Center for Technological Literacy - Educational Initiatives and Curriculum Projects

Educational Initiatives and Curriculum Projects:

1. Informed Design

Informed Design follows the traditional design process, but uses guided research and investigation to build student knowledge and skills required for the design. These Knowledge and Skill Builders (KSBs) are the heart of the Informed Design Process. They assist students in learning key concepts in mathematics, science and engineering/technology that are related to the design challenge.

ABCs of Informed Design

The ABCs of Informed Design provides a guide to constructing Informed Design Activities. It is illustrated with a revised version of the Drying by Design Activity.

Bedroom Design Curriculum
Bedroom Design Videos
- Overview
- Student Work

This is a middle school STEM project that reinforces key understandings in math and engineering/technology. The Bedroom Design Challenge includes all the KSBs and related material for students and teachers. The mathematical areas include measurement, ratio and proportion, geometric reasoning, and percents.

Drying by Design

This is a middle, lower high school, design activity that has strong mathematical and science connections. Teacher support material for the activity is included, including pre/post assessments.

Bridge Design
-- Design Challenge for Student
-- Student Workbook Bridge Activity

Redesigning a Mousetrap Car
-- Mousetrap Car Activity
-- Mousetrap Teachers Guide
-- Mousetrap Questions Revised

Lego League Design Challenge
Pedagogical Basis of Informed Design
The Informed Design process was created as part of the National Science Foundation-funded NYSCATE grant. There are pedagogical strategies that can be employed to enhance the design process.