✓Lesson Snapshot
Student Objective
I can use a decision matrix to choose and justify the strongest capstone concept.
Main Activity
Score possible concepts against criteria, discuss tradeoffs, and select a concept to develop.
Deliverable
Decision matrix and concept justification
Tools / Materials
Decision matrix template, notebook, team notes
1ProblemUnderstand the challenge and why it matters.
Today’s work supports the final capstone by moving your team from an idea toward a tested aerospace system that can be explained with evidence. Focus on what the system must accomplish, how it will be tested, and what decisions need to be documented.
2ConceptLearn the engineering idea or skill.
A strong capstone connects technical decisions to requirements. Every sketch, subsystem, material choice, control decision, measurement, and revision should help prove that the system meets the mission problem.
3ApplyUse the skill in a guided task.
Score possible concepts against criteria, discuss tradeoffs, and select a concept to develop.
4DocumentRecord your evidence and decisions.
Record your objective, key decisions, diagrams, data, sketches, photos, calculations, and the deliverable for today: Decision matrix and concept justification.
5ReviewCheck quality and identify your next step.
Before leaving today, make sure your work is specific enough that another engineer could understand what changed, why it changed, and what your team needs to do next.
Lesson Resources
Use these files and shared website resources when they support today’s capstone work.
Design Review Form
Use to prepare your final design review and organize evidence for feedback.
Open ResourceDecision Matrix
Use to compare concepts and justify the direction your team selected.
Open ResourceMeasurement Data Sheet
Use for repeated trials, measurements, observations, and performance data.
Open ResourceEngineering Resource Library
Templates, reference sheets, sketch paper, and course support files.
Open Resource