the following questions

Did I get the results that I expected What did I find out from my experimental trials How does my data help me explain why I think certain things happened

Calculating and Summarizing Data

Students may need to perform calculation on their raw data to get their results used to generate a conclusion These calculations may come from know formulas that describe the relationship that they were testing such as Force = Mass x Acceleration or Volume = Mass Density While completing these calculations students may need to convert units (centimeters to millimeters etc) All units should be of the same scale Students can create a spreadsheet using programs such as Microsoft Excel to aid them in their calculations The created spreadsheet can then be used on their display boards to show their results Students must label the rows and columns in their spreadsheet They also should include their units of measurement (grams centimeters liter etc)

Students completed two or more trials for each of their experimental trial rounds Students should determine the best method for summarizing their results including each of their trials The summary could be generated from calculating the average for each group of trials or using ratios and percentages Students may also choose to display their data as individual data points

Graphs

Graphs are an excellent way for students to display their results All of the STEM Fair projects should have a minimum of one graph Below is a list of guidelines for students as they are creating their graphs for their science fair project

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axis

The axes of the graph must be label Students should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc) The graph should also have an overall title related to the information contained within the chart or graph

If students have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Students should also include a legend with clear labels

Different types of graphs are appropriate for different experiments A few of the possibilities are listed below

Bar Graph ndash This graph is appropriate for comparing different trials or different experimental groups It is also a good choice is the studentrsquos independent variable is not numerical

31

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

Time-series ndash This graph can be used if the independent variable is numerical and the dependent variable is time

XY-Line Graph ndash This graph shows the relationship between the dependent and the independent variable when both are numerical and the dependent variable is a function of the independent variable

Scatter Plot ndash This graph may be used to show how two variables may be related to one another

ldquoModifyrdquo ndash Redesign amp Retest

The design process involves multiple loops and circles around your final solution You will likely test your solutionmdashfind problems and make changesmdashtest your new solutionmdashfind new problems and make changesmdashand so on before settling on a final design

At this point you have created prototypes of your alternative solutions tested those prototypes and chosen your final design So youre probably thinking that your project is finished But in fact you have yet to complete the final and most important phase of the engineering design processmdashtest and redesign

Test and redesign requires you to go out and test your final design with your users Based on their feedback and their interaction with your solution you will redesign your solution to make it better Repeat this process

of testing determining issues fixing the issues and then retesting multiple times until your solution is as successful as possible Keep in mind that minor changes this late in the design process could make or break

your solution so be sure to be thorough in your testingRedesign

After you have tested your design you will use your findings to complete a redesign of your solution Use the findings from testing to

bull Fix any problems that occurred andbull Further polish aspects of the design that were even more successful than you originally thought

To make these changes look at the answers to the three major questions you asked during testing

bull Is your user able to overcome the problem by using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on why the user was successful What specific aspects of your design helped the user to achieve success Should those aspects become larger parts of your design Should you make these features more prominent or more obvious to the user Consider emphasizing these aspects of your design Then in the next round of testing see if the user is able to achieve success even more quickly and easilyIf the answer is no focus on the problems that users encountered during testing What prevented them from achieving success What changes to your design would eliminate these issues Make these changes

bull Does the user ever need to ask you any questions when using or interacting with your solution If the answer is yes focus on the questions that the users asked you Why did they need to ask you a question Were they confused What part of the solution wasnt self-explanatory You normally wouldnt be there to answer questions so how can you make sure that the next users wont need to ask the same questions Make changes that will eliminate these questions

bull Does the user interact with your solution exactly the way that you intended for them to If the answer is no focus on what the users did that you hadnt intended to happen Did their unexpected actions make your design more successful or less successful If less successful what changes could you make to your design to prevent these unexpected actions What issues are causing the users to interact differently than intended and how can you fix those issues Make these changes

bull If you have measureable targets for your solution did you meet them If your design requirements call for your solution to be better faster or cheaper you should measure the improvement that you made If you met your targets great If not how can you redesign your solution to improve its performance

32

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

Once you have made changes to your design go back and test again with your users See if the improvements and changes you made negatively or positively affected your solution Ask yourself the same three questions again and then repeat the redesign again Repeat this test and redesign process as many times as necessary to make your final solution

as successful as possible It may seem like you are doing the same thing over and over again but with each test and redesign you are greatly improving your project

Developing a Conclusion

A studentrsquos conclusions will summarize if their STEM Fair project results support or contradict their original hypothesis If the experimental results support their original hypothesis the students will ldquoacceptrdquo their hypothesis If the experimental results contradict their original hypothesis the students will ldquorejectrdquo their hypothesis In the conclusion students will state key facts from their background research to help explain their results The students will also state trends from their data and how they used their research data to accept or reject their hypothesis

If the studentsrsquo results did not support their original hypothesis it is important for you to explain that that is okay and there is something to be learned from their experiment It is important to explain to students that they cannot change or manipulate their results to fit their original hypothesis The students should explain why things did not go as they had originally expected Often professional scientist and engineering find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These scientists and engineers then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis

All students those who accepted their original hypothesis and those who rejected their original hypothesis the group should begin thinking about additional experimentation and prototype modifications that should happen next What did their results make them think about their product prototype or how their experimental solution may be related to another topic or subject What are some changes that the students will make during their next experimental trial or prototype design and construction

It is important to explain to all students the engineering design process is an ongoing process When students discover that their hypothesis is not true they have already made advances in their learning that will lead them to ask more questions that will lead to new experiments and new engineering designs The STEM Fair judges do not expect everyonersquos original hypothesis to be supported They do not car whether you prove or disprove your hypothesis The STEM Fair judgesrsquo focus will be on how much the student has learned

33

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

Display Size and Setup

Create a display board so your findings can be shown at the science fair It is a summary of your project and reflects your journal This is your showcase Make it creative and colorful Below are ideas for a good display board

Physically sound and durably constructed able to stand by itselfTitle of your project at the topShow all the steps of the Engineering Design process (except the research) with a brief explanation

of each the need design criteria preliminary and final designs building testing results and the analysis redesigning and retesting results and the analysis as needed and the conclusion The research will be in the journal

Well-organized and easy to follow from one idea to the nextNeat edited and without scribbles and misspelled wordsCreative pleasing to look at colorful with different font sizes to show emphasisPhotos of the developing experiment (Only the students doing the experiment and family

members can be displayed on the board Others need parent permission if under 18 years of age)Drawn pictures artwork and icons that bring out the ideas of the experimentThe journal should be in front of the display

Display Size and Setup

Students will need to prepare a display board to communicate their work to others at the STEM Fair Students will use a standard three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36rdquo tall by 48rdquo wide

34

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

Students should organize the information on their display board like the cyclical process that represents the Engineering Design Process The audience should be able to quickly follow the flow and progression of the studentsrsquo engineering design and experimental trials by reading the cycle from right to left top to bottom Student must include each step of their STEM Fair project Ask Imagine Plan Create and Improve The setup of all the STEM Fair board should be as displayed above

Students should use text that is at least 12 point on their display board It is acceptable to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on pictures and tables

The title should be large and easily read from across the room Students should choose a title that accurately describes their work but also grabs the audiencersquos attention

Students should use pictures on their display boards A picture can speak a thousand words and really grab the audiencersquos attention Students may use photos or drawn diagrams to present non-numerical data to propose models to explain their results or to show their experimental setup Students should not put text on top of photographs or images because it can be very difficult to read Students should use captions under the photo or diagram if needed These captions must include the source for each picture or image

For the Innovation Academy STEM Fair ldquoStudent Science Fair Registration Formrdquo must be completed and attached to back of their display board

Materials and Construction Techniques

The standard presentation boards are self-standing The display board should be white and will be provided for each team

Students should print their information on white paper that will be attached to their display board Students should be reminded to proofread each sheet before attaching it to their board

Glue sticks (use plenty) work well for attaching sheets of paper to the display board Students may also use double-sided tape for items like photographs that may not stick to glue

Students may also choose to use cover stock or card stock instead of regular paper These heavier papers will wrinkle less when they are attached to the display board Matte paper is preferred over glossy because it shows less glare which can make the display board difficult to read

Students should be encouraged to use color construction paper to add accents to their display boards A common technique is to put sheet of construction paper behind the white paper containing their text

35

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

Digital Presentation

One component of your STEM Fair display is the digital presentation The medium that your group will be using to create the digital presentation is a tool called Livebinders Just like a physical three-ring binder Livebinders allows us to group classify and share information but in an online digital format

Take a few minutes (no more than five) to explore a sample Livebinder Pay special attention to the tabs and subtabs The following link will take you to the ldquoNASA MMS Challengerdquo binder httpwwwlivebinderscomplayplayid=330317

Steps to Creating a Livebinder

Your team leader will appoint one person as being in charge of creating a Livebinder account and coordinating with group members regarding the content and layout of the binder

The group member responsible for the digital presentation component will navigate to httpwwwlivebinderscom and click ldquoSign Uprdquo in the upper right-hand corner

Complete the registration information You must use your Gaggle email account for registration Submit your information and you are now ready to create your STEM Fair Livebinder

Adding Content to Your Livebinder Your Livebinder will be comprehensive including all aspects of your grouprsquos STEM Fair project Therefor the following tabs must be included in your Livebinder

o Project Problemo Project Researcho Hypothesis o Documentationo Plans

Note This Livebinder is a sample created for another activity not the STEM Fair

Content

Subtabs

Tabs

36

o Createo Test o Modify o Conclusion

Within each tab (above) you will need to include subtabs with all documents pictures resources etc used throughout the Engineering Design Process

Oral Presentation

Explaining Your ProjectThe judgersquos interview gives you the opportunity to explain your project The judge wants to know how much you know about your project The following questions are examples of questions that the judges might ask you

How did you arrive at your idea for the projectHow did you finalize your research problemWhat are the specific characteristics of your target userHow did you use research to build on the work of othersWhat information about your project did you gain through networking (How did others help you or give you ideas)How did your research assist you in this projectWhat planning did you conduct for risk reductionWhy did you settle on the materials that you chose for your prototypeHow did you test your prototypeExplain your resultsExplain your conclusionHow much time did you spend on your projectHow do your results relate to your background knowledgeHow do your results help you in understanding the world betterWhat are the practical applications of your projectWhat are the scientific principles at work in your designWhat problems did you encounterHow could you have improved your projectIf you completed your project again what would you changeWhat questions do you have now

Explaining Your Background Knowledge and Related Topics

The judge also wants to know your background knowledge about the subject you chose Some of the judgesrsquo questions may not be about your project Heshe may ask questions related to your topic For example if you built a tsunami model to test the destruction a tsunami could cause it would be well to know about tsunamis and the damage they can do how they can do so much destruction and places tsunamis have happened Even though this information is not entirely what your project is about it shows you have done research about tsunamis

Show your excitement about your project when you speak Donrsquot talk too fast Elaborate on your answers Help the judge understand your project by speaking clearly in an organized manner so itrsquos not confusing You need to demonstrate evidence of learning

37

Judges do not want you to redo your experiment for them Their interest lies in your knowledge of the Engineering Design process the display board the results and the knowledge you acquired

Communication Tips for the Interview

1 Practice greeting the judges with a firm handshake and smile2 Introduce yourself and invite the judges to hear about your project3 Show your excitement for your project when you speak4 Keep your shoulders open to the judges If judges visit you in a group avoid turning

your back to one judge when speaking to another judge5 Practice speaking at a slow confident rate Speaking too quickly can be seen as sign of

weakness6 Use gestures and body language to draw your judgersquos attention to the display board or

prototype as you are explaining7 Maintain eye contact8 Smile9 Elaborate on your answers by adding details and evidence10 Use transition words11 Incorporate vivid verbs into your responses12 Turn negatives into positives For example if a judge asks about what problems you

encountered with your prototype be sure to mention your fantastic solution as well13Be sure to think of intelligent questions you would like to ask the judges

14 Request ideas for improvement We can all be better Asking for feedback shows that your project is meaningful to you and that you are eager to learn

15Be sure be sure be sure to thank the judges for their time Our judges are volunteering to help us grow to be better designers and thinkers Our STEM Fair could not exist without their support

16Shake the judgersquos hand a final time at the close of the interview

38

Oral PresentationThe judgersquos interview gives you the opportunity to explain your project The judge wants to know how much you know about your project

How you received the ideaHow you personalized it to make it uniqueHow you prepared itHow you set it upWhat information you discoveredWhat the information meansWhat your conclusion is

The judge also wants to know your background knowledge about the subject you chose Some

Factors judges use to make their decision

What the judges are trying to determine Examples of questions a judge might ask during an interview

Creativity Originality Is this work novel or innovativeWhy did you choose this topic and how did you settle on your approach to the problem

Scientific ThoughtDid the student understand the scientific method and apply it appropriately

Can you walk me through how and why you decided on this experimental design

Background Information Thoroughness

Does the student understand what was done previously in the field

How does you approach to the question differ from peoplersquos previous approaches

Skill IndependenceWho designed and carried out the bulk of the work

What was the most surprising experimental challenge you faced during the science project How did you overcome it

ThoroughnessIs the completed work sufficient to move the field forward

What were you goals with this science project and how would you evaluate where you are in respect to those goals

Clarity Can the student clearly and easily discuss all aspects of his or her project During an interview judges might want to make sure that a student can think and speak well when thrown a curve

If your tests had shown XYZ instead what would you have done Why

Teamwork (only applicable for team projects)

Was each member of the team fully involved Does each member regardless of his or her specific experimental role understand all aspects of the science project

The great thing about working together is the synergy between people What would you say was the most important skill or idea each of you had during the course of the science project

39

of the judgesrsquo questions may not be about your project Heshe may ask questions related to your topic For example if you built a tsunami model to test the destruction a tsunami could cause it would be well to know about tsunamis and the damage they can do how they can do so much destruction and places tsunamis have happened Even though this information is not entirely what your project is about it shows you have done research about tsunamis

Some questions that might be askedExplain where you got your idea for the projectWhat did you do to personalize it and make it uniqueExplain the project method you usedWhy did you choose this subjectExplain your resultsExplain your conclusionHow does the result relate to your background knowledgeHow does the result help you in understanding the world betterHow does your project have practical applicationsSpecific background knowledge about your subjectWhat problems did you run intoHow could you have improved your projectIf you did it again what would you changeWhat questions do you have nowTell some ideas you learned from your researchHow did the research help you with your projectHow much time did you spend on your projectHow did others help you or give you ideasHow did you test your prototype

Be excited about your project when you speak Donrsquot talk too fast Elaborate on your answers Help the judge understand your project by speaking clearly in an organized manner so itrsquos not confusing You need to show evidences of learning

Judges do not want you to redo your experiment for them Their interest lies in your knowledge of the Engineering Design process the display board the results and the knowledge you acquired

School Level STEM Fair Information

40

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDGING SHEET

School Level STEM Fair Information

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDG I N G S HEE T

Name(s) ____________________ School

Project Title __________________________________________________________________________

I JOURNAL LOG (Engineering Design) COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

Title PageTable of Contents Title name school date and the table of contents

Need A need for the project is defined

Research Three different sources cited with well-written notes

Design Requirements Clear statement of the requirements for prototype development

Preliminary and Final Designso Beginning and final designs drawn and labeled showing

changes to meet the design requirements

o Materialsrsquo list and step-by-step instructions clearly written

Building and Testing the Prototypeo Prototype built according to the design requirementso Sufficient data gathered during the first testing Data is

analyzed if redesigning is necessaryRedesigning and Retesting Redesigning and retesting done showing gathered data and analysis

Conclusion Reveals evidence of learning

II DISPLAY COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Neat edited and physically sound

o Engineering method displayed easy to follow and self explanatory

o Journal and display showed a close relationship

o Creative Board Design

III INTERVIEW COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Student shows a basic knowledge of field studied and able to elaborate

o Student is able to explain how the engineering method was used

o Student shows interest enthusiasm and a passion toward the project and could tell how it was personalized

41

May 10th 2013

Dear Parents

It is STEM fair time Students at Innovation Academy will have the opportunity to create a STEM fair project

The project will be a small group project with a focus on the Engineering Design Process (EDP) The students will begin

by identifying the ldquoproblem(s)rdquo associated with their grouprsquos assigned product The students will work in groups to

research their assigned topic brainstorm create a prototype plan test evaluate and modify their product to better

meet the human needs Student groups will also create a STEM fair board a digital display and participate in a

presentation during the STEM fair on May 17th

The students will work on the STEM fair project throughout the next week during Project Days at Innovation

Academy The classes will begin work on their science fair projects the week of May 13th The project will be finished

by the end of the week The students will work on their STEM fair project in their assigned small groups on Project

Days during the week During the Project Days the grade level teachers will provide instructional support and

examples of how to successfully complete the STEM fair project The engineering design portion creation of the

IV PROJECT FOLLOW THROUGH COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Creative procedural approach with ingenious use of materials and equipment to solve the problem

o Project shows in-depth thought and work to solve the problem

o Results show a well thought out reasonable conclusion showing a useful connection to the world

SCORE Excellent 5 Good3-4

Fair 1-2

Sub scores Total Score 100

42

prototype testing evaluating and modifying of the prototype and creation of the STEM fair board will be complete

during class in small groups on Project Days Their group leader may assign students tasks These tasks will need to be

completed outside of class time during the week of May 13th These tasks may include but are not limited to

research sketching and creation of the STEM fair digital presentation

The students will then participate in the STEM fair to on Friday May 17th The students who place in the top

three of each grade levelrsquos STEM Fair will be recognized at the Innovation Academy Awards Day All students are

expected to complete the STEM fair in their assigned small group (according to the rubric) The STEM fair project will

be part of the studentsrsquo final grade in all classes

The STEM fair is a wonderful opportunity for your student to engage in exploration investigation and hands-

on engineering experience The STEM fair project is also an opportunity for students to work successful in a small

group setting This experience will continue to simulate the real-world career situations that have been incorporated

into the projects at Innovation Academy Students will greatly benefit from encouragement and support from their

parents to successfully complete the project We look forward to working with your students to complete their STEM

fair projects If you have any questions about the science fair project and process please email any of the seventh

grade teachers or call Innovation Academy to speak with us

Studentrsquos Name _______________ Parentrsquos Signature ____________ Date _____

This signed form is to be returned to your Homeroom Teacher on Monday May 13 th 2013

Innovation AcademyrsquosSTEM FAIR

STUDENT HANDBOOK2013

iST MLearn Different

43

Timeline for 7 th Gradersquos STEM Fair

STEM FAIR

Phase 1 ndash Identifying the Problem Monday May 13th

Phase 2 ndash Research and Brainstorming Monday May 13th

Phase 3 ndash How to Document (Engineering Journal) Monday May 13th

Phase 4 ndash Planning Designing and Creating Tuesday May 14th

Phase 5 ndash Data Collection and Analysis Tuesday May 14th

Phase 6 ndash Modifications and Re-Testing Wednesday May 15th

Phase 7 ndash Creating and Exhibiting a Display Thursday May 16th

Science Fair ndash School Wide Friday May 17th

Project Selection Log

Studentrsquos first and last name (printed) ____________________________________________ Grade ________ Room ________ Teacherrsquos name ________________________________________

1048720 Team Leaderrsquos signature _____________________________________ Date ______________

Each studentrsquos STEM Fair project must be innovative

You will complete the Engineering Design Process to solve your productrsquos unsolved or poorly solved problem Using the Engineering Design Process will take you through the correct process of determining the problem doing research brainstorming making a hypothesis (your best guess at how it will turn out) planning designing and creating your prototype conducting your testing trials analyzing your results and modifying your prototype to make the best product

THE ORIGINAL UNSOLVED OR POORLY SOLVED PROBLEM OUR PROJECT WILL SOLVE IS

__________________________________________________________________________________

iST MLearn Different

44

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please list the other four ideas that you have brainstormed before selecting this topic

1 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Engineering Project ndash Problem Statement Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if your project is on the right track

What Makes a Good Engineering Project

For a Good Engineering Project You

Should Answer Yes to Every

Question

Your teacher may put some restrictions on projects Have you met your teachers requirements Yes No

Is the topic interesting enough to read about and work on for the next couple months Yes No

Can you find at least three sources of written information on the subject Yes No

45

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

Judges do not want you to redo your experiment for them Their interest lies in your knowledge of the Engineering Design process the display board the results and the knowledge you acquired

Communication Tips for the Interview

1 Practice greeting the judges with a firm handshake and smile2 Introduce yourself and invite the judges to hear about your project3 Show your excitement for your project when you speak4 Keep your shoulders open to the judges If judges visit you in a group avoid turning

your back to one judge when speaking to another judge5 Practice speaking at a slow confident rate Speaking too quickly can be seen as sign of

weakness6 Use gestures and body language to draw your judgersquos attention to the display board or

prototype as you are explaining7 Maintain eye contact8 Smile9 Elaborate on your answers by adding details and evidence10 Use transition words11 Incorporate vivid verbs into your responses12 Turn negatives into positives For example if a judge asks about what problems you

encountered with your prototype be sure to mention your fantastic solution as well13Be sure to think of intelligent questions you would like to ask the judges

14 Request ideas for improvement We can all be better Asking for feedback shows that your project is meaningful to you and that you are eager to learn

15Be sure be sure be sure to thank the judges for their time Our judges are volunteering to help us grow to be better designers and thinkers Our STEM Fair could not exist without their support

16Shake the judgersquos hand a final time at the close of the interview

38

Oral PresentationThe judgersquos interview gives you the opportunity to explain your project The judge wants to know how much you know about your project

How you received the ideaHow you personalized it to make it uniqueHow you prepared itHow you set it upWhat information you discoveredWhat the information meansWhat your conclusion is

The judge also wants to know your background knowledge about the subject you chose Some

Factors judges use to make their decision

What the judges are trying to determine Examples of questions a judge might ask during an interview

Creativity Originality Is this work novel or innovativeWhy did you choose this topic and how did you settle on your approach to the problem

Scientific ThoughtDid the student understand the scientific method and apply it appropriately

Can you walk me through how and why you decided on this experimental design

Background Information Thoroughness

Does the student understand what was done previously in the field

How does you approach to the question differ from peoplersquos previous approaches

Skill IndependenceWho designed and carried out the bulk of the work

What was the most surprising experimental challenge you faced during the science project How did you overcome it

ThoroughnessIs the completed work sufficient to move the field forward

What were you goals with this science project and how would you evaluate where you are in respect to those goals

Clarity Can the student clearly and easily discuss all aspects of his or her project During an interview judges might want to make sure that a student can think and speak well when thrown a curve

If your tests had shown XYZ instead what would you have done Why

Teamwork (only applicable for team projects)

Was each member of the team fully involved Does each member regardless of his or her specific experimental role understand all aspects of the science project

The great thing about working together is the synergy between people What would you say was the most important skill or idea each of you had during the course of the science project

39

of the judgesrsquo questions may not be about your project Heshe may ask questions related to your topic For example if you built a tsunami model to test the destruction a tsunami could cause it would be well to know about tsunamis and the damage they can do how they can do so much destruction and places tsunamis have happened Even though this information is not entirely what your project is about it shows you have done research about tsunamis

Some questions that might be askedExplain where you got your idea for the projectWhat did you do to personalize it and make it uniqueExplain the project method you usedWhy did you choose this subjectExplain your resultsExplain your conclusionHow does the result relate to your background knowledgeHow does the result help you in understanding the world betterHow does your project have practical applicationsSpecific background knowledge about your subjectWhat problems did you run intoHow could you have improved your projectIf you did it again what would you changeWhat questions do you have nowTell some ideas you learned from your researchHow did the research help you with your projectHow much time did you spend on your projectHow did others help you or give you ideasHow did you test your prototype

Be excited about your project when you speak Donrsquot talk too fast Elaborate on your answers Help the judge understand your project by speaking clearly in an organized manner so itrsquos not confusing You need to show evidences of learning

Judges do not want you to redo your experiment for them Their interest lies in your knowledge of the Engineering Design process the display board the results and the knowledge you acquired

School Level STEM Fair Information

40

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDGING SHEET

School Level STEM Fair Information

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDG I N G S HEE T

Name(s) ____________________ School

Project Title __________________________________________________________________________

I JOURNAL LOG (Engineering Design) COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

Title PageTable of Contents Title name school date and the table of contents

Need A need for the project is defined

Research Three different sources cited with well-written notes

Design Requirements Clear statement of the requirements for prototype development

Preliminary and Final Designso Beginning and final designs drawn and labeled showing

changes to meet the design requirements

o Materialsrsquo list and step-by-step instructions clearly written

Building and Testing the Prototypeo Prototype built according to the design requirementso Sufficient data gathered during the first testing Data is

analyzed if redesigning is necessaryRedesigning and Retesting Redesigning and retesting done showing gathered data and analysis

Conclusion Reveals evidence of learning

II DISPLAY COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Neat edited and physically sound

o Engineering method displayed easy to follow and self explanatory

o Journal and display showed a close relationship

o Creative Board Design

III INTERVIEW COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Student shows a basic knowledge of field studied and able to elaborate

o Student is able to explain how the engineering method was used

o Student shows interest enthusiasm and a passion toward the project and could tell how it was personalized

41

May 10th 2013

Dear Parents

It is STEM fair time Students at Innovation Academy will have the opportunity to create a STEM fair project

The project will be a small group project with a focus on the Engineering Design Process (EDP) The students will begin

by identifying the ldquoproblem(s)rdquo associated with their grouprsquos assigned product The students will work in groups to

research their assigned topic brainstorm create a prototype plan test evaluate and modify their product to better

meet the human needs Student groups will also create a STEM fair board a digital display and participate in a

presentation during the STEM fair on May 17th

The students will work on the STEM fair project throughout the next week during Project Days at Innovation

Academy The classes will begin work on their science fair projects the week of May 13th The project will be finished

by the end of the week The students will work on their STEM fair project in their assigned small groups on Project

Days during the week During the Project Days the grade level teachers will provide instructional support and

examples of how to successfully complete the STEM fair project The engineering design portion creation of the

IV PROJECT FOLLOW THROUGH COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Creative procedural approach with ingenious use of materials and equipment to solve the problem

o Project shows in-depth thought and work to solve the problem

o Results show a well thought out reasonable conclusion showing a useful connection to the world

SCORE Excellent 5 Good3-4

Fair 1-2

Sub scores Total Score 100

42

prototype testing evaluating and modifying of the prototype and creation of the STEM fair board will be complete

during class in small groups on Project Days Their group leader may assign students tasks These tasks will need to be

completed outside of class time during the week of May 13th These tasks may include but are not limited to

research sketching and creation of the STEM fair digital presentation

The students will then participate in the STEM fair to on Friday May 17th The students who place in the top

three of each grade levelrsquos STEM Fair will be recognized at the Innovation Academy Awards Day All students are

expected to complete the STEM fair in their assigned small group (according to the rubric) The STEM fair project will

be part of the studentsrsquo final grade in all classes

The STEM fair is a wonderful opportunity for your student to engage in exploration investigation and hands-

on engineering experience The STEM fair project is also an opportunity for students to work successful in a small

group setting This experience will continue to simulate the real-world career situations that have been incorporated

into the projects at Innovation Academy Students will greatly benefit from encouragement and support from their

parents to successfully complete the project We look forward to working with your students to complete their STEM

fair projects If you have any questions about the science fair project and process please email any of the seventh

grade teachers or call Innovation Academy to speak with us

Studentrsquos Name _______________ Parentrsquos Signature ____________ Date _____

This signed form is to be returned to your Homeroom Teacher on Monday May 13 th 2013

Innovation AcademyrsquosSTEM FAIR

STUDENT HANDBOOK2013

iST MLearn Different

43

Timeline for 7 th Gradersquos STEM Fair

STEM FAIR

Phase 1 ndash Identifying the Problem Monday May 13th

Phase 2 ndash Research and Brainstorming Monday May 13th

Phase 3 ndash How to Document (Engineering Journal) Monday May 13th

Phase 4 ndash Planning Designing and Creating Tuesday May 14th

Phase 5 ndash Data Collection and Analysis Tuesday May 14th

Phase 6 ndash Modifications and Re-Testing Wednesday May 15th

Phase 7 ndash Creating and Exhibiting a Display Thursday May 16th

Science Fair ndash School Wide Friday May 17th

Project Selection Log

Studentrsquos first and last name (printed) ____________________________________________ Grade ________ Room ________ Teacherrsquos name ________________________________________

1048720 Team Leaderrsquos signature _____________________________________ Date ______________

Each studentrsquos STEM Fair project must be innovative

You will complete the Engineering Design Process to solve your productrsquos unsolved or poorly solved problem Using the Engineering Design Process will take you through the correct process of determining the problem doing research brainstorming making a hypothesis (your best guess at how it will turn out) planning designing and creating your prototype conducting your testing trials analyzing your results and modifying your prototype to make the best product

THE ORIGINAL UNSOLVED OR POORLY SOLVED PROBLEM OUR PROJECT WILL SOLVE IS

__________________________________________________________________________________

iST MLearn Different

44

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please list the other four ideas that you have brainstormed before selecting this topic

1 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Engineering Project ndash Problem Statement Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if your project is on the right track

What Makes a Good Engineering Project

For a Good Engineering Project You

Should Answer Yes to Every

Question

Your teacher may put some restrictions on projects Have you met your teachers requirements Yes No

Is the topic interesting enough to read about and work on for the next couple months Yes No

Can you find at least three sources of written information on the subject Yes No

45

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

Oral PresentationThe judgersquos interview gives you the opportunity to explain your project The judge wants to know how much you know about your project

How you received the ideaHow you personalized it to make it uniqueHow you prepared itHow you set it upWhat information you discoveredWhat the information meansWhat your conclusion is

The judge also wants to know your background knowledge about the subject you chose Some

Factors judges use to make their decision

What the judges are trying to determine Examples of questions a judge might ask during an interview

Creativity Originality Is this work novel or innovativeWhy did you choose this topic and how did you settle on your approach to the problem

Scientific ThoughtDid the student understand the scientific method and apply it appropriately

Can you walk me through how and why you decided on this experimental design

Background Information Thoroughness

Does the student understand what was done previously in the field

How does you approach to the question differ from peoplersquos previous approaches

Skill IndependenceWho designed and carried out the bulk of the work

What was the most surprising experimental challenge you faced during the science project How did you overcome it

ThoroughnessIs the completed work sufficient to move the field forward

What were you goals with this science project and how would you evaluate where you are in respect to those goals

Clarity Can the student clearly and easily discuss all aspects of his or her project During an interview judges might want to make sure that a student can think and speak well when thrown a curve

If your tests had shown XYZ instead what would you have done Why

Teamwork (only applicable for team projects)

Was each member of the team fully involved Does each member regardless of his or her specific experimental role understand all aspects of the science project

The great thing about working together is the synergy between people What would you say was the most important skill or idea each of you had during the course of the science project

39

of the judgesrsquo questions may not be about your project Heshe may ask questions related to your topic For example if you built a tsunami model to test the destruction a tsunami could cause it would be well to know about tsunamis and the damage they can do how they can do so much destruction and places tsunamis have happened Even though this information is not entirely what your project is about it shows you have done research about tsunamis

Some questions that might be askedExplain where you got your idea for the projectWhat did you do to personalize it and make it uniqueExplain the project method you usedWhy did you choose this subjectExplain your resultsExplain your conclusionHow does the result relate to your background knowledgeHow does the result help you in understanding the world betterHow does your project have practical applicationsSpecific background knowledge about your subjectWhat problems did you run intoHow could you have improved your projectIf you did it again what would you changeWhat questions do you have nowTell some ideas you learned from your researchHow did the research help you with your projectHow much time did you spend on your projectHow did others help you or give you ideasHow did you test your prototype

Be excited about your project when you speak Donrsquot talk too fast Elaborate on your answers Help the judge understand your project by speaking clearly in an organized manner so itrsquos not confusing You need to show evidences of learning

Judges do not want you to redo your experiment for them Their interest lies in your knowledge of the Engineering Design process the display board the results and the knowledge you acquired

School Level STEM Fair Information

40

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDGING SHEET

School Level STEM Fair Information

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDG I N G S HEE T

Name(s) ____________________ School

Project Title __________________________________________________________________________

I JOURNAL LOG (Engineering Design) COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

Title PageTable of Contents Title name school date and the table of contents

Need A need for the project is defined

Research Three different sources cited with well-written notes

Design Requirements Clear statement of the requirements for prototype development

Preliminary and Final Designso Beginning and final designs drawn and labeled showing

changes to meet the design requirements

o Materialsrsquo list and step-by-step instructions clearly written

Building and Testing the Prototypeo Prototype built according to the design requirementso Sufficient data gathered during the first testing Data is

analyzed if redesigning is necessaryRedesigning and Retesting Redesigning and retesting done showing gathered data and analysis

Conclusion Reveals evidence of learning

II DISPLAY COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Neat edited and physically sound

o Engineering method displayed easy to follow and self explanatory

o Journal and display showed a close relationship

o Creative Board Design

III INTERVIEW COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Student shows a basic knowledge of field studied and able to elaborate

o Student is able to explain how the engineering method was used

o Student shows interest enthusiasm and a passion toward the project and could tell how it was personalized

41

May 10th 2013

Dear Parents

It is STEM fair time Students at Innovation Academy will have the opportunity to create a STEM fair project

The project will be a small group project with a focus on the Engineering Design Process (EDP) The students will begin

by identifying the ldquoproblem(s)rdquo associated with their grouprsquos assigned product The students will work in groups to

research their assigned topic brainstorm create a prototype plan test evaluate and modify their product to better

meet the human needs Student groups will also create a STEM fair board a digital display and participate in a

presentation during the STEM fair on May 17th

The students will work on the STEM fair project throughout the next week during Project Days at Innovation

Academy The classes will begin work on their science fair projects the week of May 13th The project will be finished

by the end of the week The students will work on their STEM fair project in their assigned small groups on Project

Days during the week During the Project Days the grade level teachers will provide instructional support and

examples of how to successfully complete the STEM fair project The engineering design portion creation of the

IV PROJECT FOLLOW THROUGH COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Creative procedural approach with ingenious use of materials and equipment to solve the problem

o Project shows in-depth thought and work to solve the problem

o Results show a well thought out reasonable conclusion showing a useful connection to the world

SCORE Excellent 5 Good3-4

Fair 1-2

Sub scores Total Score 100

42

prototype testing evaluating and modifying of the prototype and creation of the STEM fair board will be complete

during class in small groups on Project Days Their group leader may assign students tasks These tasks will need to be

completed outside of class time during the week of May 13th These tasks may include but are not limited to

research sketching and creation of the STEM fair digital presentation

The students will then participate in the STEM fair to on Friday May 17th The students who place in the top

three of each grade levelrsquos STEM Fair will be recognized at the Innovation Academy Awards Day All students are

expected to complete the STEM fair in their assigned small group (according to the rubric) The STEM fair project will

be part of the studentsrsquo final grade in all classes

The STEM fair is a wonderful opportunity for your student to engage in exploration investigation and hands-

on engineering experience The STEM fair project is also an opportunity for students to work successful in a small

group setting This experience will continue to simulate the real-world career situations that have been incorporated

into the projects at Innovation Academy Students will greatly benefit from encouragement and support from their

parents to successfully complete the project We look forward to working with your students to complete their STEM

fair projects If you have any questions about the science fair project and process please email any of the seventh

grade teachers or call Innovation Academy to speak with us

Studentrsquos Name _______________ Parentrsquos Signature ____________ Date _____

This signed form is to be returned to your Homeroom Teacher on Monday May 13 th 2013

Innovation AcademyrsquosSTEM FAIR

STUDENT HANDBOOK2013

iST MLearn Different

43

Timeline for 7 th Gradersquos STEM Fair

STEM FAIR

Phase 1 ndash Identifying the Problem Monday May 13th

Phase 2 ndash Research and Brainstorming Monday May 13th

Phase 3 ndash How to Document (Engineering Journal) Monday May 13th

Phase 4 ndash Planning Designing and Creating Tuesday May 14th

Phase 5 ndash Data Collection and Analysis Tuesday May 14th

Phase 6 ndash Modifications and Re-Testing Wednesday May 15th

Phase 7 ndash Creating and Exhibiting a Display Thursday May 16th

Science Fair ndash School Wide Friday May 17th

Project Selection Log

Studentrsquos first and last name (printed) ____________________________________________ Grade ________ Room ________ Teacherrsquos name ________________________________________

1048720 Team Leaderrsquos signature _____________________________________ Date ______________

Each studentrsquos STEM Fair project must be innovative

You will complete the Engineering Design Process to solve your productrsquos unsolved or poorly solved problem Using the Engineering Design Process will take you through the correct process of determining the problem doing research brainstorming making a hypothesis (your best guess at how it will turn out) planning designing and creating your prototype conducting your testing trials analyzing your results and modifying your prototype to make the best product

THE ORIGINAL UNSOLVED OR POORLY SOLVED PROBLEM OUR PROJECT WILL SOLVE IS

__________________________________________________________________________________

iST MLearn Different

44

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please list the other four ideas that you have brainstormed before selecting this topic

1 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Engineering Project ndash Problem Statement Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if your project is on the right track

What Makes a Good Engineering Project

For a Good Engineering Project You

Should Answer Yes to Every

Question

Your teacher may put some restrictions on projects Have you met your teachers requirements Yes No

Is the topic interesting enough to read about and work on for the next couple months Yes No

Can you find at least three sources of written information on the subject Yes No

45

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

of the judgesrsquo questions may not be about your project Heshe may ask questions related to your topic For example if you built a tsunami model to test the destruction a tsunami could cause it would be well to know about tsunamis and the damage they can do how they can do so much destruction and places tsunamis have happened Even though this information is not entirely what your project is about it shows you have done research about tsunamis

Some questions that might be askedExplain where you got your idea for the projectWhat did you do to personalize it and make it uniqueExplain the project method you usedWhy did you choose this subjectExplain your resultsExplain your conclusionHow does the result relate to your background knowledgeHow does the result help you in understanding the world betterHow does your project have practical applicationsSpecific background knowledge about your subjectWhat problems did you run intoHow could you have improved your projectIf you did it again what would you changeWhat questions do you have nowTell some ideas you learned from your researchHow did the research help you with your projectHow much time did you spend on your projectHow did others help you or give you ideasHow did you test your prototype

Be excited about your project when you speak Donrsquot talk too fast Elaborate on your answers Help the judge understand your project by speaking clearly in an organized manner so itrsquos not confusing You need to show evidences of learning

Judges do not want you to redo your experiment for them Their interest lies in your knowledge of the Engineering Design process the display board the results and the knowledge you acquired

School Level STEM Fair Information

40

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDGING SHEET

School Level STEM Fair Information

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDG I N G S HEE T

Name(s) ____________________ School

Project Title __________________________________________________________________________

I JOURNAL LOG (Engineering Design) COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

Title PageTable of Contents Title name school date and the table of contents

Need A need for the project is defined

Research Three different sources cited with well-written notes

Design Requirements Clear statement of the requirements for prototype development

Preliminary and Final Designso Beginning and final designs drawn and labeled showing

changes to meet the design requirements

o Materialsrsquo list and step-by-step instructions clearly written

Building and Testing the Prototypeo Prototype built according to the design requirementso Sufficient data gathered during the first testing Data is

analyzed if redesigning is necessaryRedesigning and Retesting Redesigning and retesting done showing gathered data and analysis

Conclusion Reveals evidence of learning

II DISPLAY COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Neat edited and physically sound

o Engineering method displayed easy to follow and self explanatory

o Journal and display showed a close relationship

o Creative Board Design

III INTERVIEW COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Student shows a basic knowledge of field studied and able to elaborate

o Student is able to explain how the engineering method was used

o Student shows interest enthusiasm and a passion toward the project and could tell how it was personalized

41

May 10th 2013

Dear Parents

It is STEM fair time Students at Innovation Academy will have the opportunity to create a STEM fair project

The project will be a small group project with a focus on the Engineering Design Process (EDP) The students will begin

by identifying the ldquoproblem(s)rdquo associated with their grouprsquos assigned product The students will work in groups to

research their assigned topic brainstorm create a prototype plan test evaluate and modify their product to better

meet the human needs Student groups will also create a STEM fair board a digital display and participate in a

presentation during the STEM fair on May 17th

The students will work on the STEM fair project throughout the next week during Project Days at Innovation

Academy The classes will begin work on their science fair projects the week of May 13th The project will be finished

by the end of the week The students will work on their STEM fair project in their assigned small groups on Project

Days during the week During the Project Days the grade level teachers will provide instructional support and

examples of how to successfully complete the STEM fair project The engineering design portion creation of the

IV PROJECT FOLLOW THROUGH COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Creative procedural approach with ingenious use of materials and equipment to solve the problem

o Project shows in-depth thought and work to solve the problem

o Results show a well thought out reasonable conclusion showing a useful connection to the world

SCORE Excellent 5 Good3-4

Fair 1-2

Sub scores Total Score 100

42

prototype testing evaluating and modifying of the prototype and creation of the STEM fair board will be complete

during class in small groups on Project Days Their group leader may assign students tasks These tasks will need to be

completed outside of class time during the week of May 13th These tasks may include but are not limited to

research sketching and creation of the STEM fair digital presentation

The students will then participate in the STEM fair to on Friday May 17th The students who place in the top

three of each grade levelrsquos STEM Fair will be recognized at the Innovation Academy Awards Day All students are

expected to complete the STEM fair in their assigned small group (according to the rubric) The STEM fair project will

be part of the studentsrsquo final grade in all classes

The STEM fair is a wonderful opportunity for your student to engage in exploration investigation and hands-

on engineering experience The STEM fair project is also an opportunity for students to work successful in a small

group setting This experience will continue to simulate the real-world career situations that have been incorporated

into the projects at Innovation Academy Students will greatly benefit from encouragement and support from their

parents to successfully complete the project We look forward to working with your students to complete their STEM

fair projects If you have any questions about the science fair project and process please email any of the seventh

grade teachers or call Innovation Academy to speak with us

Studentrsquos Name _______________ Parentrsquos Signature ____________ Date _____

This signed form is to be returned to your Homeroom Teacher on Monday May 13 th 2013

Innovation AcademyrsquosSTEM FAIR

STUDENT HANDBOOK2013

iST MLearn Different

43

Timeline for 7 th Gradersquos STEM Fair

STEM FAIR

Phase 1 ndash Identifying the Problem Monday May 13th

Phase 2 ndash Research and Brainstorming Monday May 13th

Phase 3 ndash How to Document (Engineering Journal) Monday May 13th

Phase 4 ndash Planning Designing and Creating Tuesday May 14th

Phase 5 ndash Data Collection and Analysis Tuesday May 14th

Phase 6 ndash Modifications and Re-Testing Wednesday May 15th

Phase 7 ndash Creating and Exhibiting a Display Thursday May 16th

Science Fair ndash School Wide Friday May 17th

Project Selection Log

Studentrsquos first and last name (printed) ____________________________________________ Grade ________ Room ________ Teacherrsquos name ________________________________________

1048720 Team Leaderrsquos signature _____________________________________ Date ______________

Each studentrsquos STEM Fair project must be innovative

You will complete the Engineering Design Process to solve your productrsquos unsolved or poorly solved problem Using the Engineering Design Process will take you through the correct process of determining the problem doing research brainstorming making a hypothesis (your best guess at how it will turn out) planning designing and creating your prototype conducting your testing trials analyzing your results and modifying your prototype to make the best product

THE ORIGINAL UNSOLVED OR POORLY SOLVED PROBLEM OUR PROJECT WILL SOLVE IS

__________________________________________________________________________________

iST MLearn Different

44

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please list the other four ideas that you have brainstormed before selecting this topic

1 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Engineering Project ndash Problem Statement Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if your project is on the right track

What Makes a Good Engineering Project

For a Good Engineering Project You

Should Answer Yes to Every

Question

Your teacher may put some restrictions on projects Have you met your teachers requirements Yes No

Is the topic interesting enough to read about and work on for the next couple months Yes No

Can you find at least three sources of written information on the subject Yes No

45

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDGING SHEET

School Level STEM Fair Information

Innovation Academy STEM Fair - JUDG I N G S HEE T

Name(s) ____________________ School

Project Title __________________________________________________________________________

I JOURNAL LOG (Engineering Design) COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

Title PageTable of Contents Title name school date and the table of contents

Need A need for the project is defined

Research Three different sources cited with well-written notes

Design Requirements Clear statement of the requirements for prototype development

Preliminary and Final Designso Beginning and final designs drawn and labeled showing

changes to meet the design requirements

o Materialsrsquo list and step-by-step instructions clearly written

Building and Testing the Prototypeo Prototype built according to the design requirementso Sufficient data gathered during the first testing Data is

analyzed if redesigning is necessaryRedesigning and Retesting Redesigning and retesting done showing gathered data and analysis

Conclusion Reveals evidence of learning

II DISPLAY COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Neat edited and physically sound

o Engineering method displayed easy to follow and self explanatory

o Journal and display showed a close relationship

o Creative Board Design

III INTERVIEW COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Student shows a basic knowledge of field studied and able to elaborate

o Student is able to explain how the engineering method was used

o Student shows interest enthusiasm and a passion toward the project and could tell how it was personalized

41

May 10th 2013

Dear Parents

It is STEM fair time Students at Innovation Academy will have the opportunity to create a STEM fair project

The project will be a small group project with a focus on the Engineering Design Process (EDP) The students will begin

by identifying the ldquoproblem(s)rdquo associated with their grouprsquos assigned product The students will work in groups to

research their assigned topic brainstorm create a prototype plan test evaluate and modify their product to better

meet the human needs Student groups will also create a STEM fair board a digital display and participate in a

presentation during the STEM fair on May 17th

The students will work on the STEM fair project throughout the next week during Project Days at Innovation

Academy The classes will begin work on their science fair projects the week of May 13th The project will be finished

by the end of the week The students will work on their STEM fair project in their assigned small groups on Project

Days during the week During the Project Days the grade level teachers will provide instructional support and

examples of how to successfully complete the STEM fair project The engineering design portion creation of the

IV PROJECT FOLLOW THROUGH COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Creative procedural approach with ingenious use of materials and equipment to solve the problem

o Project shows in-depth thought and work to solve the problem

o Results show a well thought out reasonable conclusion showing a useful connection to the world

SCORE Excellent 5 Good3-4

Fair 1-2

Sub scores Total Score 100

42

prototype testing evaluating and modifying of the prototype and creation of the STEM fair board will be complete

during class in small groups on Project Days Their group leader may assign students tasks These tasks will need to be

completed outside of class time during the week of May 13th These tasks may include but are not limited to

research sketching and creation of the STEM fair digital presentation

The students will then participate in the STEM fair to on Friday May 17th The students who place in the top

three of each grade levelrsquos STEM Fair will be recognized at the Innovation Academy Awards Day All students are

expected to complete the STEM fair in their assigned small group (according to the rubric) The STEM fair project will

be part of the studentsrsquo final grade in all classes

The STEM fair is a wonderful opportunity for your student to engage in exploration investigation and hands-

on engineering experience The STEM fair project is also an opportunity for students to work successful in a small

group setting This experience will continue to simulate the real-world career situations that have been incorporated

into the projects at Innovation Academy Students will greatly benefit from encouragement and support from their

parents to successfully complete the project We look forward to working with your students to complete their STEM

fair projects If you have any questions about the science fair project and process please email any of the seventh

grade teachers or call Innovation Academy to speak with us

Studentrsquos Name _______________ Parentrsquos Signature ____________ Date _____

This signed form is to be returned to your Homeroom Teacher on Monday May 13 th 2013

Innovation AcademyrsquosSTEM FAIR

STUDENT HANDBOOK2013

iST MLearn Different

43

Timeline for 7 th Gradersquos STEM Fair

STEM FAIR

Phase 1 ndash Identifying the Problem Monday May 13th

Phase 2 ndash Research and Brainstorming Monday May 13th

Phase 3 ndash How to Document (Engineering Journal) Monday May 13th

Phase 4 ndash Planning Designing and Creating Tuesday May 14th

Phase 5 ndash Data Collection and Analysis Tuesday May 14th

Phase 6 ndash Modifications and Re-Testing Wednesday May 15th

Phase 7 ndash Creating and Exhibiting a Display Thursday May 16th

Science Fair ndash School Wide Friday May 17th

Project Selection Log

Studentrsquos first and last name (printed) ____________________________________________ Grade ________ Room ________ Teacherrsquos name ________________________________________

1048720 Team Leaderrsquos signature _____________________________________ Date ______________

Each studentrsquos STEM Fair project must be innovative

You will complete the Engineering Design Process to solve your productrsquos unsolved or poorly solved problem Using the Engineering Design Process will take you through the correct process of determining the problem doing research brainstorming making a hypothesis (your best guess at how it will turn out) planning designing and creating your prototype conducting your testing trials analyzing your results and modifying your prototype to make the best product

THE ORIGINAL UNSOLVED OR POORLY SOLVED PROBLEM OUR PROJECT WILL SOLVE IS

__________________________________________________________________________________

iST MLearn Different

44

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please list the other four ideas that you have brainstormed before selecting this topic

1 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Engineering Project ndash Problem Statement Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if your project is on the right track

What Makes a Good Engineering Project

For a Good Engineering Project You

Should Answer Yes to Every

Question

Your teacher may put some restrictions on projects Have you met your teachers requirements Yes No

Is the topic interesting enough to read about and work on for the next couple months Yes No

Can you find at least three sources of written information on the subject Yes No

45

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

May 10th 2013

Dear Parents

It is STEM fair time Students at Innovation Academy will have the opportunity to create a STEM fair project

The project will be a small group project with a focus on the Engineering Design Process (EDP) The students will begin

by identifying the ldquoproblem(s)rdquo associated with their grouprsquos assigned product The students will work in groups to

research their assigned topic brainstorm create a prototype plan test evaluate and modify their product to better

meet the human needs Student groups will also create a STEM fair board a digital display and participate in a

presentation during the STEM fair on May 17th

The students will work on the STEM fair project throughout the next week during Project Days at Innovation

Academy The classes will begin work on their science fair projects the week of May 13th The project will be finished

by the end of the week The students will work on their STEM fair project in their assigned small groups on Project

Days during the week During the Project Days the grade level teachers will provide instructional support and

examples of how to successfully complete the STEM fair project The engineering design portion creation of the

IV PROJECT FOLLOW THROUGH COMMENTS Excellent5

Good3-4

Fair1-2

o Creative procedural approach with ingenious use of materials and equipment to solve the problem

o Project shows in-depth thought and work to solve the problem

o Results show a well thought out reasonable conclusion showing a useful connection to the world

SCORE Excellent 5 Good3-4

Fair 1-2

Sub scores Total Score 100

42

prototype testing evaluating and modifying of the prototype and creation of the STEM fair board will be complete

during class in small groups on Project Days Their group leader may assign students tasks These tasks will need to be

completed outside of class time during the week of May 13th These tasks may include but are not limited to

research sketching and creation of the STEM fair digital presentation

The students will then participate in the STEM fair to on Friday May 17th The students who place in the top

three of each grade levelrsquos STEM Fair will be recognized at the Innovation Academy Awards Day All students are

expected to complete the STEM fair in their assigned small group (according to the rubric) The STEM fair project will

be part of the studentsrsquo final grade in all classes

The STEM fair is a wonderful opportunity for your student to engage in exploration investigation and hands-

on engineering experience The STEM fair project is also an opportunity for students to work successful in a small

group setting This experience will continue to simulate the real-world career situations that have been incorporated

into the projects at Innovation Academy Students will greatly benefit from encouragement and support from their

parents to successfully complete the project We look forward to working with your students to complete their STEM

fair projects If you have any questions about the science fair project and process please email any of the seventh

grade teachers or call Innovation Academy to speak with us

Studentrsquos Name _______________ Parentrsquos Signature ____________ Date _____

This signed form is to be returned to your Homeroom Teacher on Monday May 13 th 2013

Innovation AcademyrsquosSTEM FAIR

STUDENT HANDBOOK2013

iST MLearn Different

43

Timeline for 7 th Gradersquos STEM Fair

STEM FAIR

Phase 1 ndash Identifying the Problem Monday May 13th

Phase 2 ndash Research and Brainstorming Monday May 13th

Phase 3 ndash How to Document (Engineering Journal) Monday May 13th

Phase 4 ndash Planning Designing and Creating Tuesday May 14th

Phase 5 ndash Data Collection and Analysis Tuesday May 14th

Phase 6 ndash Modifications and Re-Testing Wednesday May 15th

Phase 7 ndash Creating and Exhibiting a Display Thursday May 16th

Science Fair ndash School Wide Friday May 17th

Project Selection Log

Studentrsquos first and last name (printed) ____________________________________________ Grade ________ Room ________ Teacherrsquos name ________________________________________

1048720 Team Leaderrsquos signature _____________________________________ Date ______________

Each studentrsquos STEM Fair project must be innovative

You will complete the Engineering Design Process to solve your productrsquos unsolved or poorly solved problem Using the Engineering Design Process will take you through the correct process of determining the problem doing research brainstorming making a hypothesis (your best guess at how it will turn out) planning designing and creating your prototype conducting your testing trials analyzing your results and modifying your prototype to make the best product

THE ORIGINAL UNSOLVED OR POORLY SOLVED PROBLEM OUR PROJECT WILL SOLVE IS

__________________________________________________________________________________

iST MLearn Different

44

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please list the other four ideas that you have brainstormed before selecting this topic

1 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Engineering Project ndash Problem Statement Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if your project is on the right track

What Makes a Good Engineering Project

For a Good Engineering Project You

Should Answer Yes to Every

Question

Your teacher may put some restrictions on projects Have you met your teachers requirements Yes No

Is the topic interesting enough to read about and work on for the next couple months Yes No

Can you find at least three sources of written information on the subject Yes No

45

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

prototype testing evaluating and modifying of the prototype and creation of the STEM fair board will be complete

during class in small groups on Project Days Their group leader may assign students tasks These tasks will need to be

completed outside of class time during the week of May 13th These tasks may include but are not limited to

research sketching and creation of the STEM fair digital presentation

The students will then participate in the STEM fair to on Friday May 17th The students who place in the top

three of each grade levelrsquos STEM Fair will be recognized at the Innovation Academy Awards Day All students are

expected to complete the STEM fair in their assigned small group (according to the rubric) The STEM fair project will

be part of the studentsrsquo final grade in all classes

The STEM fair is a wonderful opportunity for your student to engage in exploration investigation and hands-

on engineering experience The STEM fair project is also an opportunity for students to work successful in a small

group setting This experience will continue to simulate the real-world career situations that have been incorporated

into the projects at Innovation Academy Students will greatly benefit from encouragement and support from their

parents to successfully complete the project We look forward to working with your students to complete their STEM

fair projects If you have any questions about the science fair project and process please email any of the seventh

grade teachers or call Innovation Academy to speak with us

Studentrsquos Name _______________ Parentrsquos Signature ____________ Date _____

This signed form is to be returned to your Homeroom Teacher on Monday May 13 th 2013

Innovation AcademyrsquosSTEM FAIR

STUDENT HANDBOOK2013

iST MLearn Different

43

Timeline for 7 th Gradersquos STEM Fair

STEM FAIR

Phase 1 ndash Identifying the Problem Monday May 13th

Phase 2 ndash Research and Brainstorming Monday May 13th

Phase 3 ndash How to Document (Engineering Journal) Monday May 13th

Phase 4 ndash Planning Designing and Creating Tuesday May 14th

Phase 5 ndash Data Collection and Analysis Tuesday May 14th

Phase 6 ndash Modifications and Re-Testing Wednesday May 15th

Phase 7 ndash Creating and Exhibiting a Display Thursday May 16th

Science Fair ndash School Wide Friday May 17th

Project Selection Log

Studentrsquos first and last name (printed) ____________________________________________ Grade ________ Room ________ Teacherrsquos name ________________________________________

1048720 Team Leaderrsquos signature _____________________________________ Date ______________

Each studentrsquos STEM Fair project must be innovative

You will complete the Engineering Design Process to solve your productrsquos unsolved or poorly solved problem Using the Engineering Design Process will take you through the correct process of determining the problem doing research brainstorming making a hypothesis (your best guess at how it will turn out) planning designing and creating your prototype conducting your testing trials analyzing your results and modifying your prototype to make the best product

THE ORIGINAL UNSOLVED OR POORLY SOLVED PROBLEM OUR PROJECT WILL SOLVE IS

__________________________________________________________________________________

iST MLearn Different

44

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please list the other four ideas that you have brainstormed before selecting this topic

1 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Engineering Project ndash Problem Statement Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if your project is on the right track

What Makes a Good Engineering Project

For a Good Engineering Project You

Should Answer Yes to Every

Question

Your teacher may put some restrictions on projects Have you met your teachers requirements Yes No

Is the topic interesting enough to read about and work on for the next couple months Yes No

Can you find at least three sources of written information on the subject Yes No

45

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

Timeline for 7 th Gradersquos STEM Fair

STEM FAIR

Phase 1 ndash Identifying the Problem Monday May 13th

Phase 2 ndash Research and Brainstorming Monday May 13th

Phase 3 ndash How to Document (Engineering Journal) Monday May 13th

Phase 4 ndash Planning Designing and Creating Tuesday May 14th

Phase 5 ndash Data Collection and Analysis Tuesday May 14th

Phase 6 ndash Modifications and Re-Testing Wednesday May 15th

Phase 7 ndash Creating and Exhibiting a Display Thursday May 16th

Science Fair ndash School Wide Friday May 17th

Project Selection Log

Studentrsquos first and last name (printed) ____________________________________________ Grade ________ Room ________ Teacherrsquos name ________________________________________

1048720 Team Leaderrsquos signature _____________________________________ Date ______________

Each studentrsquos STEM Fair project must be innovative

You will complete the Engineering Design Process to solve your productrsquos unsolved or poorly solved problem Using the Engineering Design Process will take you through the correct process of determining the problem doing research brainstorming making a hypothesis (your best guess at how it will turn out) planning designing and creating your prototype conducting your testing trials analyzing your results and modifying your prototype to make the best product

THE ORIGINAL UNSOLVED OR POORLY SOLVED PROBLEM OUR PROJECT WILL SOLVE IS

__________________________________________________________________________________

iST MLearn Different

44

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please list the other four ideas that you have brainstormed before selecting this topic

1 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Engineering Project ndash Problem Statement Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if your project is on the right track

What Makes a Good Engineering Project

For a Good Engineering Project You

Should Answer Yes to Every

Question

Your teacher may put some restrictions on projects Have you met your teachers requirements Yes No

Is the topic interesting enough to read about and work on for the next couple months Yes No

Can you find at least three sources of written information on the subject Yes No

45

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Please list the other four ideas that you have brainstormed before selecting this topic

1 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4 ________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Engineering Project ndash Problem Statement Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to find out if your project is on the right track

What Makes a Good Engineering Project

For a Good Engineering Project You

Should Answer Yes to Every

Question

Your teacher may put some restrictions on projects Have you met your teachers requirements Yes No

Is the topic interesting enough to read about and work on for the next couple months Yes No

Can you find at least three sources of written information on the subject Yes No

45

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

Can you think of a way to measure whether your solution is better than what already exists It is always best if you can measure your improvement numerically cheaper in dollars faster in time etc

Yes No

Can you design a solution that is safe to build use store and dispose of Yes No

Do you have all the materials and equipment you need for your solution or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at a very low cost Yes No

Do you have enough time to complete your design and make it before the due date Allow time for doing additional research and fixing problems It is very rare for everything to work correctly the first time

Yes No

If you are planning to enter a science fair outside of your schoolDoes your project meet all the rules and requirements for the science fairHave you checked to see if your science fair project will require approval from the fair before you begin construction

Yes No

Project Research Plan Worksheet

46

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

1 Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2 List the keywords and phrases from your problem and the topic general (Hint Use an encyclopedia to help you)

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

3 Now use your keyword to build questions to guide your background research Develop at least three from each ldquoquestion wordrdquo Donrsquot worry about whether you already know the answer to the questions ndash yoursquoll find the answers when you do your background research And do not forget to ldquonetworkrdquo with knowledgeable adults who can help guide your toward good materials

Question Area Possible Questions (you can think of others) Substitute your keywords (or variations of your keywords) for the blanks in the previous columns Write own the relevant questions and use them to guide your background research

Target User Who needs ____________Who wants ____________Who buys _____________What does my target user (a child an elderly person whoever your target user is) need or want in a __________How much would my target user be willing to pay for a _______________What size should I make _________ for my target user

How It Works How to Make It

Who invented _________How does a _______ workWhat are the different parts of a ___________________What are the important characteristics of a ______How is performance measured for a __________Where does _____ get usedWhat is ________ made ofWhy is _________ made from or using ____________What is the best material component or algorithm for building __________ (You may even ask this separately for the different parts of your device or program)

47

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

Project Research Plan Worksheet

4 Ask questions to help you understand products or programs that fill similar needs to the need you identified

What products fill a similar needWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of products that fill a similar needWhat are the key must-have features of products that fill a similar needWhy did the engineers that built products that fill a similar need design them the way they didHow can I measure my designrsquos improvement over existing designs

Project Research Plan Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to evaluate your plan for background research

What Makes a Good Background Research Plan

For a Good Background Research Plan You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Have you identified questions to ask about your target user or customer Yes No

Have you identified questions to ask about the products that already exist to solve the problem you defined or a problem that is very similar Yes No

Have you planned to research how your product will work and how to make it Yes No

48

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief

Define the problem you intent to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Describe the existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Describe the target user for your solution

List the requirements for your solutionA good design requirement is needed to solve your design problem If it is not absolutely needed leave it outA good design requirement is not just a wish you must believe that it is feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happenIf you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

49

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

ldquoPlanrdquo ndash Engineering Design Brief Checklist

Answer the questions in the quick checklist below to grade your design brief

What Makes a Good Design Brief

For a Good Design Brief You Should Answer Yes to Every Question

Does it define the problem you intend to solve [Who] need(s) [what] because [why]

Yes No

Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem

Yes No

Does it describe your target user Yes No

Does it list all of the requirements for your design Yes No

Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem If it is not needed leave it out Youll have enough other things to work on

Yes No

Is each design requirement feasible Ask if you have the time money materials tools and knowledge to make it happen If you have conflicts between your requirements have you investigated making trade-offs among them

Yes No

50

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

Prototype ldquoProblemrdquo Log

Original Problem Statement _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with Prototype

Create a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo encountered while testing your prototype Record that list of ldquoProblemsrdquo in the chart below Once you have created a list of ldquoProblemsrdquo rank your problems with 1 being the highest (or most important to fix first)

Rank WHAT is the Problem WHY was this problem encountered

HOW can it be fixed

51

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

Action Plan

How does your team plan on altering the prototype to correct these problems Write a short paragraph outlining your plan

Start back into the PLAN stage to create a new materials list scale drawing and prototype Be sure to address the problems identified as key problems during this prototype evaluation

Teachersrsquo Research Log

STUDENTrsquoS NAME

QUESTION TOPICSummaries

Sour

ce 1

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 2

- Bo

ok A

rticl

e

Sour

ce 3

- Bo

ok

Artic

le

Sour

ce 4

ndash

Book

Ar

ticle

Sour

ce 5

ndash

Web

site

Bibl

iogr

aphy

52

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

53

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

54

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

55

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

56

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

STEM Fair Research Log

Research Summary Name ____________________(This is to be completed for each source) Source Number ________ of 5Type of Source ___________________

1 What is the question you are trying to answer (Research Question) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 How is the source helping you answer that question ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 Why should your source be considered reliable (Provide evidence Refer to the ldquoTest Before You Trustrdquo Reliability Rubric) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4 MLA citation for source (Consult wwweasybibcom or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5 Summary of source (abstract) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 Notes _____________________________________________________________________________

57

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Teachersrsquo Experimental Design Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Varia

bles

Hypo

thes

is

Mat

eria

ls Li

st

Tech

nica

l Pro

cedu

res

Purc

hase

Ord

er

58

Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Log

Name ________________

Trial Number ________________________________________________________________

Variables(Fill in the table with the appropriate information from your teamrsquos engineering design)

Independent Variable(What will you be changing in the produce There will only be one

item in this list)

Dependent Variable(What will you be measuring or observing to determine if your

engineering modification is successful)

Controlled Variable(What will you be keeping the same during the engineering

testing)

59

Hypothesis(Fill in the table with the appropriate information from your own experiment)

If (I do this) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Then (this) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________will happen

Because _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Log

Materials List(Also complete Purchase Order)

60

Technical Procedures

What costs do you expect(Also complete Purchase Order)

Number of Trials 2 ndash Include Materials needed for the modifications ndash Trial 1 amp Trail 2

Teacher Signature ________________________________________________ Date _____________

Teachersrsquo Charts and Graphs Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Char

t G

raph

Titl

e

Equa

l Spa

cing

Cons

isten

t N

umbe

ring

Varia

bles

on

corr

ect a

xes

Labe

led

Axes

Lege

nd

61

Studentsrsquo Charts and Graphs Log

As you are collecting your experimental data remember that you must display an observation table for each experimental test and graph to display your results By creating a chart or graph you are making it easier for people to understand the relationship between your variables Below there are some helpful hints to remember when you are creating your chart or graph

Check when

completed

Leave equal spaces between the numbers on the axesNumber the axes consistently For instance if you start with the number 0 and the next values are 5 and 10 you cannot skip 20 The next number would be 15Your graph or chart must have a title The title should relate to the information contained in the chart or graph

62

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axisThe axes of the graph must be label You should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc)If you have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Be sure to include a legend with clear labels

Teachersrsquo Conclusion Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Acce

pted

or

Reje

cted

Hyp

othe

sis

Conc

lusio

ns

Supp

orte

d by

dat

a

Rese

arch

link

ed to

Co

nclu

sions

Sugg

estio

ns fo

r Fu

ture

Res

earc

h

If Hy

poth

esis

is re

ject

ed st

ated

po

ssib

le b

ias o

r ex

perim

enta

l err

ors

63

Studentsrsquo Conclusion Log

After you gather your data and complete your observation chart you will need to analyze your results When you analyze your data you need to ask ldquoWhat is the data telling me What trends to I see in my graphs Are the data for the control and the experimental group the same or different

Most of the data collected in during our STEM Fair projects will be mathematical or described by numbers Working with the data will help you practice your use of calculating mean and median Mean is the average of your data and median is the middle-most value when all of the measurements are listed from smallest to largest For example two experiments may have the same mean but differ is how the results are distributed You will need to compare the means and the medians of your data to determine how they differ If you are unsure about some of the math calculations or concepts you should ask your teacher or team members for help

When compiling your conclusion the main question you must answer is ldquoDo my result agree with my engineering hypothesisrdquo If your results support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquoacceptrdquo your

64

hypothesis If your results do not support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquorejectrdquo your hypothesis It is okay to accept or reject your hypothesis You should not change your data or results so that you can accept your original engineering hypothesis There is something to be learned from accepting and rejecting hypotheses Often engineers and scientists find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These engineers and scientists then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis start new research modifying their prototype and re-testing

After you determine if your engineering hypothesis will be accepted or rejected you must state why If your data supports your hypothesis why do you think they do If your data does not support your hypothesis how are they different And why do you think they differ The most important portion of the conclusion will be to explain why you got the results that you did When you are answering these questions it is important to refer to key points discovered during your research Information obtained during your research will be helpful in supporting your data and explaining the relationship between your data and engineering hypothesis

The last portion of your conclusion should include the following If your original hypothesis was rejected you must state possible sources of bias experimental or engineering errors You will need to determine if there are any changes that you could make to your engineering design and technical procedures to change the outcome of your research At this stage your team will modify your engineering design or technical procedures and re-test your prototype Each group is expected to modify their prototype and re-test twice

Sources of bias are generally found in experimental design as well All students whether you accepted or rejected your hypothesis should describe factors that they believe contributed to their results Then you should briefly explain possibilities for new experiments that could build on your results These could be derived from any investigative questions that cam up during your experimentation These questions will guide other students and researchers who find your research interesting and want to study the topic more

Check when complete

Accepted or Rejected HypothesisConclusions supported by dataConclusions linked to Information found in Literary ResearchModifications for Engineering Design or Technical ProceduresIf Hypothesis is Rejected stated possible Bias or Experimental Errors

Student STEM Fair Registration Form

INNOVATION ACADEMY______________________

65

( Please Print Clearly )

Reference

92412 5th 6th Grades Engineering Design Science Fair Packet (ED-SFP)

Paul Nance the Jordan District Elementary Science Teacher Specialist

NAME __________________________________AGE __________________________________GRADE amp SCHOOL __________________________________PROJECT TITLE __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT DESCRIPTION(Attach a copy of the project abstract)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

66

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos

Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Log

Name ________________

Trial Number ________________________________________________________________

Variables(Fill in the table with the appropriate information from your teamrsquos engineering design)

Independent Variable(What will you be changing in the produce There will only be one

item in this list)

Dependent Variable(What will you be measuring or observing to determine if your

engineering modification is successful)

Controlled Variable(What will you be keeping the same during the engineering

testing)

59

Hypothesis(Fill in the table with the appropriate information from your own experiment)

If (I do this) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Then (this) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________will happen

Because _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Log

Materials List(Also complete Purchase Order)

60

Technical Procedures

What costs do you expect(Also complete Purchase Order)

Number of Trials 2 ndash Include Materials needed for the modifications ndash Trial 1 amp Trail 2

Teacher Signature ________________________________________________ Date _____________

Teachersrsquo Charts and Graphs Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Char

t G

raph

Titl

e

Equa

l Spa

cing

Cons

isten

t N

umbe

ring

Varia

bles

on

corr

ect a

xes

Labe

led

Axes

Lege

nd

61

Studentsrsquo Charts and Graphs Log

As you are collecting your experimental data remember that you must display an observation table for each experimental test and graph to display your results By creating a chart or graph you are making it easier for people to understand the relationship between your variables Below there are some helpful hints to remember when you are creating your chart or graph

Check when

completed

Leave equal spaces between the numbers on the axesNumber the axes consistently For instance if you start with the number 0 and the next values are 5 and 10 you cannot skip 20 The next number would be 15Your graph or chart must have a title The title should relate to the information contained in the chart or graph

62

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axisThe axes of the graph must be label You should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc)If you have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Be sure to include a legend with clear labels

Teachersrsquo Conclusion Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Acce

pted

or

Reje

cted

Hyp

othe

sis

Conc

lusio

ns

Supp

orte

d by

dat

a

Rese

arch

link

ed to

Co

nclu

sions

Sugg

estio

ns fo

r Fu

ture

Res

earc

h

If Hy

poth

esis

is re

ject

ed st

ated

po

ssib

le b

ias o

r ex

perim

enta

l err

ors

63

Studentsrsquo Conclusion Log

After you gather your data and complete your observation chart you will need to analyze your results When you analyze your data you need to ask ldquoWhat is the data telling me What trends to I see in my graphs Are the data for the control and the experimental group the same or different

Most of the data collected in during our STEM Fair projects will be mathematical or described by numbers Working with the data will help you practice your use of calculating mean and median Mean is the average of your data and median is the middle-most value when all of the measurements are listed from smallest to largest For example two experiments may have the same mean but differ is how the results are distributed You will need to compare the means and the medians of your data to determine how they differ If you are unsure about some of the math calculations or concepts you should ask your teacher or team members for help

When compiling your conclusion the main question you must answer is ldquoDo my result agree with my engineering hypothesisrdquo If your results support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquoacceptrdquo your

64

hypothesis If your results do not support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquorejectrdquo your hypothesis It is okay to accept or reject your hypothesis You should not change your data or results so that you can accept your original engineering hypothesis There is something to be learned from accepting and rejecting hypotheses Often engineers and scientists find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These engineers and scientists then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis start new research modifying their prototype and re-testing

After you determine if your engineering hypothesis will be accepted or rejected you must state why If your data supports your hypothesis why do you think they do If your data does not support your hypothesis how are they different And why do you think they differ The most important portion of the conclusion will be to explain why you got the results that you did When you are answering these questions it is important to refer to key points discovered during your research Information obtained during your research will be helpful in supporting your data and explaining the relationship between your data and engineering hypothesis

The last portion of your conclusion should include the following If your original hypothesis was rejected you must state possible sources of bias experimental or engineering errors You will need to determine if there are any changes that you could make to your engineering design and technical procedures to change the outcome of your research At this stage your team will modify your engineering design or technical procedures and re-test your prototype Each group is expected to modify their prototype and re-test twice

Sources of bias are generally found in experimental design as well All students whether you accepted or rejected your hypothesis should describe factors that they believe contributed to their results Then you should briefly explain possibilities for new experiments that could build on your results These could be derived from any investigative questions that cam up during your experimentation These questions will guide other students and researchers who find your research interesting and want to study the topic more

Check when complete

Accepted or Rejected HypothesisConclusions supported by dataConclusions linked to Information found in Literary ResearchModifications for Engineering Design or Technical ProceduresIf Hypothesis is Rejected stated possible Bias or Experimental Errors

Student STEM Fair Registration Form

INNOVATION ACADEMY______________________

65

( Please Print Clearly )

Reference

92412 5th 6th Grades Engineering Design Science Fair Packet (ED-SFP)

Paul Nance the Jordan District Elementary Science Teacher Specialist

NAME __________________________________AGE __________________________________GRADE amp SCHOOL __________________________________PROJECT TITLE __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT DESCRIPTION(Attach a copy of the project abstract)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

66

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos

Hypothesis(Fill in the table with the appropriate information from your own experiment)

If (I do this) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Then (this) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________will happen

Because _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Studentsrsquo Engineering Design Log

Materials List(Also complete Purchase Order)

60

Technical Procedures

What costs do you expect(Also complete Purchase Order)

Number of Trials 2 ndash Include Materials needed for the modifications ndash Trial 1 amp Trail 2

Teacher Signature ________________________________________________ Date _____________

Teachersrsquo Charts and Graphs Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Char

t G

raph

Titl

e

Equa

l Spa

cing

Cons

isten

t N

umbe

ring

Varia

bles

on

corr

ect a

xes

Labe

led

Axes

Lege

nd

61

Studentsrsquo Charts and Graphs Log

As you are collecting your experimental data remember that you must display an observation table for each experimental test and graph to display your results By creating a chart or graph you are making it easier for people to understand the relationship between your variables Below there are some helpful hints to remember when you are creating your chart or graph

Check when

completed

Leave equal spaces between the numbers on the axesNumber the axes consistently For instance if you start with the number 0 and the next values are 5 and 10 you cannot skip 20 The next number would be 15Your graph or chart must have a title The title should relate to the information contained in the chart or graph

62

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axisThe axes of the graph must be label You should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc)If you have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Be sure to include a legend with clear labels

Teachersrsquo Conclusion Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Acce

pted

or

Reje

cted

Hyp

othe

sis

Conc

lusio

ns

Supp

orte

d by

dat

a

Rese

arch

link

ed to

Co

nclu

sions

Sugg

estio

ns fo

r Fu

ture

Res

earc

h

If Hy

poth

esis

is re

ject

ed st

ated

po

ssib

le b

ias o

r ex

perim

enta

l err

ors

63

Studentsrsquo Conclusion Log

After you gather your data and complete your observation chart you will need to analyze your results When you analyze your data you need to ask ldquoWhat is the data telling me What trends to I see in my graphs Are the data for the control and the experimental group the same or different

Most of the data collected in during our STEM Fair projects will be mathematical or described by numbers Working with the data will help you practice your use of calculating mean and median Mean is the average of your data and median is the middle-most value when all of the measurements are listed from smallest to largest For example two experiments may have the same mean but differ is how the results are distributed You will need to compare the means and the medians of your data to determine how they differ If you are unsure about some of the math calculations or concepts you should ask your teacher or team members for help

When compiling your conclusion the main question you must answer is ldquoDo my result agree with my engineering hypothesisrdquo If your results support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquoacceptrdquo your

64

hypothesis If your results do not support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquorejectrdquo your hypothesis It is okay to accept or reject your hypothesis You should not change your data or results so that you can accept your original engineering hypothesis There is something to be learned from accepting and rejecting hypotheses Often engineers and scientists find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These engineers and scientists then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis start new research modifying their prototype and re-testing

After you determine if your engineering hypothesis will be accepted or rejected you must state why If your data supports your hypothesis why do you think they do If your data does not support your hypothesis how are they different And why do you think they differ The most important portion of the conclusion will be to explain why you got the results that you did When you are answering these questions it is important to refer to key points discovered during your research Information obtained during your research will be helpful in supporting your data and explaining the relationship between your data and engineering hypothesis

The last portion of your conclusion should include the following If your original hypothesis was rejected you must state possible sources of bias experimental or engineering errors You will need to determine if there are any changes that you could make to your engineering design and technical procedures to change the outcome of your research At this stage your team will modify your engineering design or technical procedures and re-test your prototype Each group is expected to modify their prototype and re-test twice

Sources of bias are generally found in experimental design as well All students whether you accepted or rejected your hypothesis should describe factors that they believe contributed to their results Then you should briefly explain possibilities for new experiments that could build on your results These could be derived from any investigative questions that cam up during your experimentation These questions will guide other students and researchers who find your research interesting and want to study the topic more

Check when complete

Accepted or Rejected HypothesisConclusions supported by dataConclusions linked to Information found in Literary ResearchModifications for Engineering Design or Technical ProceduresIf Hypothesis is Rejected stated possible Bias or Experimental Errors

Student STEM Fair Registration Form

INNOVATION ACADEMY______________________

65

( Please Print Clearly )

Reference

92412 5th 6th Grades Engineering Design Science Fair Packet (ED-SFP)

Paul Nance the Jordan District Elementary Science Teacher Specialist

NAME __________________________________AGE __________________________________GRADE amp SCHOOL __________________________________PROJECT TITLE __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT DESCRIPTION(Attach a copy of the project abstract)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

66

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos

Technical Procedures

What costs do you expect(Also complete Purchase Order)

Number of Trials 2 ndash Include Materials needed for the modifications ndash Trial 1 amp Trail 2

Teacher Signature ________________________________________________ Date _____________

Teachersrsquo Charts and Graphs Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Char

t G

raph

Titl

e

Equa

l Spa

cing

Cons

isten

t N

umbe

ring

Varia

bles

on

corr

ect a

xes

Labe

led

Axes

Lege

nd

61

Studentsrsquo Charts and Graphs Log

As you are collecting your experimental data remember that you must display an observation table for each experimental test and graph to display your results By creating a chart or graph you are making it easier for people to understand the relationship between your variables Below there are some helpful hints to remember when you are creating your chart or graph

Check when

completed

Leave equal spaces between the numbers on the axesNumber the axes consistently For instance if you start with the number 0 and the next values are 5 and 10 you cannot skip 20 The next number would be 15Your graph or chart must have a title The title should relate to the information contained in the chart or graph

62

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axisThe axes of the graph must be label You should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc)If you have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Be sure to include a legend with clear labels

Teachersrsquo Conclusion Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Acce

pted

or

Reje

cted

Hyp

othe

sis

Conc

lusio

ns

Supp

orte

d by

dat

a

Rese

arch

link

ed to

Co

nclu

sions

Sugg

estio

ns fo

r Fu

ture

Res

earc

h

If Hy

poth

esis

is re

ject

ed st

ated

po

ssib

le b

ias o

r ex

perim

enta

l err

ors

63

Studentsrsquo Conclusion Log

After you gather your data and complete your observation chart you will need to analyze your results When you analyze your data you need to ask ldquoWhat is the data telling me What trends to I see in my graphs Are the data for the control and the experimental group the same or different

Most of the data collected in during our STEM Fair projects will be mathematical or described by numbers Working with the data will help you practice your use of calculating mean and median Mean is the average of your data and median is the middle-most value when all of the measurements are listed from smallest to largest For example two experiments may have the same mean but differ is how the results are distributed You will need to compare the means and the medians of your data to determine how they differ If you are unsure about some of the math calculations or concepts you should ask your teacher or team members for help

When compiling your conclusion the main question you must answer is ldquoDo my result agree with my engineering hypothesisrdquo If your results support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquoacceptrdquo your

64

hypothesis If your results do not support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquorejectrdquo your hypothesis It is okay to accept or reject your hypothesis You should not change your data or results so that you can accept your original engineering hypothesis There is something to be learned from accepting and rejecting hypotheses Often engineers and scientists find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These engineers and scientists then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis start new research modifying their prototype and re-testing

After you determine if your engineering hypothesis will be accepted or rejected you must state why If your data supports your hypothesis why do you think they do If your data does not support your hypothesis how are they different And why do you think they differ The most important portion of the conclusion will be to explain why you got the results that you did When you are answering these questions it is important to refer to key points discovered during your research Information obtained during your research will be helpful in supporting your data and explaining the relationship between your data and engineering hypothesis

The last portion of your conclusion should include the following If your original hypothesis was rejected you must state possible sources of bias experimental or engineering errors You will need to determine if there are any changes that you could make to your engineering design and technical procedures to change the outcome of your research At this stage your team will modify your engineering design or technical procedures and re-test your prototype Each group is expected to modify their prototype and re-test twice

Sources of bias are generally found in experimental design as well All students whether you accepted or rejected your hypothesis should describe factors that they believe contributed to their results Then you should briefly explain possibilities for new experiments that could build on your results These could be derived from any investigative questions that cam up during your experimentation These questions will guide other students and researchers who find your research interesting and want to study the topic more

Check when complete

Accepted or Rejected HypothesisConclusions supported by dataConclusions linked to Information found in Literary ResearchModifications for Engineering Design or Technical ProceduresIf Hypothesis is Rejected stated possible Bias or Experimental Errors

Student STEM Fair Registration Form

INNOVATION ACADEMY______________________

65

( Please Print Clearly )

Reference

92412 5th 6th Grades Engineering Design Science Fair Packet (ED-SFP)

Paul Nance the Jordan District Elementary Science Teacher Specialist

NAME __________________________________AGE __________________________________GRADE amp SCHOOL __________________________________PROJECT TITLE __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT DESCRIPTION(Attach a copy of the project abstract)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

66

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos

Studentsrsquo Charts and Graphs Log

As you are collecting your experimental data remember that you must display an observation table for each experimental test and graph to display your results By creating a chart or graph you are making it easier for people to understand the relationship between your variables Below there are some helpful hints to remember when you are creating your chart or graph

Check when

completed

Leave equal spaces between the numbers on the axesNumber the axes consistently For instance if you start with the number 0 and the next values are 5 and 10 you cannot skip 20 The next number would be 15Your graph or chart must have a title The title should relate to the information contained in the chart or graph

62

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axisThe axes of the graph must be label You should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc)If you have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Be sure to include a legend with clear labels

Teachersrsquo Conclusion Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Acce

pted

or

Reje

cted

Hyp

othe

sis

Conc

lusio

ns

Supp

orte

d by

dat

a

Rese

arch

link

ed to

Co

nclu

sions

Sugg

estio

ns fo

r Fu

ture

Res

earc

h

If Hy

poth

esis

is re

ject

ed st

ated

po

ssib

le b

ias o

r ex

perim

enta

l err

ors

63

Studentsrsquo Conclusion Log

After you gather your data and complete your observation chart you will need to analyze your results When you analyze your data you need to ask ldquoWhat is the data telling me What trends to I see in my graphs Are the data for the control and the experimental group the same or different

Most of the data collected in during our STEM Fair projects will be mathematical or described by numbers Working with the data will help you practice your use of calculating mean and median Mean is the average of your data and median is the middle-most value when all of the measurements are listed from smallest to largest For example two experiments may have the same mean but differ is how the results are distributed You will need to compare the means and the medians of your data to determine how they differ If you are unsure about some of the math calculations or concepts you should ask your teacher or team members for help

When compiling your conclusion the main question you must answer is ldquoDo my result agree with my engineering hypothesisrdquo If your results support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquoacceptrdquo your

64

hypothesis If your results do not support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquorejectrdquo your hypothesis It is okay to accept or reject your hypothesis You should not change your data or results so that you can accept your original engineering hypothesis There is something to be learned from accepting and rejecting hypotheses Often engineers and scientists find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These engineers and scientists then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis start new research modifying their prototype and re-testing

After you determine if your engineering hypothesis will be accepted or rejected you must state why If your data supports your hypothesis why do you think they do If your data does not support your hypothesis how are they different And why do you think they differ The most important portion of the conclusion will be to explain why you got the results that you did When you are answering these questions it is important to refer to key points discovered during your research Information obtained during your research will be helpful in supporting your data and explaining the relationship between your data and engineering hypothesis

The last portion of your conclusion should include the following If your original hypothesis was rejected you must state possible sources of bias experimental or engineering errors You will need to determine if there are any changes that you could make to your engineering design and technical procedures to change the outcome of your research At this stage your team will modify your engineering design or technical procedures and re-test your prototype Each group is expected to modify their prototype and re-test twice

Sources of bias are generally found in experimental design as well All students whether you accepted or rejected your hypothesis should describe factors that they believe contributed to their results Then you should briefly explain possibilities for new experiments that could build on your results These could be derived from any investigative questions that cam up during your experimentation These questions will guide other students and researchers who find your research interesting and want to study the topic more

Check when complete

Accepted or Rejected HypothesisConclusions supported by dataConclusions linked to Information found in Literary ResearchModifications for Engineering Design or Technical ProceduresIf Hypothesis is Rejected stated possible Bias or Experimental Errors

Student STEM Fair Registration Form

INNOVATION ACADEMY______________________

65

( Please Print Clearly )

Reference

92412 5th 6th Grades Engineering Design Science Fair Packet (ED-SFP)

Paul Nance the Jordan District Elementary Science Teacher Specialist

NAME __________________________________AGE __________________________________GRADE amp SCHOOL __________________________________PROJECT TITLE __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT DESCRIPTION(Attach a copy of the project abstract)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

66

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos

The independent variable should be placed on the x-axis of the graph and the dependent variable should be placed on the y-axisThe axes of the graph must be label You should provide the unit of measurement in the label (grams centimeters liters etc)If you have more than one set of data they should show each series of data in a different color or symbol Be sure to include a legend with clear labels

Teachersrsquo Conclusion Log

Team Leaderrsquos

Name

Product and Associated Problem

Acce

pted

or

Reje

cted

Hyp

othe

sis

Conc

lusio

ns

Supp

orte

d by

dat

a

Rese

arch

link

ed to

Co

nclu

sions

Sugg

estio

ns fo

r Fu

ture

Res

earc

h

If Hy

poth

esis

is re

ject

ed st

ated

po

ssib

le b

ias o

r ex

perim

enta

l err

ors

63

Studentsrsquo Conclusion Log

After you gather your data and complete your observation chart you will need to analyze your results When you analyze your data you need to ask ldquoWhat is the data telling me What trends to I see in my graphs Are the data for the control and the experimental group the same or different

Most of the data collected in during our STEM Fair projects will be mathematical or described by numbers Working with the data will help you practice your use of calculating mean and median Mean is the average of your data and median is the middle-most value when all of the measurements are listed from smallest to largest For example two experiments may have the same mean but differ is how the results are distributed You will need to compare the means and the medians of your data to determine how they differ If you are unsure about some of the math calculations or concepts you should ask your teacher or team members for help

When compiling your conclusion the main question you must answer is ldquoDo my result agree with my engineering hypothesisrdquo If your results support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquoacceptrdquo your

64

hypothesis If your results do not support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquorejectrdquo your hypothesis It is okay to accept or reject your hypothesis You should not change your data or results so that you can accept your original engineering hypothesis There is something to be learned from accepting and rejecting hypotheses Often engineers and scientists find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These engineers and scientists then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis start new research modifying their prototype and re-testing

After you determine if your engineering hypothesis will be accepted or rejected you must state why If your data supports your hypothesis why do you think they do If your data does not support your hypothesis how are they different And why do you think they differ The most important portion of the conclusion will be to explain why you got the results that you did When you are answering these questions it is important to refer to key points discovered during your research Information obtained during your research will be helpful in supporting your data and explaining the relationship between your data and engineering hypothesis

The last portion of your conclusion should include the following If your original hypothesis was rejected you must state possible sources of bias experimental or engineering errors You will need to determine if there are any changes that you could make to your engineering design and technical procedures to change the outcome of your research At this stage your team will modify your engineering design or technical procedures and re-test your prototype Each group is expected to modify their prototype and re-test twice

Sources of bias are generally found in experimental design as well All students whether you accepted or rejected your hypothesis should describe factors that they believe contributed to their results Then you should briefly explain possibilities for new experiments that could build on your results These could be derived from any investigative questions that cam up during your experimentation These questions will guide other students and researchers who find your research interesting and want to study the topic more

Check when complete

Accepted or Rejected HypothesisConclusions supported by dataConclusions linked to Information found in Literary ResearchModifications for Engineering Design or Technical ProceduresIf Hypothesis is Rejected stated possible Bias or Experimental Errors

Student STEM Fair Registration Form

INNOVATION ACADEMY______________________

65

( Please Print Clearly )

Reference

92412 5th 6th Grades Engineering Design Science Fair Packet (ED-SFP)

Paul Nance the Jordan District Elementary Science Teacher Specialist

NAME __________________________________AGE __________________________________GRADE amp SCHOOL __________________________________PROJECT TITLE __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT DESCRIPTION(Attach a copy of the project abstract)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

66

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos

Studentsrsquo Conclusion Log

After you gather your data and complete your observation chart you will need to analyze your results When you analyze your data you need to ask ldquoWhat is the data telling me What trends to I see in my graphs Are the data for the control and the experimental group the same or different

Most of the data collected in during our STEM Fair projects will be mathematical or described by numbers Working with the data will help you practice your use of calculating mean and median Mean is the average of your data and median is the middle-most value when all of the measurements are listed from smallest to largest For example two experiments may have the same mean but differ is how the results are distributed You will need to compare the means and the medians of your data to determine how they differ If you are unsure about some of the math calculations or concepts you should ask your teacher or team members for help

When compiling your conclusion the main question you must answer is ldquoDo my result agree with my engineering hypothesisrdquo If your results support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquoacceptrdquo your

64

hypothesis If your results do not support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquorejectrdquo your hypothesis It is okay to accept or reject your hypothesis You should not change your data or results so that you can accept your original engineering hypothesis There is something to be learned from accepting and rejecting hypotheses Often engineers and scientists find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These engineers and scientists then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis start new research modifying their prototype and re-testing

After you determine if your engineering hypothesis will be accepted or rejected you must state why If your data supports your hypothesis why do you think they do If your data does not support your hypothesis how are they different And why do you think they differ The most important portion of the conclusion will be to explain why you got the results that you did When you are answering these questions it is important to refer to key points discovered during your research Information obtained during your research will be helpful in supporting your data and explaining the relationship between your data and engineering hypothesis

The last portion of your conclusion should include the following If your original hypothesis was rejected you must state possible sources of bias experimental or engineering errors You will need to determine if there are any changes that you could make to your engineering design and technical procedures to change the outcome of your research At this stage your team will modify your engineering design or technical procedures and re-test your prototype Each group is expected to modify their prototype and re-test twice

Sources of bias are generally found in experimental design as well All students whether you accepted or rejected your hypothesis should describe factors that they believe contributed to their results Then you should briefly explain possibilities for new experiments that could build on your results These could be derived from any investigative questions that cam up during your experimentation These questions will guide other students and researchers who find your research interesting and want to study the topic more

Check when complete

Accepted or Rejected HypothesisConclusions supported by dataConclusions linked to Information found in Literary ResearchModifications for Engineering Design or Technical ProceduresIf Hypothesis is Rejected stated possible Bias or Experimental Errors

Student STEM Fair Registration Form

INNOVATION ACADEMY______________________

65

( Please Print Clearly )

Reference

92412 5th 6th Grades Engineering Design Science Fair Packet (ED-SFP)

Paul Nance the Jordan District Elementary Science Teacher Specialist

NAME __________________________________AGE __________________________________GRADE amp SCHOOL __________________________________PROJECT TITLE __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT DESCRIPTION(Attach a copy of the project abstract)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

66

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos

hypothesis If your results do not support your engineering hypothesis you will ldquorejectrdquo your hypothesis It is okay to accept or reject your hypothesis You should not change your data or results so that you can accept your original engineering hypothesis There is something to be learned from accepting and rejecting hypotheses Often engineers and scientists find that their experimental results do not support their hypothesis These engineers and scientists then use these results as the first step in constructing a new hypothesis start new research modifying their prototype and re-testing

After you determine if your engineering hypothesis will be accepted or rejected you must state why If your data supports your hypothesis why do you think they do If your data does not support your hypothesis how are they different And why do you think they differ The most important portion of the conclusion will be to explain why you got the results that you did When you are answering these questions it is important to refer to key points discovered during your research Information obtained during your research will be helpful in supporting your data and explaining the relationship between your data and engineering hypothesis

The last portion of your conclusion should include the following If your original hypothesis was rejected you must state possible sources of bias experimental or engineering errors You will need to determine if there are any changes that you could make to your engineering design and technical procedures to change the outcome of your research At this stage your team will modify your engineering design or technical procedures and re-test your prototype Each group is expected to modify their prototype and re-test twice

Sources of bias are generally found in experimental design as well All students whether you accepted or rejected your hypothesis should describe factors that they believe contributed to their results Then you should briefly explain possibilities for new experiments that could build on your results These could be derived from any investigative questions that cam up during your experimentation These questions will guide other students and researchers who find your research interesting and want to study the topic more

Check when complete

Accepted or Rejected HypothesisConclusions supported by dataConclusions linked to Information found in Literary ResearchModifications for Engineering Design or Technical ProceduresIf Hypothesis is Rejected stated possible Bias or Experimental Errors

Student STEM Fair Registration Form

INNOVATION ACADEMY______________________

65

( Please Print Clearly )

Reference

92412 5th 6th Grades Engineering Design Science Fair Packet (ED-SFP)

Paul Nance the Jordan District Elementary Science Teacher Specialist

NAME __________________________________AGE __________________________________GRADE amp SCHOOL __________________________________PROJECT TITLE __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT DESCRIPTION(Attach a copy of the project abstract)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

66

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos

( Please Print Clearly )

Reference

92412 5th 6th Grades Engineering Design Science Fair Packet (ED-SFP)

Paul Nance the Jordan District Elementary Science Teacher Specialist

NAME __________________________________AGE __________________________________GRADE amp SCHOOL __________________________________PROJECT TITLE __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

PROJECT DESCRIPTION(Attach a copy of the project abstract)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

66

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos

• MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM FAIR
• Innovation Academyrsquos