The Engineering-Design Process

If there is one thing central to all middle school CTE courses and absolutely critical knowledge for those who wish to continue in the CTE track in high school, it's the Engineering-Design Process. As shown below, there are numerous models of this process, but they basically do the same thing: provide a logical set of steps to reduce/solve a problem.

Below is the six-step model I use in my classroom. It is, perhaps, the simplest model and provides a foundation for introducing more detailed models to 8th graders enrolled in Problem Solving who are preparing for high school. As you examine the rest, compare them to the first model. Note how all are "cyclical" models rather than "linear." The Engineering-Design Process has no end, and students will find they will cycle back or iterate through steps numerous times over the course of a project.