Skills+and+Traits+of+Technological+Design

Pre-K-2
Students use a simple design process and basic tools and materials to solve a problem or create a product.

a. Describe a design problem in their own words. b. Propose a way to build something or cause something to work better. c. Use suitable tools, materials, safe techniques, and measurements to implement a proposed solution to a design problem. d. Judge how well a product or design solved a problem. e. Present a design or solution to a problem using oral, written, or pictorial means of communication.

3-5
Students use a design process, simple tools, and a variety of materials to solve a problem or create a product, recognizing the constraints that need to be considered.

a. Identify and explain a simple design problem and a solution related to the problem. b. Propose a solution to a design problem that recognizes constraints including cost, materials, time, space, or safety. c. Use appropriate tools, materials, safe techniques, and quantitative measurements to implement a proposed solution to a design problem. d. Balance simple constraints in carrying out a proposed solution to a design problem. e. Evaluate their own design results, as well as those of others, using established criteria. f. Modify designs based on results of evaluations. g. Present the design problem, process, and design or solution using oral, written, and/or pictorial means of communication.

6-8
Students use a systematic process, tools, equipment, and a variety of materials to design and produce a solution or product to meet a specified need, using established criteria.

a. Identify appropriate problems for technological design. b. Design a solution or product. c. Communicate a proposed design using drawings and simple models. d. Implement a proposed design. e. Evaluate a completed design or product. f. Suggest improvements for their own and others’ designs and try out proposed modifications. g. Explain the design process including the stages of problem identification, solution design, implementation, and evaluation.

9-Diploma
Students use a systematic process, tools and techniques, and a variety of materials to design and produce a solution or product that meets new needs or improves existing designs.

a. Identify new problems or a current design in need of improvement. b. Generate alternative design solutions. c. Select the design that best meets established criteria. d. Use models and simulations as prototypes in the design planning process. e. Implement the proposed design solution. f. Evaluate the solution to a design problem and the consequences of that solution. g. Present the problem, design process, and solution to a design problem including models, diagrams, and demonstrations.