EDD Unit 1
Arctic Innovation
Arctic Innovation Introduction
Welcome to Unit 1

Our first unit looks very closely at the Engineering Design Process, with particular focus on the ‘define the problem’ and ‘research and brainstorming’ steps.  The UAF Arctic Innovation Competition asks students to develop an idea for a solution to a problem.  You and your team will go through the engineering process to solve a problem and submit your solution to the competition.  As you do this, your team will be expected to:

  • Select a problem and create a complete design brief
  • Research & Brainstorm many possible solutions (at least 15)
  • Develop your solution and describe the solution with sketches and writing
  • Submit your idea and create a presentation

In addition to our engineering work, we’ll also do some small work to think about applying to colleges and scholarships.  While you’re budgeting time for your game creation, you also need to do two college tasks.

  • College Task 1: Research 3 colleges
  • College Task 2: Request 4 letters of recommendation 

When you and your design team are finished, you’ll have a complete submission for the Arctic Innovation Competition, and you’ll also have your first bit of college research done!

Part 1: Arctic Innovation

Engineering Design Process Overview

Any good engineering project starts with a very detailed design brief to help clarify the problem.  As your team starts to tackle a problem for the AIC, the first step will be to create a design brief.  Follow the process and organization that we’ve always used to create a design brief that includes criteria and constraints.

Next, your team will need to watch the video on Research & Brainstorm, and then sit down together and brainstorm at least 15 possible solutions to your problem.  Some of your ideas may already exist, others may be absurd, but the idea is to write down as many as you possibly can. 

Most of our time will go into developing our solution. Your team needs to work together to agree on a solution, sketch out what it will look like, describe your solution in some small essays, and develop a presentation.  In the end you’ll have a complete submission for UAF’s AIC.

GRADING & PROCESS

 Engineering Design Brief

 Research & Brainstorm at least 30 ideas

 Mr. Benshoof’s approval of the design brief & brainstorm

 Develop your solution with sketches, descriptions

 Complete the 5 mini-essays with your team

 Submit your design to the UAF AIC (http://arcticinno.com).

 Create a presentation for our class and some model of your solution

 Unit 1 Quiz!

AIC Overview

Choosing a Problem

Research & Brainstorm

Part 2: College Tasks

Personal Resume

A small but important part of our course will be putting together some items that will make college applications and scholarship applications easier.  The sooner you start making progress on the college process the better! In each unit you’ll be doing important engineering work, and will probably spend the majority of your class time on engineering projects.  However, the college tasks ALSO need to happen during that time. The most successful students have treated the college tasks as homework, and the engineering work as classwork.

For this first unit, you need to watch the personal resume video and then create a personal resume.  You also need to go (physically) to the counseling office and request 3 copies of your official transcript.  As you start applying for some scholarships and college admissions, you will be asked to include a resume and official transcript.  It’s also useful to have a resume to give to potential references when you ask them to write you letters of recommendation.

GRADING & PROCESS

 Watch video on the “Personal Resume” 

 Brainstorm things that might go on your personal resume

 Develop a personal resume in Microsoft Word

 Request Official Transcripts

 Have Mr. Benshoof edit your resume and check-off your tasks

 

EDD Unit 1 Map
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