Inquiry by Design Briefs

Design briefs are plausible situations in which students are asked to solve problems given limited materials, a specific time frame, and a number of rules and limitations. It is the author's contention that the design brief, an established format in technology education, can serve as a unique approach to extend and assess everyday science investigations through the process of application. Here you'll learn about the benefits of using design briefs to enhance your science instruction. Two sample design briefs are included. (Contains 2 figures and 1 resource.)