Can Do Better: Investigating the Use of Improvable Designs as Priming Agents for Learning About Trade-Offs and Design Optimization

• In Event: 61.029 - Division C Section 1e: Computer Science and Engineering Education in Elementary and Middle School

Abstract

The Next Generation Science Standards highlight the need for upper-elementary grade students to engage with engineering practices such as making tradeoffs and iteratively optimizing designs. We explore the use of Improvable designs (i.e., inefficient or incomplete solutions to an engineering problem) as priming agents to stimulate student discussions about tradeoffs and design decisions. We use the context of designing a plumbing system of a house using everyday construction materials. Preliminary analysis highlights the potential usefulness of Improvable designs in (a) helping students understand optimization criteria more efficiently and (b) making effective tradeoff decisions while iteratively designing an optimal engineering system.

Authors

• Chandan Dasgupta, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Tom Moher, University of Illinois at Chicago