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Novel Engineering for Inventive Minds: Fictional Worlds, Real Solutions

July 29, 2024

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Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8

Price

Free

Classtimes

Class-time will be coordinated

Subjects

Math

Course Type

Core

Terms

Spring Session 2 (4/28/25 to 6/6/25)Spring Session 1 (3/10/25 to 4/17/25)

Description

In this course, students learn the engineering design process through Novel Engineering, a literacy-based approach to teaching engineering skills developed by Tufts Center for Engineering Education Outreach. Students will be presented with a fictional story as the basis for an engineering design challenge. They will need to identify a problem from the story and design a realistic solution that can be solved using the steps of the Engineering Design Process. The course will culminate with student presentations about their design solution. This project will be completed over several classes. Some steps will be completed in small groups but each student will mostly work independently.

State Standards

7.MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing solutions to a given design problem using a decision matrix to determine how well each meets the criteria and constraints of the problem. Use a model of each solution to evaluate how variations in one or more design features, including size, shape, weight, or cost, may affect the function or effectiveness of the solution.


7.MS-ETS1-7(MA). Construct a prototype of a solution to a given design problem.

Supports Available to Students

Tier 1 (Supports provided to ALL students)

  • SEL welcoming practices
  • Project-Based Learning
  • Varied assessments with the use of multimedia forms to present work

Tier 2 (Supports provided to targeted SMALLER groups of students)

  • Launch videos
  • Demos and exemplar
  • Anchor charts

Skills-learned

  • Self Management and Decision Making
  • Developing a model/prototype
  • Defining a problem by precisely specifying criteria and constraints for solutions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28rwq4UBNYE&list=PLP4hC3-DI5re96jFY4g2Krq8wlIV7qJDc&index=13
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About Raushanah Muhammad

Raushanah began her teaching career in 2015 after working for over 14 years as an civil-environmental project engineer. Since changing careers, Raushanah has worked as a STEM specialist within the Boston Public Schools and uses an integrated approach to teaching science, engineering design, physics, coding, digital and financial literacy in grades 6-8. Additionally, she has worked in education settings within the Department of Youth Services, where she integrated math, HiSET test prep, and career readiness skills. In addition to her classroom teaching, she continues her volunteer work in community outreach and public service, tutoring math, curating STEM enrichment, summer programs and camps.

Filed Under: Math

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