1. Title (make it fun or a pun)
Name(s)
A picture in the background would be nice.
Insert pictures wherever you would like but they need to be photos of your experiment NOT graphics from the internet.

2. Category: Which category do you find most interesting?
*Animal Sciences
Intelligent Machines, Robotics & Systems Software
*Behavioral & Social Sciences
Mathematics & Computational Sciences
*Biomedical & Heath Sciences
Cellular/Molecular Biology & Biochemistry
Physics and Astronomy
Plant Sciences
Chemistry
Earth & Environmental Sciences
*Extra Paperwork Required and must be signed off by medical professional before experimentation
Engineering
Environmental Engineering

3. Identify a need
The need (also called the problem you are solving or the Engineering Goal) is frequently identified by customers–the users of the product. The customer could be a retail consumer or the next team in a product development. Customers may express needs by describing a product (I need a car) or as a functional requirement (I need a way to get to school). The need should be described in a simple statement that includes what you are designing (the product), who it is for (customer), what need does it satisfy (problem to solve), and how does it improve previous designs (easier to use, less expensive, more efficient, safer).

4. Research about your topic!
You should research your topic in general and write a solid paragraph from multiple sources.
Go to the end of this PowerPoint and cite the sources that you use.

5. Step 2. Establish design criteria and constraints
Design criteria are requirements you specify that will be used to make decisions about how to build and evaluate the product. Criteria are derived from needs expressed by customers. Criteria define the product’s physical and functional characteristics and must be declared as a measurable quantity.  Some examples of measurable criteria include length (in cm, km, etc.); mass (in mg, kg, etc.); velocity (in m/sec, km/hr., etc.); and ruggedness (able to withstand an impact force of x Newtons).  Some examples of measurable accuracy include, ‘…fewer than y errors per mSec…’ or ‘…fewer than z particles per liter of fluid….’  Constraints are factors that limit the engineer’s flexibility. Some typical constraints are cost, time, and knowledge; legal issues; natural factors such as topography, climate, raw materials; and where the product will be used. Good designs will meet important design criteria within the limits fixed by the constraints. Good designs are also economical to make and use because cost is always a design constraint!
Go to the end of this PowerPoint and cite the sources that you use.

6. Rationale This is why we should care about your project?
What is the Scientific Impact?
What is the Societal Impact?
If your project does not have a scientific or societal impact that it is not going to be an approved project. Your project needs to MATTER!

7. Step 3. Evaluate alternative designs
Your research into possible solutions will reveal what has been done to satisfy similar needs. You’ll discover where knowledge and science limit your solutions, how previous solutions may be improved, and what different approaches may meet design objectives. You should consider at least two or three alternative designs and consider using available technology, modifying current designs, or inventing new solutions. Superior work will demonstrate tradeoff analyses such as comparing the strength vs. cost of various bridge-building materials. It’s important to document in your project notebook how you chose and evaluated alternative designs. Can you defend your choices to the judges?
STOP! You must complete an Application Form and obtain approval from your teacher BEFORE you build your prototype. Many engineering design projects will require preapproval from the SRC, particularly if you will involve humans in your product testing. See the SRC approval decision tree in the Handbook.

8. Materials List
Include amounts (quantities) and measurements (sizes). Make sure to include enough materials to complete the total number of trials.
Use metric units
Include ALL equipment used – except pen and paper unless it is part of the experiment.
Put your materials in a list using bullet points. Make it multiple columns or pages to accommodate your materials.
BE SPECIFIC!

9. Procedures
The procedure is a specific set of steps taken in order to do the experiment. Someone who does not know anything about the project should be able to read the procedure and duplicate the experiment without any questions.
Number all procedures and skip spaces in between each step.
Use a NARRATIVE tone – no pronouns and PRESENT tense.
Use metric measurements.
Write down ALL steps including when and/or how to record the information gained from the experiment.
Write down amounts used in the steps.
Include as many trials as possible (at least 5). When using plants or humans, the higher the number the better.
Instead of retyping steps for another trial use the term “repeat” and list the steps that need repeated.

10. Step 4. Build a prototype of best design
Use your alternative analyses to choose the design that best meets criteria considering the constraints, then build a prototype. A prototype is the first full scale and usually functional form of a new type or design.

11. Step 5. Test and evaluate the prototype against important design criteria to show how well the product meets the need
You should develop a test plan describing what you will test, how you will test, and how you’ll perform analysis. You must test your prototype under actual or simulated operating conditions. Customers are usually involved in product testing so be sure you have SRC approval if people are involved.

12. Trials How many trials are you planning on having?
Keep in mind the more the better. If its something that will take a lot of time you may want to run multiple trials at the same time.
If it is a people project you need to get a large sample size. Ideally 50 or more.
How do you propose to get enough supplies or test participants?
What may limit your ability to perform this many trials?

13. Qualitative Data
This is a description of what you noticed during your experiment but didn’t necessarily measure.
Observations about color changes or smells would be appropriate here.

14. Quantitative Data Table (you can have more than one)
All data tables must have the following:
A Title: descriptive, explains exactly what was tested and compared. (Do not use creative titles like “Colorful Candy” - this does not tell what was measured).
Variables – one for each axis: tells what was being measured (ex. Height of plants, pH of soil, amount of candy)
Units: tells how the variables were measured (ex. Centimeters, pH, numbers)
Give a key for any abbreviations used

15. Graph (you can use excel or websites like mathisfun
Graph (you can use excel or websites like mathisfun.com) (you can have more than one)
Graphs must include the following:
Title: This should be descriptive and explain exactly what was tested and compared (do not use creative titles like “colorful candy”. This does not tell what was measured. For line graphs the title should be “How does Time affect Plant Growth”)
Labels: Test/Independent Variable on the x-axis and the Outcome/Dependent Variable on the y-axis
Units: These should be in parentheses after the labels
Evenly Spaced Scale: should be on both axis
“This graph shows…” statement: must summarize the relationship between the variables of the experiment. All claims must be backed up with evidence from the data collected.

16. Step 6. Analyze test results, make design changes and retest
Testing will disclose some deficiencies in your design. Sometimes the testing fails completely and sends the designer “back to the drawing board.” Make corrections and retest OR prepare an analysis of what went wrong and how you will fix it. As always, document your analyses, fixes, and retests in your notebook.

17. Conclusion
The conclusion is the evaluation of the results and a determination of whether or not the problem was solved and the project worked.
Restate the problem
Describe your constraints and solution.
Cite evidence from experiment to back up your claim
Explain or elaborate on your evidence
Summative statement add any further experiments that could be done to extend on your research
Sentence starters…
It was thought that… It was found that… The claim was made that…
However… could have affected the results because

18. Step 7. Communicate the design
The designer’s real product is the description of a design from which others will build the product. Use your notebook and the fair exhibit to communicate the design to your customer and the judges. Your product description will be conveyed in drawings, photos, materials lists, assembly instructions, test plans and results. Consider listing lessons so future designers need not repeat any of your “frustrations.” You’ll have clear instructions on how to produce your design, along with production cost estimates.

19. What I learned
What did you learn in the course of your project. This is an informal statement made to describe your experience.

20. Things I would change
This should be a solid paragraph explaining how you would do your project better if you had a chance to do it again.

21. Bibliography (minimum of 5)
Don’t just list websites. You need to use a website like or to generate actual citations.