Introducing Engineering Aims and Values through Rover Wheel Design

Abstract

Engineering activities often engage students in the practices of engineers without explicitly addressing the nature of engineering. Yet, it is important for students to think more broadly about how engineers work, and especially how they make design decisions. This activity promotes understanding of one important aspect of engineers’ decision-making—the role of aims and values. Students consider how NASA’s aims and values, as well as their own personal values, might influence the development of a wheel for a Mars rover. Students also have the opportunity to design and test a rover wheel in this activity, which targets MS-ETS1-1: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

Keywords:

• Nature of Engineering
• Engineering Design
• Space

ONLINE RESOURCES

Access Mars—https://accessmars.withgoogle.com

Mars Terrain PowerPoint—https://tinyurl.com/727dt83z

NASA’s website—www.nasa.gov/about

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Iowa Space Grant Consortium. •

Notes on contributors

Sarah Voss

Sarah Voss ([email protected]) is doctoral student in the School of Education at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Emma Marie, Bridgid Miller, and Jayme Scheck are elementary education students at Drake University. Jerrid Kruse is a professor of education at Drake University. Isaiah Kent-Schneider is a middle school STEM teacher in Carlisle, Iowa. Dan Chibnall is a STEM librarian and assistant professor at Drake University.