Using the Engineering Design Method

Pre-requisite Explorations

Before you begin, we recommend that you complete the Engineering Design Method exploration.

In this hands-on activity, your team's goal is to complete one of the following design challenge options basing it on a science concept or some form of technology that YOU can explain.

Design Option 1 "Hack Trick"

Ever hear about the time that MIT turned the top of the school's tallest building into the world's largest sound (VU) meter to accompany the Boston Pops' July 4th, 1993 concert and fireworks display? MIT has a proud history of designing daring, entertaining pranks, or "hacks" as they are called by MIT students. Your challenge is to design a harmlessprank on your parents, friends, siblings...you choose!  (Please, no school pranks allowed.  Your teachers and administrators have enough on their hands!)  Remember, this is all in good fun. In the spirit of MIT hacks, your prank should be benign and clever and should not be physically (or emotionally!) dangerous to people or property.

Design Option 2 "Toy With 'Em"

Ever had to suffer through a car ride with a petulant small child? Are you sometimes interrupted by a demanding younger sibling or neighbor? Want to surprise an admiring little person? Using science concepts or technology, design a toy to entertain (or keep quiet!) a child in your life!

Design Option 3 "Sure Fire Teen Alarm"

According to the American Sleep Disorders Association, the average teenager needs around 9.5 hours of sleep per night, yet studies show that teenagers generally get an average of only 7.4 hours a night, a pattern of behavior that could lead to sleep deprivation.  Do you have trouble waking up in the morning for school? Ever ignore your alarm clock and miss an important appointment? Or maybe you have a sibling or friend or teammate who struggles with this? Your challenge is to design a sure-fire way to wake up a sleepy teen...

How to Receive Points

To receive credit for this exploration, your team must address each of the following on your Team Page:

1. Work through the Engineering Design Method in the conceptual design of your solution and document your thinking through each step of the process.  (See the Engineering Design Method Exploration.)
2. Provide a written explanation of your idea that includes a complete description of the scientific/technological principles incorporated in your design, including, where possible, the mathematical basis for the concept(s) related to your design.
3. Provide a schematic of your idea.
4. Upload an image of your finished design to your Team Space, if you were able to construct it!  (You are not required to build a model of your conceptual design in order to receive points for this level, but we'd love to see you try!)

We want you to show us what you've learned about the Engineering Design Method!

If You Need Help

If you have specific questions about this exploration, please contact your Mentor.