Novel Engineering TechTeach

1. Novel Engineering
Personalized Learning Cohort
Texas Tech University
TechTeach

2. Novel Engineering
What is it?
Novel Engineering is a process that requires the
reader to identify problems as they read a novel
or text and design a solution. The solution that
students develop are then engineered by the
students either independently or in collaboration.
Students use the rubric to consult their peers,
gather feedback and make adjustments prior to
building their design. The students move to the
engineering table where they construct their
physical design and later test it. Students
present their design to the class towards the
completion of the project.
How does it impact student thinking?
Novel Engineering impacts student learning by
causing them to think at the highest level of
Bloom's’ Taxonomy. First the students must
analyze the novel they are focusing on and then
from there they must create a solution. Creating
is the highest level of thinking, in Novel
Engineering the students must use this level
throughout the project while collaborating with
one another.
Novel engineering adds rigor through peer
collaboration.

3. Process
Step 1- Read the novel and identify a problem to solve.
Step 2- Empathy Map
Step 3- Design/Draft (Sketch) a solution
Step 4- Peer review/teacher and re-draft based on rubric. (Final Sketch)
Step 5- Build/ Engineer / Test
Step 6- Present

4. Content Area
Integration
Reading Math Science
Novel Engineer
departs from the
principle of
reading.
Students engage
in meaningful
reading where
they continue to
apply
comprehension
and literacy
skills.
The interactive
process of
reading can / will
occur in any
content area.
Thinking
Based on the
standards students
work with in their
respective grade
levels, math skills
can be incorporated
into the novel
engineering
process in order to
complement the
project with the
skills the students
need the most. As
the students
approach the
design and
development stage,
they are able to use
their math skills to
aid them in the
solution process.
Science like math
can be brought
into the formation
of a solution. The
skills which are
also aligned to the
grade level
standards can
support the
project and allow
for integration of
the content areas.
Students and
teachers can
collaborate on the
science
application as
they develop their
solution for the
character’s
dilemma.

5. Standards
Connecting Novel Engineering with
standards is very important to the
development of the unit. This is the
point in the unit development where
teachers can pull from a wide
spectrum of the grade’s curricula.
You have the ability to use standards
that fall under all categories of
standards such as; Reading, Math;
Science and even Social Studies.
Reading Math Science
Data is used to determine the standards needed.
Formative and summative data can be collected.

6. Student Template
Students use a template
when planning their engineer
design. They select a set of
materials they plan to use
and sketch their solution
design.

7. Template Examples
Templates can be designed based
on what you are working on with
your students as well as their level.
Some schools may already have a
template that they want you to work
with during Novel Engineering. This
is an example used in first grade.

8. Teacher/Student Built Rubric
Does your solution solve the problem
you are addressing? Explain, how?
Listed Materials
Accurate Sketch
Labels
Adjust rubric with the students to your
discretion.
Problem
Identified
Problem is
addressed
Materials
Sketch
Labels
1- does not meet
2- meet
3- exceeds
1- does not meet
2- meet
3- exceeds
1- does not meet
2- meet
3- exceeds

9. For Example in Kinder

10. He got lost - “We made a map!”

11. He couldn’t write - “We made a word wall!”

12. He couldn’t draw shapes - “We made a how to
book!”

13. He couldn’t do math - We made a number carousel!”

14. He tried to leave - “We made a metal door!”