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Student Name: ________________________
Unit 5: Design
Lesson 3: Construction
File 5.3.4: Construction Methods Design Brief
Background:
The US Building Industry Association is conducting a contest for high school students to
design a residence that uses a minimal amount of energy. Only one team can be entered
from each school. Your technology education class just recently studied alternative
construction methods and you have decided to use one of the methods you studied.
Problem:
In order to decide which construction method to use and who will be the lead engineers,
your teacher has developed a mini contest where each team must design and construct two
wall sections that will be tested in class.
Specifications:
1. Two of the following construction methods must be used: Straw bale Construction,
Structural Insulated Panels, Insulated Concrete Forms, Adobe/Cob, Earthship, or
Wood frame
2. You may use the research papers from the previous activity as a resource, along with
any additional research resources.
3. The wall sections will be built to a scale of 1:10
4. Materials required for the construction technique will be simulated using readily
available modeling materials.
Deliverables:
1. Each student must complete an Engineering Design Folio documenting the process.
2. Each student must submit one model of each wall section.
3. Each student must submit a learning objective summary for the project.
©2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Foundations of Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design
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Assessment Instrument – Engineering Design Process and Construction Methods Rubric
Category
Below Average
Average
Excellent
Rephrases the
Rephrases the
Rephrases the
Defining a Problem
problem with limited
problem clearly.
problem clearly and
clarity.
precisely.
Contributes few or
Contributes a
Contributes multiple
Brainstorming
implausible ideas.
plausible idea.
plausible ideas.
Contributes ideas,
Contributes one
Contributes multiple
but without
plausible idea based
plausible ideas based
documented
on documented
on documented
research. Produces
research. Produces
research. Produces
Researching and
incomplete sketches. marginally accurate
accurate pictorial and
Generating ideas
Does not present a
pictorial and
orthographic
concept.
orthographic
sketches of design
sketches of design
concepts.
concepts.
Does not restate the
Restates the criteria
Restates the criteria
Identifying Criteria
criteria clearly and
clearly and identifies
clearly and precisely
and Specifying
fails to identify
several constraints.
and identifies many
Constraints
constraints.
constraints.
Inadequately
Satisfactorily
Thoroughly analyzes
analyzes the pluses
analyzes the pluses
the pluses and
Exploring Possibilities and minuses of a
and minuses of a
minuses of a variety
variety of possible
variety of possible
of possible solutions.
solutions.
solutions.
Selection of solution
Selects a promising
Selects a promising
is not based on
solution based on
solution based on a
Selecting an
consideration of
criteria and
thorough analysis
Approach
criteria and
constraints.
criteria and
constraints.
constraints.
Design proposal is
Design proposal is
Design proposal is
Developing a Design
inadequate and
adequate, containing accurate and
Proposal
lacking pertinent
all pertinent
comprehensive.
information.
elements.
Prototype meets the
Prototype meets the
Prototype meets the
Making a Model or
task criteria to a
task criteria.
task criteria in
Prototype
limited extent.
insightful ways.
Testing and
Testing and
Testing processes
Testing and
evaluation processes
evaluation processes
are innovative.
Evaluating the
are inadequate.
are adequate for
Design using
refining the problem
Specifications
solution.
Refinement based on Refinements made
Significant
testing and
based on testing and improvement in the
Refining the Design
evaluation is not
evaluation results.
design is made based
evident.
on prototype testing
and evaluation.
Finished solution
Finished solution
Finished solution
Creating or Making it (product) fails to
(product) meets
(product) exceeds
meet specifications.
specifications.
specifications.
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Technology, Engineering, and Design
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Communicating
Processes and
Results
Scale of 1:10
Craftsmanship of
Model
Accuracy of Wall
Section #1
Accuracy of Wall
Section #2
Solution presented
with limited
accuracy. Limited
supporting evidence
on how the solution
meets the task
criteria.
The student presents
a model that is much
larger or much
smaller than a 1:10
scale
Structural and/or
support materials are
not cut to the
appropriate length.
The student waste
materials in
construction and did
not apply glue
carefully.
Solution presented
accurately. Some
supporting evidence
on how the solution
meets the task
criteria.
The wall section is
missing multiple
layers and/or
materials required in
the typical
construction for the
particular
construction method.
Materials chosen for
the model do not
relate to the actual
materials used for
the construction
method.
The wall section is
missing multiple
layers and/or
materials required in
the typical
construction for the
particular
construction method.
Materials chosen for
the model do not
relate to the actual
materials used for
the construction
method.
The wall section
accuracy represents
most of the layers
and/or materials
required in the
typical construction
for the particular
construction method.
The materials chosen
to represent actual
materials clearly
relate to the real
material.
Structural and
support materials are
cut to appropriate
length with no gaps
or overhangs. The
student did not
waste materials in
construction and glue
is applied carefully,
without excess.
The wall section
accuracy represents
all layers and
materials required in
the typical
construction for the
particular
construction method.
The materials chosen
to represent actual
materials clearly
relate to the real
material.
The wall section
accuracy represents
most of the layers
and/or materials
required in the
typical construction
for the particular
construction method.
The materials chosen
to represent actual
materials clearly
relate to the real
material.
The wall section
accuracy represents
all layers and
materials required in
the typical
construction for the
particular
construction method.
The materials chosen
to represent actual
materials clearly
relate to the real
material.
The student presents
a model that is built
to an approximate
scale of 1:10
Structural and
support materials are
cut to appropriate
length. The student
did not waste
materials in
construction and glue
is applied carefully.
Solution presented
concisely with clarity
and accuracy.
Extensive supporting
evidence on how the
solution meets the
task criteria.
The student presents
a model that is built
to an exact scale of
1:10
©2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Foundations of Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design
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Venn Diagram
Learning Objective
Summary
Student makes two
or less comparison
statements in each
circle.
Learning objective
summary (one page
maximum) indicates
student unrelated
knowledge related to
the design challenge.
Student is able to
make three to four
comparison
statements in each
circle.
Learning objective
summary (one page
maximum) indicates
student knowledge
related to standards
addressed in the
design challenge.
Student is able to
make five or more
comparison
statements in each
circle.
Learning objective
summary (one page
maximum) indicates
student in depth
knowledge related to
standards addressed
in the design
challenge.
Standards Addressed:
For your learning objective summary, explain each standard using supporting details you
learned from the lesson.


Infrastructure is the underlying base or basic framework of a system. (STL 20J)
Structures are constructed using a variety of processes and procedures. (STL 20K)
Additional information can be found at the following web sites:
Wood frame: http://www.mariposacounty.org/images/pages/N547/wall1.jpg,
http://www.awc.org/pdf/wcd1-300.pdf, http://web.dcp.ufl.edu/stroh/WoodFraming.pdf,
Straw bale: http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/images/plans/carriagehouseCS.JPG,
http://strawbale.sustainablesources.com/, http://www.balewatch.com/,
http://www.dancingrabbit.org/building/straw_bale.php,
Structural Insulated Panels: http://www.sips.org/,
http://www.designbasics.com/altcon/structural_insulated_panels.asp,
http://www.vermonttimberworks.com/home/working_pages/wall_roof_systems/images/typi
cal-wall-section.JPG
Insulated Concrete Forms: http://www.forms.org/, http://www.icfhomes.com/,
http://www.rewardwalls.com/,
Adobe/Cob: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/content_images/fig/1100260402002.png,
http://www.gilacountyaz.gov/DepartmentFiles/CommunityDevelopment/plasteroncobadobe.pdf, http://www.cobcottage.com/questions,
Earthship:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Ex03BJRX0YI/TDg89f3vSkI/AAAAAAAAASk/Uo3h9dQESWU/1007201
0143.jpg, http://earthship.org/, http://www.earthships.com/index.htm,
©2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Foundations of Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design
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Engineering Design Process Folio
Name
Group
Members
Date Started
Due Date
1. Define the Problem
What need or want must be met by the solution?
2. Brainstorming
In the space provided, sketch three possible construction method solutions to the given
problem.
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3. Research and Generating Ideas
In the space below, document your research. Be sure to include proper citations at the
end of your notes. Hint: Research “wall section” and construction methods. Also see
suggested websites.
Notes:
Citations/References:
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4. Identifying criteria and specifying constraints
What are the criteria and constraints?
Materials List
5. Exploring possibilities
Reflect on your brainstorm ideas and research notes. Generate any additional designs
which you feel meet the criteria and constraints in the space below.
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6. Selecting an Approach
a. Enter the constraints of the project in the first column.
b. Score each sketch for each constraint. + = 3 pts., √=2 pts., - = 1 pt.
c. Total the columns and circle the highest score.
Constraint
Method 1
Method 2
Method 3
Total
7. Developing a Design Proposal
Take your highest scoring sketch and create working drawings (wall section drawings
with dimensions, so that you could build your project). Attach your working drawings to
this sheet.
©2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Foundations of Technology, Third Edition/
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8. Making a model or prototype
In the space below, document (using digital pictures) your construction of the
model/prototype. Be sure to include a picture of the final model/prototype.
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Technology, Engineering, and Design
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9. Testing and Evaluating the Design, using specifications
As you create your solution, you will check to make sure that the solution is meeting the
needs of the given problem. If you solution does not work, you may need to repeat the
previous steps of the Engineering Design Process, until you find a successful design. In
the space below, document the type of test you conducted and the results.
Test Performed
Test Results
10. Refining the Design
Based on your tests, propse refinements to the design and construction of the design
problem in the space below.
11.Creating or Making It
If time allows, modify your model/prototype as proposed in refining the design. What
additional steps would be necessary to produce this solution for mass market
production?
©2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Foundations of Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design
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12.Communicating processes and results
Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the two construction methods you
modeled.
Construction Method
#1
Construction Method
#2
©2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Foundations of Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design