To successfully solve problems, engineers must work with people from various backgrounds with unique needs. Diversity and inclusion are important concepts that increase productivity, lead to stronger solutions, create value, and encourage growth & learning! Diversity means differences; Inclusion means not leaving a person, part, or group out. While it is important to have a diverse and inclusive mindset as engineers, we must also determine to what extent we are making use of this mindset in our solutions. We call this process an assessment. When we measure, we have an opportunity to improve our efforts. In this design challenge, you will work to find a solution to a problem by using an approach that includes the needs of diverse customers. You will then perform an assessment of your product/design solution.
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.