Coming Up With Many Ideas Before Picking One
Atlas stands at a large worktable covered with sketches, sticky notes, and colorful drawings of different bridge designs, holding a pencil and grinning as he pins a fifth idea next to four others on the wall.
- Explain why engineers generate multiple possible solutions before choosing one.
- Identify at least two advantages of having several ideas to compare.
- Compare two different solutions to the same problem and describe a strength of each.
- Predict what might go wrong if an engineer always picks the very first idea that comes to mind.
Key terms
- brainstorm
- to think up many ideas fast
- solution
- an idea that solves the problem
- compare
- to look at ideas side by side
- problem
- the thing you want to fix
Many Ideas First
When engineers have a problem, they do not pick the first idea. They brainstorm. That means they think up lots and lots of ideas. For a bridge, they might list a rope bridge, a stone path, a metal beam, or stepping stones. Every idea gets written down, even the silly ones. Silly ideas sometimes turn into the best ideas. The goal is to get a big pile of choices.
Then You Compare
Once you have many ideas, you can put them next to each other and compare. You ask good questions about each one. Which idea is safest? Which one costs the least money? Which is easiest to build? Which one lasts the longest in rain? Comparing helps you spot the strongest idea. You can only do this if you have more than one idea to look at.
Worked examples
Your class needs a way to cross a creek. What do you do first?
- Brainstorm many ideas like a rope bridge or stepping stones.
- Write down every idea, even silly ones.
- Compare the ideas to find the safest one.
Answer: Make many ideas first, then compare to pick the best.
You thought of only one idea. Is that enough?
- One idea gives you nothing to compare.
- Keep thinking of more ideas.
Answer: No, one idea is not enough. Make more to compare.
Activity
Drag each bridge idea into the bin that best describes its biggest strength
Practice
List three different ways to keep books from sliding.
Pick two of your ideas and tell one strength of each.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The first idea is bestThe first idea is rarely the best one to build.
- Silly ideas are uselessSilly ideas can lead to a great new solution.
Check your understanding
Why do engineers try to come up with many different solutions before choosing just one?
Mia needs to design a holder that keeps an egg safe when dropped. She thinks of a foam cup right away and immediately starts building it without writing down any other ideas. What is the problem with Mia's approach?
During brainstorming, which of the following is the BEST thing to do?
Recap
Engineers brainstorm many ideas before they pick one. Write down every idea, even silly ones. More ideas give you more choices to compare. Comparing helps you find the safest, cheapest, or strongest solution.
Reflect
Which of your ideas surprised you the most and why?