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OBJECTIVE
The objective of this lesson is to have the student companies consider
the importance of communicating their product idea to an appropriate
audience. During this session, the students will create a PowerPoint
presentation and prepare to present a demo of their final prototype
for the final presentations before a panel of judges.
BACKGROUND FOR THE TEACHER
The seventh step of the engineering design process (highlighted
below) allows an engineer to communicate their progress with their
solution/prototype. This step also allows the other people involved
in the development of the product to learn what is happening and
give any appropriate feedback. This communication is usually two-way.
That is, the engineers or product developers will present what they
have done and give the audience an opportunity to ask questions
and provide feedback.
The Massachusetts Science and Technology Frameworks describe the
engineering design process as the 8-step process below:
Step 1—Identify the Need or Problem
Step 2—Research the Need or Problem
Step 3—Develop Possible Solution(s)
Step 4—Select the Best Possible Solution(s)
Step 5—Construct a Prototype
Step 6—Test and Evaluate the Solution(s)
Step 7—Communicate the Solution(s)
Step 8—Redesign
It is important that the students finish creating the PowerPoint
presentation. It is also important for the students to be prepared
to present for the next session. Each student should have at least
one slide that they present during the presentation.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED
2.1 Identify and explain the steps of the engineering design process,
i.e., identify the need or problem, research the problem, develop
possible solutions, select the best possible solution(s), construct
a prototype, test and evaluate, communicate the solution(s), and
redesign.
2.3 Describe and explain the purpose of a given prototype.
MATERIALS
Computer with PowerPoint
Project
presentation handout
SETUP
Photocopy the project presentation handouts and distribute in interoffice
envelopes.
GUIDING THE ACTIVITY
“Today you will create a PowerPoint presentation that you
will be presenting to a panel of judges! Why do you think it is
important to communicate to others before you start producing something?
Who, do you think, engineers would need to communicate their solutions
to?”
“What step of the Engineering Design Process involves communicating
your ideas?”
Yes, Step 7 Communicate Solutions.
“Your PowerPoint presentations should cover all the steps
you went through to develop your prototype. Why do you think it
is important to share all your steps?”
Take students answers looking to elicit answers such as “So
they know we thought everything through” “To give them
as much information as possible” “To provide the background
research to prove the concept is good”, etc)
“You have 30 minutes to create all your slides, then I will
stop you and you will then have to practice what each of you will
say. Each member of your company should present at least one slide.”
Have the students work on the computers to create their presentations.
Give them time updates so they stay on track and complete their
presentation with at least 15 minutes left befored the end of the
session to practice their presentation.
AFTER 30 MINUTES:
“Ok, now everyone should be viewing their slide show and be
practicing their part of the presentation. Remember to save your
presentation on the computer.”
You should have a way to collect all their final presentations and
put them on one disc/usb keydrive so that you can put them all on
one computer for the final presentations.
END
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