Engineering Practice: Assess Implications of Solutions
Engineers have a responsibility to evaluate their solutions from multiple perspectives. They need to consider not only how well the product functions but also its social, environmental, and ethical impacts.
“Who Is Harmed?”
In small groups, students discuss the implications of plastic pollution on the inhabitants of Mobile Bay. Watch & Reflect:
Reflection Questions
- Students considered personal use, economic impacts such as selling and buying fish, and the logistics of navigating boats through the bay.
- Students considered who caused the problem, including who is killing the fish.
- “Which is more important, that citizens can use the bay to swim or that they can buy cheaper fish?”
- “Can you explain your choice of putting [one user] as more impacted than [another user]? Can you think of a reason to reverse that order?”
- Have groups come together to compare their rankings and come to a consensus.
Related Practices: Work Effectively in Teams, Consider Problems in Context, Make Evidence-Based Decisions, Communicate Effectively
Featured Unit: Engineering Plastic Filters
“One or Three Sails”
Youth share their thinking about a design for a sail and discuss what could happen if they use one design over another. Watch & Reflect:
Reflection Questions
Older students should connect how their design affects users in both positive and negative ways.
- “Who is this design helping more?”
- “How might your design choice not be helpful for the users?”
- “Can you think of something that might happen because of your design choice?”
- “How long do you think your design would last? What happens to your design when it’s no longer useable for the purpose you designed it for?”
Featured Unit: Engineering Sails