Name:

Foundations of Technology
Unit 2 Lesson 4: Criteria and Constraints
File 2.4.1: Single Sheet Compression

Period:

Date:

Background Information: When engineers prepare to design something, be it a

skyscraper, a cell phone, or a bicycle, they follow certain steps that we call the engineering
design process. The design process provides general direction when engineers set out to
solve problems. By working through these steps in order, they increase the odds that their
products will work when fully constructed.
Design Brief: In pairs, you will be designing a paper structure that is designed to hold at
least ten text books 1 inch from the table surface. By applying the steps of the design
process, you should have a good idea on how to do this before getting started. Before
starting to build, your designs and ideas must be approved by your teacher!
Materials & Guidelines:
A sheet of paper (8.5x11)
Eight inches of masking tape
Scissors
Ruler
Structures must ONLY include the tape and paper (not the scissors and rulers)
Any tower using materials NOT listed above will be disqualified
Answer the following questions in the space provided or in your engineering design journal.
1. What were the important requirements of the problem?
The important requirements were; having the books an inch off of the table, using only
one sheet of paper, and using only 8 inches of tape to create the final project.
2. How did you identify the goal of the project?
We identified the goal of the project through the criteria and constraints.
3. How did you identify what you could and couldnt do to solve the problem?
We identified what we could and could not do to solve the problem by reviewing and
studying the criteria and constraints.
4. What elements of this challenge made completing the activity easy?
The elements of this challenge that made completing this activity easy were the fact that
we could work in partners, we were limited in supplies so you had a limited amount of
thinking area, and through the constraints, you could easily limit what you could and
couldnt have to a bigger extent.
5. What elements made completing it difficult?
The elements that made completing this project difficult is; to some extent, having the
constraint of using only one piece of paper was hard to work with, and combining ideas
with my partner was challenging to come up with a final project.
2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
Foundations
of Technology, Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design

 2013 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations
of Technology, Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design