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Assessment Grid : NRC Engineering Challenge

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Assessment Strategies and Tools:

Learning Objective: Make a written plan and design drawing to build a prototype.

Assessment Strategy: Before the challenge, each group of students will follow the ‘engineering design process’ and create a plan for constructing their prototype. The plan should include materials, procedures and labeled diagrams of the planned design.

Assessment Tool: Rubric.

  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Presentation
of plan
Information not
organized or
logically
sequenced
Some information
is organized and logically
sequenced
Most information
is organized and logically
sequenced
All information is organized and logically
Sequenced
Materials No materials are listed Some materials
are listed
Most materials
are clearly listed
All materials are clearly listed
Procedure There is no
procedure
Some of the
steps in the
procedure are
logically
sequenced
Most of the steps in the procedure
are logically
sequenced
All of the steps in the procedure are
logically
sequenced
Diagrams Limited accuracy
in drawing and
labeling
recognizable
diagrams
Some accuracy in drawing and
labeling recognizable
diagrams
Good accuracy in drawing and
labeling
recognizable
diagrams
Excellent
accuracy in
drawing and
labeling
recognizable
diagrams

Learning Objective: Select and use materials to accomplish a given task.

Assessment strategy: Students will select and use materials, which may either be provided by the teacher or brought in by the students.

Assessment Tool: Rating Scale

  1 2 3 4
Selection
and use of
materials
Limited
understanding of choosing and
modifying
materials
appropriate for the purpose
Some
understanding of choosing and
modifying
materials
appropriate for
the purpose
Good
understanding of choosing and
modifying materials
appropriate for the purpose
Excellent
understanding of choosing and
creatively modifying materials
appropriate for
the purpose

Learning Objective: Apply understanding of forces, structures and mechanisms,  simple machines, and motion by constructing a prototype to solve a design problem.

Assessment strategy: Students will carry out their plans to build a prototype and test its functionality.

Assessment Tool: Using a checklist, indicate whether or not the group was able to successfully build and test their prototype.

  1 2 3 4
Design, build and test a prototype No prototype was designed or built Prototype was designed but construction was not completed Prototype was designed, built and tested but did not follow specifications Prototype was designed, built and tested successfully

Learning Objective: Work collaboratively and effectively in a small group to solve a practical problem

Assessment Strategy: Students will assess their participation in the group challenge.

Assessment Tool: Student Self-Assessment Rating Scale

Name: Rate 1-5
I was always prepared for my part of the group work.  
I completed all of my individual tasks.  
I worked with my team members in a constructive way.  
I completed my tasks to the best of my ability.  
Total  

Learning Objective: Communicate to an audience how the prototype was built, how it  functions, and how accuracy in its performance is achieved.

Assessment strategy: Students will make a poster outlining how they were able to successfully build and test their prototype. The students will then present the poster orally to the class.

Assessment Tool: Rubric.

Poster Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Application of
scientific
principles
Limited
understanding of scientific
principles
underlying the
construction and modifications
Some
understanding of scientific
principles
underlying the
construction and modifications
Good
understanding
of scientific
principles
underlying the
construction and
modifications
Thorough
understanding of scientific
principles
underlying the
construction and
modifications
Clarity of
graphics
Limited
understanding of
using graphics
effectively
Some
understanding of
using graphics
effectively
Good
understanding of
using graphics
effectively
Excellent
understanding of
using graphics
effectively
Labels Limited use of
labels or labels
are inaccurate
Some use of
labels, and labels
are mainly
accurate
Good use of
labels, and most
labels are
accurate
Excellent use of
labels, and all
labels are
accurate
Overall
appearance
Limited use of
design and
layout for the
poster
Some use of
design and
layout for the
poster
Good use of
design and
layout for the
poster
Excellent use of
design and
layout for the
poster
Oral
presentation
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Presentation
of poster
content
Limited clarity
and some
inaccurate
communication
of poster content
Mainly clear and
mostly accurate
communication
of poster content
Clear and
accurate
communication
of poster content
Clear, accurate
and effective
communication
of poster content