Engineer and Design Process
What is the first step of the engineering design process?
Ask / Identify the problem
Breaking a big problem into smaller parts is called what?
Decomposition
Name one tool you might use in the STEAM lab.
(Accept various answers: ruler, scissors, hot glue gun, iPad, etc.)
You want to stop your phone charger from breaking near the plug. What’s the first step in solving this?
Identify the problem (Ask)
Name one similarity between the engineering design process and computational thinking.
Both involve problem solving and iteration
What do engineers create to test their ideas before building the final version?
A prototype
Finding patterns in data or problems is known as what?
Pattern recognition
What tool helps measure length accurately?
A ruler or measuring tape
You’re building a water filter and only have limited materials. Are those criteria or constraints?
Constraints
You’re asked to design a toy car that moves 5 feet. What is one constraint you might face?
(Accept: limited materials, time, or size restrictions)
What is the purpose of brainstorming?
To come up with as many ideas as possible
What is abstraction in computational thinking?
Focusing on important details and ignoring the rest
What material is best for building lightweight structures?
Cardboard or popsicle sticks
Your team built a bridge that collapsed under weight. What should you do next?
Redesign and improve it
Which part of computational thinking helps create simpler models of real problems?
Abstraction
What step comes after testing a prototype?
Improve / Redesign
Writing step-by-step instructions to solve a problem is called what?
Algorithm design
Why should engineers test with simple materials first?
To save time and resources before the final design
You’re designing a backpack that charges devices using solar power. What step are you in when you test how well it works outside?
Test and Evaluate
Give one example of using algorithms in everyday life.
Accept: following a recipe, brushing teeth, tying shoes, etc.)
What is the difference between criteria and constraints?
Criteria are the goals the design should achieve; constraints are the limits or restrictions (like time, materials, or budget).
How does computational thinking help engineers?
It helps them plan, analyze, and solve problems logically and efficiently.
What is the difference between a tool and a material?
Tools are used to build; materials are used up to make the product
Your group wants a bridge that can hold 20 lbs and use less than $5 in materials. Which is the criteria and which is the constraint?
Hold 20 lbs = criteria; under $5 = constraint
Why is failure important in engineering?
It helps identify what doesn’t work and leads to improvement