Learning Targets
- Describe the purpose of IED through an aerospace lens.
- Explain how engineering problems differ from typical assignments.
- Identify evidence engineers use to support design decisions.
IED Unit 0 • Lesson 0.1
Course Launch & Engineering Mindset
Focus Question: How do engineers think, document, and make evidence-based decisions?
Mission Briefing
Today’s Plan
A complete opening lesson that launches the engineering mindset you will use throughout IED.
Learning Targets
Success Looks Like…
You can explain a design decision using more than “I think.”
Core habit: Connect each design claim to evidence another person can inspect.
Opening prompt
Engineer-actions vote
IED + aerospace
Mindset shift
Evidence challenge
Quick check
Exit debrief
Opening Prompt
What do engineers do?
Think about actions, habits, and decisions—not job titles.
Quick class share: Give one short answer using an action word such as design, build, test, fix, invent, solve, measure, or improve.
Reveal the working definition
Engineers use knowledge, tools, and creativity to solve problems under real constraints.
Define
Clarify the need, user, criteria, and constraints.
Generate
Create multiple possible solutions before choosing one.
Test
Collect evidence from models, prototypes, data, and feedback.
Communicate
Document decisions so others can understand and improve the work.
Interactive Vote
Engineer Actions: Which One Fits?
Hold up fingers 1–4 or vote silently. Then justify your choice.
Which action sounds most like engineering work?
- 1Copying exact instructions to make the same model as everyone else
- 2Choosing the first idea because it seems easiest to build
- 3Testing two versions and comparing data before deciding
- 4Making a design look impressive without checking if it works
Reveal the strongest engineering choice
Best answer: 3
Testing two versions and comparing data before deciding uses comparison, data, and a decision based on evidence. The other choices prioritize copying, ease, or appearance rather than proof.
Carry-forward idea: In IED, an answer becomes stronger when it connects to evidence.
Course Launch
IED Through an Aerospace Lens
Build transferable engineering habits through aerospace contexts and projects.
Core Engineering Skills
Aerospace Connections
Aerospace Connection Map
Choose a rocket, drone, satellite, rover, or aircraft. Identify one design choice an engineer must make, then connect it to one kind of evidence.
SketchWhat features or shapes matter?
ModelWhat could be represented in CAD?
MeasureWhat dimensions or data matter?
TestWhat would prove it works?
Share-out target: one system + one design decision + one kind of evidence.
Mindset Shift
Assignment vs. Engineering Problem
The goal is not just to finish; the goal is to make a design claim you can defend.
Typical Assignment
Engineering Problem
Key Idea
Evidence-Based Engineering
Engineers connect what they claim to proof that others can inspect.
Claim
What you believe about the design
Evidence
What proves or challenges the claim
Decision
What you do next because of the evidence
Evidence can include: sketches; measurements; test data; observations; photos; prototypes; user feedback.
Mini Challenge
What Evidence Would You Need?
Select the two pieces of evidence that best support the claim.
- AA labeled sketch showing where the rocket contacts the support
- BA photo that makes the prototype look finished
- CA stability test showing the pad does not tip with the rocket placed on it
- DA teammate saying the design is probably strong enough
- EA list of the materials used to build the base and support
Reveal the best evidence pair
Best support: A + C
A shows design intent and the support locations. C provides direct performance evidence against a safety and stability criterion.
Photos, material lists, and teammate opinions can support the story, but they do not prove the claim by themselves.
Scenario Response
What Should the Engineer Do Next?
Choose the strongest next step and explain your reasoning.
A team builds a small rocket support. During the first test, it stands up, but the rocket leans to one side.
- AKeep it because the prototype did not fall over.
- BAdd decorations so the design looks more complete.
- CRecord the lean, identify where the support is uneven, revise, and retest.
- DStart over without writing down what happened.
Reveal the strongest next step
Best answer: C
Record the lean, identify where the support is uneven, revise, and retest.
Record
Write down what happened during the test.
Identify
Find the likely cause of the lean.
Revise + Retest
Change the design and collect new evidence.
Engineering move: Use the problem as evidence, not as a reason to hide or restart the work.
Quick Check
Evidence or Opinion?
Vote on all three statements before revealing the answers.
A. “Our design is the best because it looks strong.”
B. “Version 2 traveled 12 ft farther than Version 1 in the official test.”
C. “We changed the wing fold because the first test curved left three times.”
Reveal the evidence check
Opinion-heavy
Uses a vague judgment: “looks strong.”
Evidence-based
Uses a measurable result: 12 ft farther.
Evidence-based reasoning
Connects a change to repeated test observations.
Takeaway: Claim + specific evidence = stronger engineering communication.
Mission Debrief
Exit Ticket
Show that you understand the mindset before moving into notebook setup.
Engineering Mindset Exit Ticket
Lesson 0.2
Engineering Notebook Setup & Course Resources
Set up the binder-based engineering notebook and verify access to the digital tools used throughout the course.
Open Lesson 0.2Resources
Lesson 0.1 Resources
Use the presentation to review the lesson concepts, examples, and activity directions.
Lesson 0.1 Student Presentation
Google Slides-friendly 16:9 deck with question slides followed by separate answer-reveal slides.
Introduction to Engineering Design
Return to the IED course hub for units, resources, certifications, and current course information.