Engineering Design Process Wizard
Walk through the seven steps of the engineering design process. Identify a problem, research, brainstorm, design, build, test, and iterate. Save your plan and start your project.
Identify the Problem
Start by clearly describing the problem you want to solve. A well-defined problem is the foundation of good engineering.
About the engineering design process
The engineering design process is a repeatable framework for solving open-ended problems. Engineers identify a need, research existing approaches, brainstorm many ideas, pick one to develop, build and test it, and then iterate based on what the test revealed. The process is non-linear in practice. A failed test routinely sends a team back to brainstorming or research.
NGSS alignment
Supports MS-ETS1-1 (defining problems), MS-ETS1-2 (evaluating designs), HS-ETS1-1 (engineering design), and HS-ETS1-2 (designing a solution). The wizard format scaffolds the practice for students new to engineering thinking.
The seven steps
- Identify the problem
- Research existing solutions
- Brainstorm multiple approaches
- Design and specify your solution
- Build a prototype
- Test and measure performance
- Iterate and improve
Who this is for
Designed for students in grades 3 through 12. Elementary students can use the bridge or water filter templates with teacher guidance. Middle and high school students can tackle the wind turbine or custom design paths. The summary export makes it easy to share progress with a teacher or partner.
