STEM 101
What do the letters in STEM stand for?
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
I design roads, bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure. Who am I?
Civil Engineer.
What is the term for protecting computers, networks, accounts, and digital information?
Cybersecurity.
What is a prototype?
A model or early version of a design that can be tested and improved.
A tower must stand at least 20 inches tall. Is '20 inches tall' a criterion or a constraint?
Criterion.
A student uses measurements and calculations to compare two prototype designs. Which area of STEM is being used most directly?
Mathematics.
I develop computer programs, apps, and software systems. Who am I?
Software Engineer.
What is a digital footprint?
The trail or record of information a person leaves through online activity.
Why do engineers test prototypes?
To gather evidence/data about what works, identify problems, and improve the design.
A team has only 25 minutes to complete its design. Is the time limit a criterion or a constraint?
Constraint.
A school wants to reduce wasted electricity. Students collect energy-use data, analyze the numbers, and design a solution. Why is this a STEM problem?
It combines multiple STEM areas to investigate and solve a real-world problem.
I may design airplanes, rockets, spacecraft, or satellites. Who am I?
Aerospace Engineer.
Why is a password such as 'Jordan2013' weak?
It contains predictable/personal information and is easier to guess.
A prototype works during the first test. Why might an engineer test it again instead of immediately calling it finished?
One successful test may not prove reliability; repeated testing can reveal weaknesses and provide more evidence.
A wheelchair must fit through a standard doorway and cost no more than $500 to manufacture. Identify one criterion and one constraint.
Criterion: fit through a standard doorway. Constraint: cost no more than $500.
A team is designing a device to collect rainwater for a school garden. Name TWO areas of STEM they could use and explain how each would help.
Engineering to design the device; Mathematics to calculate capacity or measurements; Science to understand water/weather; Technology to monitor water levels.
A company is creating a robotic arm with gears, joints, and moving parts. Which type of engineer would most likely focus on how those parts move and work together?
Mechanical Engineer.
A student deletes a photo after several classmates shared it. Explain why deleting the original may NOT erase the student's digital footprint.
Other people may have saved, shared, copied, or screenshotted the photo.
Two teams build towers. Team A's tower is taller but collapses. Team B's tower is slightly shorter but meets every project requirement and stands independently. Which design is more successful and why?
Team B, because it meets the required criteria and functions successfully.
A team has $4 remaining and extra materials cost $2 per bag. Their tower stands but is not tall enough. What should they consider BEFORE buying more materials?
They should determine what material is most likely to help meet the height criterion, consider the budget constraint, and avoid wasting limited resources.
A community has frequent flooding after heavy rain. Describe a STEM-based approach the community could use to investigate and solve the problem.
Collecting/analyzing data, designing a solution, using technology/models, testing, and improving the solution.
A city is developing a smart traffic system that includes new road structures AND computer-controlled traffic signals. Name TWO types of engineers who could work together and explain each role.
Civil Engineer for roads/infrastructure and Software Engineer for the computer-controlled system. Mechanical/Electrical may also be reasonable if well explained.
A message appears to come from a gaming company and says you have won a prize. It asks for your full name, school, home address, and account password. Identify THREE warning signs and explain the safest response.
Warning signs include unexpected prize, request for personal information/password, unknown or suspicious sender/link, and urgency. Do not click/respond; verify through an official source and report/delete the message.
A team's design fails three times, but each test reveals a different weak point. Explain why the team may actually be making progress.
Each failure provides useful data/evidence that guides redesign and improvement; iteration is part of engineering.
A rescue device must hold 50 pounds, fit inside a 12-inch storage box, be completed in 30 minutes, and use no more than $15 in materials. Sort the requirements into criteria and constraints.
Criteria: hold 50 pounds and fit inside a 12-inch storage box. Constraints: 30-minute time limit and $15 materials budget.