Non-Fiction Writing & Reflection
The act of writing about the science & engineering concepts and applying them to real designs is the true test of whether a student understands their project. In the MakerSpace curriculum students complete two types of writing with each project they complete. Groups complete the writing together after discussions of their project in a collaborative process. Students are also given opportunities to revise their work and compare it to exemplars to improve their skills.
REFLECTION & RE-DESIGN:
One of the most beneficial parts of a MakerSpace Engineering project is the reflection that occurs after creating the project and about possible improvements that could be made in the future. The work of an engineer is never done, and students are challenged suggest improvements to their designs with claims and then support their reasoning with evidence and explanation. A rubric is provided to help students to develop their writing skills.
SCIENCE CONNECTIONS:
The "proof is in the pudding" is a phrase we often use for this part of the engineering process. Students are asked to make a claim about whether their design shows proof of the underlying science concepts. The students must use either quantitative or qualitative evidence and show their reasoning to prove their claim. This part of the writing process also shows the students understanding of the science and engineering concepts. A separate rubric helps develop students writing of this paragraph.
The act of writing about the science & engineering concepts and applying them to real designs is the true test of whether a student understands their project. In the MakerSpace curriculum students complete two types of writing with each project they complete. Groups complete the writing together after discussions of their project in a collaborative process. Students are also given opportunities to revise their work and compare it to exemplars to improve their skills.
REFLECTION & RE-DESIGN:
One of the most beneficial parts of a MakerSpace Engineering project is the reflection that occurs after creating the project and about possible improvements that could be made in the future. The work of an engineer is never done, and students are challenged suggest improvements to their designs with claims and then support their reasoning with evidence and explanation. A rubric is provided to help students to develop their writing skills.
SCIENCE CONNECTIONS:
The "proof is in the pudding" is a phrase we often use for this part of the engineering process. Students are asked to make a claim about whether their design shows proof of the underlying science concepts. The students must use either quantitative or qualitative evidence and show their reasoning to prove their claim. This part of the writing process also shows the students understanding of the science and engineering concepts. A separate rubric helps develop students writing of this paragraph.