7. The Final Test: Improve a Process
Learners improve their water reuse processes to better meet the criteria for their environment.
Guiding Question
How can we improve our water reuse processes?
Activity TimingSetup: Prep Time 20 min.
- Set up Materials Store.
*See Materials & Preparation in the Educator Guide linked above for full info.
21st Century Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Collaboration
Habits of Mind
- Persist and learn from failure.
- Innovate processes, methods, and designs.
Learners Will Do
- Attempt to make their water reuse processes more effective.
Learners Will Know
- Engineers reflect upon, change, and improve their designs.
Connecting Across Activities
- Activity 6: Create a Process: Last time, learners worked in groups to plan, create, and test a water reuse process.
- Activity 7: Improve a Process: Today, learners improve their water reuse processes to better meet the criteria for their environment.
- Activity 8: Preparing for the Engineering Share-Out: Next time, learners will prepare to communicate their ideas about designing a water reuse process in the Engineering Share-Out.
Level Up! (Optional)
In the Educator Guide, you will see “Level Up!” Sections. These include great tips and activities that build and extend STEM and 21st Century skills, and create stronger connections between educators, youth, and families. They typically take a little extra time, so please plan accordingly.
- Ask this story prompt question: Can you tell me a story about how you made changes to make something better? (Possible responses include stories about improving skills, technologies, ideas, or relationships.) Have learners share with a partner (note that the sharing can take forms other than speaking aloud). (20 min.)
- Astronauts on the International Space Station have improved their systems enough that they are able to recover and reuse 98% of the water they use! Read more about the filters they use here NASA Achieves Water Recovery Milestone on International Space Station – NASA. (5 min.)
- Tell learners, if anyone asks them what they did today, they can tell them, “We improved a process to filter and reuse water.” (5 min.)
- Ask: Which steps of the Engineering Design Process did you use as you were engineering your water reuse processes? (We planned how we wanted to change our design; we created and tested improved designs.) (5 min.)
