DISTRICT DETERMINED MEASURES

Definition: DDMs are defined as “measures of student learning, growth, and achievement related to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, Massachusetts Vocational Technical Education Frameworks, or other relevant frameworks, that are comparable across grade or subject level district-wide. These measures may include, but shall not be limited to: portfolios, approved commercial assessments and district-developed pre and post unit and course assessments, and capstone projects.” (603 CMR 35.02).

Source: http://www.doe.mass.edu/edeval/resources/QRG-Measures.pdf

Team Member Identification:

List team members here

Content to be assessed:

The engineering design process.

Aligned to Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework, 2006.

Technology/Engineering, Grades 6–8, TE.2.1. Identify and explain the steps of the engineering design process, i.e., identify the need or problem, research the problem, develop possible solutions, select the best possible solution(s), construct a prototype, test and evaluate, communicate the solution(s), and redesign.

Instrument:

See following page(s)

Answer Key:

See following page(s)

Administration Protocols:

Who:

The assessment is administered by the classroom teacher. The students will be directed to access the assessment on the school’s Aspen Student Information System. During the administration the teacher will not assist the students other than to redirect them to re-read the question and assist/accommodate a student as specified in a 504 and/or IEP.

When:

The EDP pre-test is administered, online, on the third day of class. (Day 1 is an introductory activity, on day 2 the students set up their online accounts/access)

The EDP post-test is administered ______(before evaluation cycle ends)

Scoring Protocol:

Who:

This EDP is scored by computer.

How:

Scoring info is entered along with questions.

Analysis: The results of the pre-test and post-test can be exported to a spreadsheet. The data can then be analyzed by the teachers during data analysis time (to be determined by administration). Individual student growth is derived from comparing the post-test scores to the pre-test scores.


Engineering Design Process Survey

Name ______Date ______

Teacher______

Q1.

When following the engineering design process, the different steps occur in which order?

a. clockwise

b. counter-clockwise

c. in any order

d. both clockwise and counter-clockwise

e. I don’t know the answer.

adapted from teachengineering.org engineering design quiz

Q2.

Rob and his team have been chosen to build a wind turbine at a local mountain. The turbine needs to generate electrical energy and withstand the harsh winter environment of the mountain. Rob and his team have done their research on the problem. What would be the next step?

a.  create a prototype of the wind turbine

b.  develop possible solution(s) for the turbine

c.  test the wind turbine on the mountain

d.  redesign a new solution for this turbine

e.  I don’t know the answer.

Q3.

The Engineering Design Process is ______to solve a problem.

a.  an iterative process

b.  a process that creates one prototype

c.  a quick process

d.  a process with a beginning and an end

e.  I don’t know the answer.

Q4.

Below are the eight steps of the engineering design process, and they are not in the correct order. Please fill in the blank boxes with the letter of each of the steps to show the correct order.

a)  Test and evaluate the solution

b)  Develop possible solution(s)

c)  Identify the need or problem

d)  Research the need or problem

e)  Construct a prototype

f)  Redesign

g)  Communicate the solution

h)  Select the best possible solution(s)

If you do not know what to put in the box for a step, leave it blank.

(Figure from Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework, October 2006, page 84.)

Q5.

John needs to create a boat out of a 20 gram ball of clay. His boat must float and hold 10 marbles. He will use the EDP to do this.

Match a step in the EDP (a-h) to John’s activity listed below.

a)  Test and evaluate the solution

b)  Develop possible solution(s)

c)  Identify the need or problem

d)  Research the need or problem

e)  Construct a prototype

f)  Redesign

g)  Communicate the solution

h)  Select the best possible solution(s)

______/ John should report and discuss his findings about the clay boat
______/ John should make changes to his design based on the results of testing and feedback.
______/ John should find out how boats are made, characteristics of boats and clay, and what makes something buoyant.
______/ John should create multiple plans for his boat.
______/ John should work with the clay to form it into a shape that will hold 10 marbles and maintain buoyancy.
______/ John should decide, based on his research, what boat design will hold all 10 marbles and float.
______/ Using a 20g ball of clay, John must make a boat that will float and hold 10 marbles.
______/ John should try to float the boat with 10 marbles in it and note how well it works and any issues that come up.

Q6.

Students have a box of ice pops to take to their ball game to sell on a hot day. The students know they need a device to keep the ice pops from melting for 3 hours. They have a $15 budget. Which step of the engineering design process does this show?

a.  identify a problem

b.  test and evaluate

c.  redesign

d.  develop possible solutions

e.  I don’t know the answer.

2-6 adapted from Research Experience for Teachers @ Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Summer 2014

Q7.

Which of the following is part of the testing and evaluation stage of designing a cell phone?

a.  writing an advertisement for the cell phone

b.  defining the specifications for the cell phone

c.  finding a new material for the cell phone case

d.  trying to see if cell phone is waterproof

e.  I don’t know the answer.

adapted from http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/2011/release/ghstecheng.pdf

Q8.

The students in a class would like to make 20 paper sailboats for a race. The students will select one design and collect the materials they need to construct the boats. Which of the following is thebestway for the students to be sure the paper sailboats will float without tipping over in the water?

a.  calculate the total mass of all of the finished boats

b.  construct a prototype of a boat and conduct testing

c.  determine the total amount of weight each boat can carry

d.  test the strength of each material used to construct the boats

e.  I don’t know the answer

Adapted from Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System , Spring Release 2014

Q9

In the design process, a trade-off occurs when a problem is solved but a feature is sacrificed. Which of the following is an example of a trade-off?

a.  A car’s gas mileage is increased and the engine has less power.

b.  An airplane uses a more efficient engine and has higher performance.

c.  A sports drink’s taste is improved and has the same nutritional content.

d.  A computer company upgrades the hardware and the price remains unchanged.

e.  I don’t know the answer

Adapted from Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, Spring Release 2010

Q10

Before a team of engineers begins to develop solutions to a problem, they first must:

a.  Test a solution

b.  Evaluate a model

c.  Identify the problem

d.  Communicate the solution

e.  I don’t know the answer

Q11

1.  A company is making prototypes for a new computer system. Which of the following statementsbestdescribes an advantage of making several different prototypes?

a.  They can be tested at the same time.

b.  They can be produced in large numbers.

c.  They will be bought by many different users.

d.  They will be sold for more than they cost to build.

e.  I don’t know the answer

Answer Key - Engineering Design Process Survey

1 C

2 B

3 B

4 Step 1 C

Step 2 D

Step 3 B

Step 4 H

Step 5 E

Step 6 A

Step 7 G

Step 8 F

5 G

F

D

B

E

H

C

A

6 A

7 D

8 B

9 A

10 C

11 A

2