- Science
- Grade KG
- Scientific and engineering practices
evaluate a design or object using criteria to determine if it works as intended.
Students can evaluate their design solution (prototype, product, process, or proof of concept) using a rubric. A rubric is a tool that can be used to guide and assess student performance and skills related to the design challenge and associated thinking processes (engineering design process or computational thinking).
The rubric can be designed by students or the teacher and should consider the following areas:
Were the criteria and constraints for the design challenge met?
• Students design their solution based on the criteria (desired outcomes) and consider constraints (limitations).
Did the design include ideas from all team members?
• Students work in collaborative teams to contribute solution ideas and design a cohesive plan.
Did the design solve the problem?
• Students develop and implement testing processes, gather data, and engage in data analysis. Data results are analyzed to determine how the design solves the problem.
Was the project at or under budget?
• Students conduct a cost-benefit analysis. A cost-benefit analysis compares the projected or estimated costs and benefits (or opportunities) associated with project decisions. In an engineering design challenge, examples of costs may include but are not limited to materials, building/implementation time investment or duration, environmental impact, safety considerations, and projected durability or longevity of the design solution or product. In kindergarten–grade 2, it is appropriate to focus on the budget component of a cost-benefit analysis. For example, students can use tokens to represent their total budget. They can make decisions about which materials to spend their tokens on and later reflect on whether they feel like they made good choices in how to spend those tokens.
Research
National Assessment Governing Board. 2013. "Engineering Design." Technology and Engineering Literacy Framework for the 2014 National Assessment of Education Progress. Washington: US Department of Education: 2-22-2-25. www.nagb.gov/naep-subject-areas/technology-and-engineering-literacy/framework-archive/2014-technology-framework/toc/ch_2/design/design2.html. Accessed November 29, 2022.
Summary: This article articulates the engineering design process for finding solutions to problems or completing challenges. Successful solutions have criteria and constraints that must be considered throughout the problem-solving process. Scientists often consider how similar problems have been solved previously to help generate ideas. These solutions/final products must be evaluated to see if the product or process meets the requirement and solves the problem.