Teaching Engineering in NY
Understanding the Engineering Design Process

Identify the Problem

The first step of the engineering design process sets the stage for students to succeed as problem solvers and engineers. During this step, students gather all the information they need to address the engineering challenge. They answer the following:

  • What is the problem that needs to be solved?
  • Why is this a problem/issue?
  • What can be done to solve the problem?

Their work should focus on three things:

  1. Context: What is the underlying science context?
  2. Goals: What is the goal they wish to achieve?
  3. Materials: What can they “do” with the materials?
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Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
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This step of the engineering design process matches the NGSS disciplinary core idea Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems:

“Possible solutions to a problem are limited by available materials and resources (constraints). The success of a designed solution is determined by considering the desired features of a solution (criteria).”

A helpful resource for navigating the NGSS is the PBS LearningMedia collection NGSS Demystified: A Toolkit for Training Teachers.