Formative assessment of the Engineering Design process Review questions in handout Write brief, informal answers to each question

Defining a problem that addresses a need What would you consider evidence that a student has developed the ability to clearly define a problem or challenge relating to a real-world need?

Identifying criteria, constraints and priorities What would you consider evidence that a student has developed the ability to identify criteria, constraints and priorities?

Describing relevant scientific principles and knowledge What would you consider evidence that a student can describe relevant scientific principles and knowledge?

Investigating possible solutions What would you consider evidence that a student can investigate possible solutions?

Designing and constructing a proposed solution What would you consider evidence that a student can design and construct a proposed solution?

Testing a proposed solution and collecting relevant data What would you consider evidence that a student test a proposed solution and collect relevant data?

Evaluating the proposed solution in terms of design and performance criteria, constraints, priorities and trade-offs What would you consider evidence that a student can evaluate a proposed solution in terms of Criteria Constraints Priorities Trade-offs

Identifying possible design improvements What would you consider evidence that a student can identify possible design improvements? Model-based troubleshooting Create one or more models that could explain the problem and make sense Conduct tests to test the validity of each model Eliminate possibilities until one model has been validated or add more models until one is validated.

What should students know about… Or, what would you consider evidence that a student has developed the corresponding skill? Defining a problem that addresses a need? Identifying criteria, constraints and priorities? Describing relevant scientific principles and knowledge? Investigating possible solutions? Designing and constructing a proposed solution? Testing a proposed solution and collecting relevant data? Evaluating the proposed solution in terms of design and performance criteria, constraints, priorities and trade-offs? Identifying possible design improvements? The Engineering Design process in general? 2 minutes each