Novices to the design process often struggle at first to understand the various stages of design. Learning to design is a process not easily mastered, and therefore requires multiple levels of exposure to the design process. It is helpful if teachers are able to implement various entry-level design assignments such as reverse-engineering…

This article describes a design problem that not only takes students through the technological design process, but it also provides them with real-world problem-solving experience as it relates to the manufacturing and engineering fields. It begins with a scenario placing the student as a custom wheel designer for an automotive manufacturing…

Over the past three years, the authors have conducted research in middle and high school classrooms in an effort to improve the effectiveness of robotics to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education--their focus has been on math. The authors have found that subtle changes in the design and setup of the lesson make a…

It is interesting to note how technology has changed the way that people communicate with one another. Several of the major historical developments of communication are: (1) language; (2) alphabet; and (3) writing. These early forms of communication enabled humans to go beyond verbal and symbolic communication and on to such technologies as the…

Students get very excited when confronted with problems that they find meaningful. Problem-based learning lets students solve problems using the strategies and tools that scientists use. While developing solutions via technological design and construction, students experience firsthand the relationship between science and technology. To capture…

This article talks about technological education in Ontario schools through their Broad-Based Technologies model. The philosophy that underlies the teaching of Broad-Based Technology is that students learn best by doing, with an emphasis on problem solving. The curriculum is an activity-based, project-driven approach to learning that provides…

TRIZ (pronounced TREES), the Russian acronym for the theory of inventive problem solving, enables a person to focus his attention on finding genuine, potential solutions in contrast to searching for ideas that "may" work through a happenstance way. It is a patent database-backed methodology that helps to reduce time spent on the problem,…

In this article, the author suggests ways to harness student enthusiasm to work. Have students compose letters inviting business leaders to visit and talk about their operations. Be specific and up-front in the letters to these business leaders that students would especially benefit from trying to solve real problems; and any such problems they…

Describes the IDEATE (identify, define, explore, assess, try, evaluate) Model, a problem-solving technique that includes four components: a problem-solving statement, research and development, testing of solutions, and evaluation. It fits with scientific and engineering principles present in a technology education classroom. (Author/JOW)

Through the use of creative problem-solving skills, students will be able to develop solutions to future societal problems. Technology education teachers must use and incorporate the teaching of these skills into their curriculum. (JOW)

A robotics contest encouraged research into robotics and gave students an opportunity to share their work and to build a robot with practical application for use in the home. (JOW)

In the classroom, it is often challenging to find new ways to approach and present complex material. This is particularly true in design education, where innovation is highly valued and often required. A student developing a design for a new product has to successfully resolve multiple variables simultaneously while refining his/her own…

Students use tables of anthropometric data, their own measurements, underlying principles of physics, and math to solve a problem. The problem is to determine the height of a wall mirror, and where to mount it, so that 90% of the clientele can view their entire length without stretching or bending. (Author)

Thinking and doing are both necessary to prepare technological problem solvers. The key is designing learning that will result in creative, functional, and open-ended technological thinkers. (JOW)

Features of this model for technology education are human needs and wants, problems/opportunities, resources, technological processes, technological knowledge, evaluation, and solutions/impacts. (SK)