Fostering 21st Century Skills - Engineering Design Process/ STEM Challenge

During my fellowship at Lockheed Martin, I learned about critical communication skills and the engineering and design process in the creation of satellites. The goal of this ETP is to introduce and practice the engineering design process through a hands on STEM challenge. These challenges will incorporate math and science concepts. It will introduce the students to critical thinking skills, creativity, and innovation. The student driven project will create an environment of learning in the 21st century which promotes teamwork, problem solving and deeper learning to be successful in such a rapidly changing digital society.

Students will be defining the problem or need in the activity, brainstorm ideas, define the design criteria, make a model, review and revise their solution, and then communicate their solutions using technology (Explain Everything app, google slides, etc.). Students will practice the engineering design process by completing a STEM activity to build their own satellite.
Satellite must have specific components (constraints):
Container: Your satellite needs some sort of container that holds all of the gizmos together and keep its instruments safe
Power source: You will need something that gives the satellite electricity so that it can run all of its high-tech gizmos. Solar panels or fancy batteries are two options.
Scientific instruments: This is why you launched your satellite in the first place! Instruments can take pictures of far away galaxies or planets right here in our Solar System, measure chemicals in Earth’s atmosphere, or keep a close eye on our Sun’s activities, or to help defend our country. It’s your decision!
Communication device: You will need some way to communicate with Earth. Antennas (shaped like dishes or poles and rods) are a good way to do this.
Orientation finder: Make sure you have something that lets your satellite know where it’s pointed and which way is ‘up.’ Something that looks at the stars (a star tracker) or the sun (a sun tracker) would work.
Note: In this STEM satellite activity, students initially practice and learn the Engineering Design Process Steps on building a model. Students will not be able to test their models but can review/ revise their solutions to improve their original design. I added a link to the Balloon Car Challenge, where students can test their models in the engineering design process as an extension activity.