Page 486 - Canadian BC Science 9

Planning and Constructing
You will probably come up with good ideas. Like all other scientists, though, you will want to make use of information and devices that others have developed. Do some research and share your findings with your group. Can you modify someone else’s idea? With your group, brainstorm some possible designs. How would the designs work? What materials would they require? How difficult would they be to build? How many parts are there that could stop working during the three-day period? Make a clear, labelled drawing of each design, with an explanation of how it would work.
Examine all of your suggested designs carefully. Which do you think would work best? Why? Be prepared to share your choice and your reasons with your group. Listen carefully to what others have to say. Do you still feel yours is the best choice, or do you want to change your mind? When the group votes on the design that will be built, be prepared to co-operate fully, even if the group’s choice is not your choice.
Get your teacher’s approval of the drawing of the design your group wants to build. Then gather your materials and build a prototype (a model) of your design. Experiment with your design to answer some questions you might have about it. For example, should the food and water be provided at the same time? Until you try it out, you may be unsure if it is possible (or even a good idea) for your invention to deliver both at the same time. Keep careful, objective records of each of your tests and of any changes you make to your design.
You might find, too, that your invention fails in a particular way. Perhaps it always leaks at a certain point where two parts are joined. Perhaps the food and water are not kept separate. Perhaps you notice a more efficient way to design your device as you watch it operate. Make any adjustments and test them so that your device works in the best and most efficient way possible.
Evaluating
When you are satisfied with your device, you can demonstrate it and observe devices constructed by other groups. Evaluate each design in terms of how well it meets the design criteria. Think about the ideas other groups used and why they work better than (or not as well as) yours. What would you do differently if you were to redesign your device?
A Process for Technological Problem Solving
The problem-solving model you have just used is shown here.
Solving a Technological Problem
Identify the problem.
Decide on design criteria. .
Revise the design criteria.
The design criteria were not satisfactory.
Plan and construct.
• Make a sketch.
• Draw a complete plan. • Build a model.
Evaluate the plan.
The product or technique is an excellent solution to the problem.
Revise the plan.
The plan had obvious flaws.
Use the product or technique.
Patent the product or technique for possible mass production.
468 MHR • Science Skill 3