Engineering Practice: Use Systems Thinking

Engineers consider how parts interact within larger systems. They think about relationships and how choices for one part of the system may have consequences for the functioning of the whole.

“Attracting and Repelling Dog Doors”

A 3rd grade student tells her classmates about the relationship between attracting and repelling that enables her magnetic dog door to work. Watch & Reflect:

Reflection Questions

The student describes a magnetic dog door system that uses the repelling forces of magnets to allow a model dog to open a model door.

Thinking about the world as a series of systems can help students see how their actions might have consequences that they do not anticipate. They may gain an understanding of the value of having multiple people contribute to solving a complex problem. Systems thinking might help students to be better classmates and citizens, improving their social awareness and skill sets alongside their developing engineering identities.

Related Practices: Apply Science Knowledge to Problem Solving, Communicate Effectively, Consider Problems in Context
Featured Unit: Engineering Magnetic Dog Doors