A second chance

This article paints a clear picture, on how teachers can help students develop conceptual understanding and explore the design process. By implementing more real world hands-on activities th... See More

This article paints a clear picture, on how teachers can help students develop conceptual understanding and explore the design process. By implementing more real world hands-on activities that students can have more than one chance to be successful at a task. Affording students the opportunity to build interest and gain knowledge through engineering design challenges. I found this article very helpful and informative. Offering additional resources to give students more chances to be successful. Like the author, when my students struggle on a task, I try to help them think of a solution to their problem. Through critical thinking skills and discussing what worked and what did not work. Teachers could even use the design process chart as an anchor cheat or a part of their interactive notebooks. Affording students an opportunity to refer back to when needed.

Engineering Design Steps

Students in elementary grades often learn while they model something. In this activity students embrace some challenges that NASA scientists might have experienced by designing and testing ... See More

Students in elementary grades often learn while they model something. In this activity students embrace some challenges that NASA scientists might have experienced by designing and testing Styrofoam and paper airplanes. For teachers who are not familiar with the design process they learn that the steps include building, testing and making modifications to retest and rebuild the product. These are the elemental components of true engineering design. This is a good fun activity for both students and teachers.

Great Challenge

In this article students engage in a hands-on challenge to design a paper airplane. The article details the introduction of the design process including planning, building, testing, and mod... See More

In this article students engage in a hands-on challenge to design a paper airplane. The article details the introduction of the design process including planning, building, testing, and modifying their design. The lesson also includes content information about principles of lift, drag, thrust, and weight. Students will be truly engaged as they work through the design process.

Airplane Designing

This article makes a great point. Often students only get a chance to experience some activity once. They may go away thinking "I could change this....", etc. With engineering design chal... See More

This article makes a great point. Often students only get a chance to experience some activity once. They may go away thinking "I could change this....", etc. With engineering design challenges they get to try things over and over as they rethink their designs. The article describes an airplane design challenge. At the time of this review I found that the web links in the article no longer work.

Building Background Information

This article shows how to use the design process with students to gain a better understanding of a concept. I like how the teacher included background information as part of the lesson so s... See More

This article shows how to use the design process with students to gain a better understanding of a concept. I like how the teacher included background information as part of the lesson so students could have more success with the challenge.