1. Elementary Engineers: Using Stories to Engage in the Design Process
Elizabeth Mitchell
Adjunct Instructor, Zayed University
Engineering Education Student, Tuft’s University

2. Workshop Goals After this session you will be able to:
Select books that are a good fit to inspire engineering problems and solutions
Facilitate students as they identify problems and design solutions
After this session you will be familiar with:
The engineering design process
Engineering design terms you can use with your students
When back in your classroom you will:
Have resources you can go to for support, examples and more information

3. Next Generation Science Standards
K-2
3-5
K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem. K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost. 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. 3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

4. STEM
Science
Technology
? Engineering
Mathematics
What do engineers do? How can elementary students explore and develop engineering skills?

5. What do engineers do? Engineers solve human- related problems.
Identify a user
Define their problem
Identify any constraints or limitations
Develop possible solutions
Prototype the solution
Reiterate

6. How can elementary students explore and develop engineering skills?
By:
Through:
doing, creating, making, prototyping, reiterating, researching, sympathizing and
reading inspiring stories

7. How it works Read a book and identify problems
Scope the problems and brainstorm solutions
Design a solution
Get feedback
Improve designs
Share

8. https://www. freelancer

9. Read the book

10. Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! Select a book with:
Characters students can identify with
A story that has problems characters can solve
A story that lends itself to many different solutions

11. Define the problem

12. While listening to the story
Mr. McGreely
Rabbits
Describe him
What is his problem?
What are his strengths?
What are his limitations?
Describe them
What is their problem?
What are their strengths?
What are their limitations?

13. Brainstorm Solutions

14. Idea generation - brainstorm solutions
Identify 5-10 different solutions with your group, don’t limit yourself or evaluate them
Aim is to promote idea fluency to generate many ideas without judging the solutions yet
Draw it
Write it
Describe it

15. Determine the optimal the solution
What characteristics should the optimal solution have?
Review your client or characters’ constraints and strengths
Discuss which solution is the best fit for them
Which solution is the optimal solution?

16. Develop this solution Draw Label Prepare
As a group plan your pitch
Label
Clearly identify key details
Draw
Roughly sketch design components
Develop this solution

17. Discuss Further develop your solution through peer feedback
Present your idea to another group
Present
Kindly ask questions to help the other group develop their idea
Ask
Have the other group present to you
Repeat
Discuss Further develop your solution through peer feedback

18. Pedagogy check
How did your solution develop when you considered the constraints and limitations of the client?
How did your idea generation progress when you opened yourself to consider all possible solutions without judgement?
What happened when you compared those ideas to the optimal solution?
How did your idea/solution evolve when you collaborated with the other group?

21. Solutions by Second Graders
Which character have the students empathized with? What’s their solution?

22. Solutions by Second Graders
Check out the diversity of solutions Who did they identify as their client?
Top has a ladder that lets the bunnies climb in and out.
Bottom left is a bunny launcher.
Bottom right is a sling shot that keeps bunnies out.

23. In this workshop we: Read and identified problems
Brainstormed optimal solutions
Attentively read the text
Identified characters
Described the characters’ problems
Considered the needs of the characters
Described the context of their situation
Identified the constraints imposed by the situation
Brainstormed solutions
Evaluated solutions with peer support

24. The Benefits
Teacher chooses the book, inspiring readers at all levels including ELL
Develops reading comprehension - students use evidence from the text to support their ideas
Engages all learners - students who struggle with language arts have a new way to demonstrate comprehension
Provides opportunity to meet Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards
Frames realistic engineering problems
Students explore the Engineering Design Process, supporting development of teamwork and communication skills

25. That's the beauty of using novels
That's the beauty of using novels. Students can come up with so many different problems and rationales for different criteria and constraints based on their understanding of the characters. It helps the teacher see how well they can pick up on context clues and provide evidence for their thinking.
Becky McDowell, K-6 Engineering Teacher and Tuft’s University TA

26. Terminology
Constraints – Limitations or restrictions which could be based on user attributes like skill, time, resources, or money
Prototype – A preliminary or first version of a device or design
Affordances – Perceived and actual properties of a thing; what it looks like, what it does and what it can actually do
Iterate – Repeat part or all of the design process in an effort to improve a prototype
Framing the problem – How students interpret and understand the problem before brainstorming design solutions

27. Resources
Engineering is Elementary Developed by the Museum of Science, Boston Novel Engineering Novel Engineering Project support by funding from the National Science Foundation TeachEngineering.org Digital library funded by the National Science Foundation TEEP Teacher Engineering Education Program, Tuft’s University

28. Articles
“A Literacy-Based Strategy to Help Teachers Integrate Science Skills”
science-skills/?platform=hootsuite
“The Informed Design Teaching and Learning Matrix” by Crismond and Adams
Learning_Matrix