Major Concepts/Content: The Engineering Design and Development course forms the capstone project for the Pre-Engineering curriculum. In this course, students will work in teams of two to four individuals to design and construct the solution to an original engineering problem. Each design problem is taken from a database of design problems offered to all DoDEA students enrolled in the course. As students work on their capstone project they will develop technical writing skills and use a variety of CAD, CAM, GIS, fabrication, manufacturing, and robotics technologies. Students will also maintain an engineering journal and develop a portfolio. This course is the culmination of the pre-engineering curriculum and is intended as an opportunity for students to utilize all the skills acquired through the pre-engineering strand of courses.

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities are provided in the laboratory setting, using hands-on experiences with tools, equipment, and materials related to course content. Students will be required to work in teams as they plan, design, and produce projects. They will also develop solutions to problem solving activities, maintain a technical journal, produce a portfolio, and present ideas and information orally and in writing. Students will assume leadership roles and work cooperatively.

Major Evaluative Techniques: Students will be evaluated through laboratory practices, safety, and procedural equipment tests. Projects will be analyzed and evaluated for successful solution, originality, creativity, accuracy, and understanding of concepts. Written and oral reports will be graded for content and form. In addition, the students will be evaluated regarding how successfully they work together to design solutions to engineering problems.

Essential Objectives:

• Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
• Define engineering problems and brainstorm possible solutions.
• Reduce possible solutions to realistic goals that fall within provided guidelines.
• Work cooperatively and effectively to solve design problems.
• Create prototypes of solutions using modeling.
• Model solutions using computer technology.
• Demonstrate the proper use of common tools, machines, and processes of technological systems.
• Use CAM technologies and manufacturing equipment to engineer project solutions.
• Analyze, troubleshoot, and refine solutions to produce an improved product.
• Maintain behavior conducive to personal safety while using equipment and machines.
• Maintain a technical journal recording the engineering process.