Engineering Design approach

Engineering Design is the practical application of science, technology, art/design, engineering, and mathematics to solve real problems in our world. The Engineering Design Cycle provides a roadmap to students as they work through an eight-step methodical process to solve engineering design problems. This is very similar to the "Scientific Method" which is introduced to students in elementary school.


The central idea behind our eight-step process is to teach our students about the iterative nature of engineering design including problem definition, innovation, strategy, design thinking, prototyping, collaboration, and making improvements. Students also learn and practice 21st-century skills such as teamwork, communication, marketing, project management, and technical documentation in their engineering notebooks.


The TRC EDC resides at the center of all of our robotics education and competition programs. Our 8-step EDC aligns explicitly with NGSS Engineering Design (HS-ETS1-1 through HS-ETS1-4), ITEEA Standards for Technological Literacy, CSTA K-12 CS Standards' Engineering Design integration, and the FTC engineering portfolio rubric. 


EDC works like this:

Red gear-shaped icon with “Step 1 Define” and prompts to define the problem, constraints, and solutions.
Step 2: Imagine—brainstorm ideas and sketch ideas on paper; discuss ideas together.
Red gear icon with “Step 3 Strategize” and white text about writing strategies and creating action steps.
Step 4 Design gear icon with text: identify parts, supplies, and resources; create drawings and 3D CAD models.
Red gear icon with “STEP 5 BUILD” and text: “Follow the design plan and build a prototype.”
Red gear icon with blue center labeled “Step 6 Test” and text about evaluating design performance.
Step 7 Share badge with prompts about results, what worked, what didn’t, and design solutions
Red gear icon with
Red spiral notebook with a white emblem on the cover
Pen resting on printed documents with a hand-drawn diagram on the page
Blue and white robot with
Two students work on a red robot in a workshop with tools and equipment nearby.
Red and blue robot at an indoor arena, with spectators in the background.