Using Museum Experiences to Inform Marble Ramp Design
Watch this video where youth visit hands-on exhibits to build their knowledge and then apply this knowledge as they engineer their own marble ramps.
AS YOU WATCH THE VIDEO, THINK ABOUT:
- What youth can learn as they visit the museum exhibits and how that can that be applied in the engineering design process.
- Notice how the facilitators prompt youth to apply what they have learned during the museum visit while designing their marble ramps.
NOW THAT YOU’VE WATCHED THE VIDEO, REFLECT ON WHAT YOU SAW. HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO YOUR WORK?
Engineers use their knowledge of science, math, and other areas in all phases of the engineering design process.
- How can you design engineering experiences that encourage youth to use their own understanding and knowledge of the world as they engineer?
- How can you integrate engineering with hands-on learning experiences – to generate knowledge?
Taking existing knowledge and applying it to solve real-world problems is the hallmark of engineering work. Create opportunities for youth to discuss their prior understanding and build new understanding of the world around them as they engage in engineering.
Explore Engineering Practices
Education Item
Affirming Youth During Retesting
Watch as staff encourage youth to investigate how they designed their package, what did or didn’t work with their design, and how they might adapt for re-testing. Staff support youth’s abilities and encourage youth to work with their team and develop their own solutions for re-testing their designs.
Education Item
Like A Real Engineer!
What happens when youth challenge a group of engineers to complete the STEM activity they did in their program? Listen as the engineers go through the same problem solving steps and align real-world engineering strategies to the challenge they have in building and designing vehicles.
Education Item
Balance Criteria and Constraints that Require Trade-offs
Engineers make trade-offs to balance competing factors as they solve problems. As youth create enrichment toys for zoo animals, they balance the animals’ safety with keeping them engaged.