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.


EDC works like this:

A red and white gear graphic with
Gear icon with text
Gear graphic, step 3: Strategize. Red/white/blue circle with text: write strategies, create action steps, research, share ideas, identify designs.
Icon: Step 4 Design. Identifying parts, creating drawings, and CAD models. Red and blue cog.
Step 5 BUILD: Red gear graphic. White ring with text,
Step 6: Test graphic. Red gear shape with the words
Step 7, SHARE, circular graphic with text: Share results, what worked/didn't, design solution.
Gear icon with
Young person using a computer, with a red design on screen, next to an American flag and space-themed art.
Two children working on a 3D design of a machine on a large interactive screen. One is pointing and smiling.
LEGO robot car on a desk with two other LEGO creations and people in the background.
Robot with
Person in dark jacket working on laptop at a stainless steel countertop in a commercial kitchen setting.
Boy smiling with a red robot decorated with the Tennessee flag. Workshop setting, American flag.
Five students pose with a robot and tools on a table with a Tennessee flag.
Two people in safety glasses work on a robot at a competition.