“How Engineers Think”

A PowerPoint GameBy

Manuel BurtonEvangelical Christian School

Play the game

Directions

Story

Credits

Copyright Notice

Game Preparation

Objectives

“How Engineers Think”

Engineers use the Engineering Design Process to develop solutions to projects. This is a step by step approach that gives insight into the thoughts of engineers. The phases in this Process were created to identify a problem in detail and find the exact solution to solve it. They keep documented information throughout this process to evaluate every alternative solution to a problem. Engineers understand that there are many ways to solve a problem, but they want to provide the best solution for the project.

Game DirectionsThe goal of the game is for students to learn about the Engineering Design Process.

• A team will be randomly selected to begin the game. • The team will choose a category and the points they want to earn for a correct answer to

a question. • Once the point value is selected, then a question will come up for the team to answer

within 1 minute. • If that team answers correctly, they will continue to choose other points and answer

questions until they answer incorrectly. • Once a question is answered incorrectly, another team will have the opportunity to answer

the question. • If the team answers correctly, they gain control of the game and choosing the category

and value of points they want to earn. • If 1 minute passes without a response from a team, then the question is open to be

answered by any team for control of the game. • If a question is clicked and marked with Engineer Double, then the team that chose the

question will choose the amount of points they want to risk, according to what they have gained already. No team may risk more points than they have accumulated. If the team chooses the Engineer Double on their 1st choice of the game or they have accumulated no points, then they can risk up to 100 points. If this question is answered incorrectly, then another team can answer for the same amount of points. This process continues until all the questions on the game board are answered.

To win the game you have to earn the most points through the duration of the game.

Game Board

Game Preparation

Game Score Sheet: Click on the link below and print out slide 10 for each team. Students will choose a representative to keep up with the score of their team.

Score Sheet

Credits

• Originally designed by Manuel Burton, Evangelical Christian School, March 31, 2014 “How Engineers Think”.

• “Jeopardy” Television Show

Educational Objectives

• Audience– Students in 9th – 12th grades who are studying engineering concepts or in

robotics clubs

• Subject Area Objectives– Students will be able to learn about the details of the Engineering Design

Process.– Students will learn the value of peer to peer interaction in “playing” the

game in teams.

Copyright

• Copyright 2014 Manuel Burton• Permission to copy this game at no cost is granted to all teachers and

students of non-profit schools. • Permission is also granted to all teachers and students of non-profit

schools to make revisions to this game for their own purposes, on the condition that this copyright page and the credits page remain part of the game. Teachers and students who adapt the game should add their names and affiliations to the credits page without deleting any names already there.

Time to play “How Engineers Think”

‘What is the

Problem’

‘Any Thought

s…’

‘What are we to do’

‘Build it’ ‘Any Chang

es’

25 Points

25 Points

25 Points

25 Points

25 Points

50 Points

50 Points

50 Points

50 Points

50 Points

75 Points

75 Points

75 Points

75 Points

75 Points

100 Points

100 Points

100 Points

100 Points

100 Points

Game Directions

Category Question Points Earned

Total Points:

Team Name:

In the beginning of a project Engineers gather detailed information about

the problem to gain a better understanding of the

project.

True / False

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Answer

TrueEngineers gather detailed

information because they want to find the exact solution to

the problem

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What are tools used to determine the details of the problem being solved in a

project?

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Answer

Pictures, Video, Measurements, Interviews

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In a project, the environment surrounding the problem has no affect on the solution .

True / False

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Answer

FalseThe environment surrounding the problem directly affects the solution to the problem.

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What resources do engineers use to formulate initial solutions to a problem?

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Answer

Engineers research similar problems via the internet,

talk with other professionals, read articles, and research solutions to similar problems to find initial solutions.

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Engineers only find one solution to a project.

True / False

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Answer

FalseEngineers try to find multiple solutions to a

project.

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Engineers keep this to document all data and

solutions generated through the duration of the project.

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Answer

Engineering Notebook

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Engineers only document “good” ideas for solutions to

their project.

True / False

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Answer

FalseEngineers consider every idea a “good” idea to promote a positive attitude towards

reaching the goal.

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Engineers want to figure out the solution that provides __________ functionality and stability for the project.

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Answer

Maximum

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Engineers want to provide the best solution for the

project.

True / False

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Answer

TrueEngineers only want to

provide the best solution for a project.

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What do engineers create in order to visualize their

ideas?

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Answer

Drawings and Models

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Engineers evaluate the positive and negative design components of a potential solution to a project.

True / False

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Answer

TrueEngineers evaluate the

positive and negative design components to offer the best

solution to the project.

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ENGINEERDOUBLE!

What is your wager?

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QUESTION

Why do engineers keep all potential solutions

documented in the Engineering Notebook?

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Answer

It provides a visual learning tool that engineers use to contrast the positive and negative components of each

design solution. This comparison often leads to the development of a solution from design components of each potential solution.

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Engineers build the _______ components of the design

solution first to determine their functionality.

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Answer

Essential

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Engineers want to provide the solution that will provide the best results for the

project.

True / False

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Answer

True

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Functionality _______ are designed and simulated in the

actual environment the solution will be operating.

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Answer

Tests

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Why are functionality tests performed on a potential solution to a project?

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Answer

Functionality tests are performed to determine the efficiency and show the

modifications necessary to improve the solution.

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Engineers review feedback gained in the Testing phase to make modifications to the

design of the solution.

True / False

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Answer

True

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Engineers refer to what for documented alternative design

ideas?

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Answer

Engineering Notebook

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The phases in the Engineering Design Process are correlated due to the __________ that

can arise in any phase of the Process.

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Answer

Difficulties

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ENGINEERDOUBLE!

What is your wager?

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QUESTION

Once engineers have chosen and developed their solution,

why is the Engineering Notebook critical to the

presentation?

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Answer

The Engineering Notebook is critical because it offers insight into alternative

designs and gives engineers documented research for why they chose that specific solution to the project.

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