Teach the Engineering Design Process

The goal of this Educational Transition Plan (ETP) is to engage students in the Engineering Design Process while they read their first classic novel of the school year. Students will follow the Engineering Design Process and will attempt to solve one of several problems found in their first novels, The Pearl (7th grade) and Old Man and the Sea (8th grade). Students will follow the Engineering Design Process from beginning to end to: 1) define the problem, 2) identify constraints, 3) brainstorm multiple solutions, 4) select the most promising solution, 5) prototype their proposed solution, 6) test and evaluate their prototype, 7) iterate for improvement and 8) communicate their solution.

Transferring what I have learned this summer at Amazon Lab126 to the classroom, students will learn the basics of Amazon’s Product Development Process (PDP) Design Phase: from Concept Review or “The Ask” to Program Development Commit or “The Plan”. Students will also learn how Amazon uses white papers (or business narratives) to discuss problems, communicate ideas, and recommend solutions to cross-functional teams; Students will learn about tenets (or guiding principles) and how they align to the vision and mission of the company; why Amazon writes a Press Release and answers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before they go into production; and how this approach forms the basis of Amazon’s corporate thought process through Narrative Review meetings.