SCIENCE FAIR DESIGN PROCESS MODULE

Start with EMPATHY

Create your mission statement:

Example: Redesign the coffee tray for a wheel-chair bound student.
__________________________ the/a ______________________ for ___________________ .
Verb (such as design, redesign, build, create) Noun (name the product or outcome) Noun (name the user)
What type of sugar is best for your health?
Share your mission statement with your group.
The group should take the role of the user. Ask your group questions about their need for
the product. Take notes on their needs, likes, beliefs, etc.
Notes: _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Before moving to the next step, allow all group members to interview their “users.”

Dig Deeper.
Review your user’s notes, and ask further questions about their specific needs, beliefs, etc.
Take notes: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Reframe the PROBLEM

Capture your findings from the interview.

Needs: Things they are trying to do (use verbs):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Insights: Make inferences from what your users told you that lead to new learnings about
how to leverage your design.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Define your problem statement
_______________________________ needs a way to __________________________
(user name or description) (user’s need)

Surprisingly / because / but (circle one) _______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(insight)

Sketch 5 radical ways to solve your problem statement

Identify natural vs . artificial

Ñn?s sugars

/
compare Natural Artificer
nutritional
facts I run
Uhm

of
mm

-:=?
mm

Erm
run

me
mm
identify the types of rn
sugars offered in the
market ~hÉm

Reasearch Which compare and

kind is the most
research the taste
popu or each sugar
-

EFF
0

LET .¥¥→m
•

* ,

Share your solutions with your “users.”

Take notes on their feedback/reactions:
______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Reflect and generate a new solution.

Combine your ideas with the users’ feedback.
Research your problem
Use online resources to answer these questions:

WHO is the user?

WHAT is the problem?

WHAT products are already in use?

HOW can I make a difference?

Online resources to get you started

1. Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com/): Google Scholar lists information across an
array of academic resources, mostly are peer-reviewed.
2. CiteSeerx (http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu): CiteSeerx is a digital library and an online
academic journal that offer information within the field of computer science.
3. Microsoft Academic Research(http://academic.research.microsoft.com/): Developed by
Microsoft Research, it indexes a range of scientific journals from computer science and
engineering to social science and biology.
4. Bioline International (http://www.bioline.org.br/ ): Bioline is among the most trusted and
authentic search engines that has peer-reviewed academic journals on public health,
food and nutritional security, food and medicine and biodiversity.
5. Directory of Open Access Journals (http://www.doaj.org/): Director of Open Access
Journals (DOAJ) offers a huge range of topics within scientific areas of study.
6. PLOS ONE (http://www.plosone.org/):PLOSE ONE provides a free access platform to
everyone searching for science-related information.
7. BioOne (http://www.bioone.org/): BioOne contains academic resources for biological,
environmental and ecological sciences.
8. Science and Technology of Advanced Materials(http://iopscience.iop.org/1468-6996/):
This peer-reviewed academic journal offers free access to academic journals on major
areas of science and technology.
9. New Journal of Physics (http://iopscience.iop.org/1367-2630): New Journal of Physics is
an online scientific search engine that has academic databases with physics as core
subject.
10. ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com/): “A leading full-text scientific database
offering journal articles and book chapters from more than 2,500 journals and almost
20,000 books.”