(UTED) Design Challenge Lesson

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Design Challenge Lesson

Introduction

This microlesson will present students the opportunity to go through the design process. Students will go through the following steps:

  • Organize data and the consequences of the problems or issues, and research the material placing it in manageable formats.
  • Attempt to predict the outcomes based on data collected in a project or experiment.
  • Defend one's position based on quality collection of facts and data supporting plans, processes, and/or projects.
  • Draw a conclusion when confronted with data or observations that focus on the observed plans, processes, or projects at hand.
  • Analyze change as a result of data differences and changing environmental values.
  • Use qualitative and quantitative skills to conduct a simple scientific inquiry and economic analysis; use the data to draw a conclusion based on the analysis.
  • Recognize the value of the reiterative process to improve data and to improve the design process.

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Explore

On October 21, 2010, NASA issued a press announcement declaring evidence that pure water molecules do exist on the moon. NASA verified this finding through the use of instrumentation which detected water ice from a large plume of material which was created by a deliberate impact of an object plummeting into Cabeus, a crater on the moon. This test was the mission for the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, LCROSS, and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, LRO. The discovery will enable other developments for research and exploration with the goal for eventual human settlements.

One might assume that NASA had a one shot deal to hit their target with precise targeting and correct force of impact. The cost for failure was high. So how does NASA prepare for a mission of such magnitude? They plan. A key component of the planning is testing and then analysis of test data. For this mission, NASA launched a probe at least a year prior to the experiment to determine the probability of ice crystals in certain sections of the moon. Once that data was analyzed and returned positive results, NASA proceeded with the mission. Undoubtedly many simulations were created and run to knock out faulty methods which resulted in imprecise targeting and insufficient force of impact. But upon analysis of cause and effect resulting in these failures, NASA was able to narrow down to the most accurate solutions. Instrumentation, data collection and analysis was certainly used throughout the planning and preparation for the mission.

Throughout this lesson and associated assignments, you will follow a similar course of action. You will be collecting test data, analyzing and adjusting to the information obtained through data collection, making design changes from the information learned, determining an optimum solution, and reporting on the whole process. The information presented in this lesson is designed to assist in the endeavor. The objective of this lesson is to demonstrate the process of test data management, the use of critical observation, and analytical analysis of the data to determine changes for desired outcome.

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Challenge 

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Take Away 

How is Microsoft Excel used for data analysis?

Other than basic data computations and ease of table creation, Excel formulas can be used to summarize data for meaningful reports while providing visual representation of data through charts. Excel provides logical formulas, tools to groom data for easier use, pivot tables to summarize data, and comparison of data.

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