Teaching Engineering in NY
Understanding the Engineering Design Process

Identify the Problem: Conduct Research

Research is integral in helping students identify the problem and understand the science behind the engineering design challenge. Research provides students with the opportunity to explore similar problems and learn how those problems were addressed in the past.

In addition to standard research methods (online research, library research, etc.), student research can include:

  • Watching videos: Students are accustomed to using YouTube as a reference and they can transition naturally to using media from PBS LearningMedia or other reliable, student-friendly sources for engineering research.
  • Exploring materials: Students can gather information by exploring the materials available for the design challenge. Younger students who might not be ready for formal research can gather a lot of information in this manner.
  • Conducting interviews: Students can interview teachers, parents, or content experts to learn more about a specific design challenge. This is especially useful for younger students who may not yet have the necessary skills to conduct internet research.

Research in Action

In this video, Ms. Salchli discusses how her students tested the materials as preparation for designing their water filters.

Keyboard Shortcut Action
Space Pause/Play video playback
Enter Pause/Play video playback
m Mute/Unmute video volume
Up and Down arrows Increase and decrease volume by 10%
Right and Left arrows Seek forward or backward by 5 seconds
0-9 Fast seek to x% of the video.
f Enter or exit fullscreen. (Note: To exit fullscreen in flash press the Esc key.
c Press c to toggle captions on or off

In the notes section below, share how you could incorporate initial material testing in your design challenge.