Engineering Design Process

Instructor directions are listed below:

1. Explain that students will use the Engineering Design Process to create an automated invention inspired by the IoT solution their team invented in the Intro to Internet of Things activity.
2. Review the seven-step Engineering Design Process (in the Thinkabit Lab Notebook on page 10). Alternatively, you can use the engineering design process that is commonly used at your site.

• Step 1 – Define the Problem: Think about your home, community, school. What is a problem that you and your team can solve? Which IoT category(s) does it represent?
• Step 2 – Brainstorm: Share ideas with your team on how you can solve this problem. In this step, it is important to let the ideas flow.
• Step 3 – Design: What will you create/build to solve this problem? What will it look like? In this step, you and your team will sketch your design ideas.
• Step 4 – Build: What materials do you need to build a representation of your IoT invention? In this step, you will work with your team to create your project.
• Step 5 – Test: Does your project work? How does it solve the problem you intended? In this step, if something is not working, re-check your design and the wiring of your project.
• Step 6 – Iterate: When you test, there will likely be something not quite right with your project. Repeat as many steps above as needed to improve upon your project.
• Step 7 – Share: How can your team best share what it has built? What problem does your invention solve? Which IoT category(s) does it represent? Explain the moving aspect of your project.

• At the Thinkabit Lab, allowing students ample time to work with team members through the engineering design process is critical. We stress the importance of making a design before building something. Explain to students that an important part of being an engineer is being able to work in a team. Ask students to be sure that all team members contribute to the design of the automated invention.
• Emphasize the importance of teamwork throughout the engineering design process.