Sample Grading Inventory and Rubric for "Designing Beams"
 
The most important concept you will learn in this class is how to solve problems creatively. In other words, you will learn how to state problems (including what you need and know), overcome obstacles and achieve goals using your creativity. Written mathematically,
PROBLEM SOLVING = OVERCOMING OBSTACLES + ACHIEVING GOALS
What you will learn and demonstrate is your understanding and use of this simple problem solving process or the DESIGN PROCESS

How will I know this? If you use this checklist during all your projects, you and I will both know, how you have done.
         
 
Unsatisfactory (1)
Fair (2)
Good (3)
Excellent (4)
I PROBLEM, including a clear statement in your own words
1 Yes I defined the problem. 2 We were to build the beam with the highest strength. 3 I had to make a beam strong but light. 4 We had to build a beam with balsa wood and glue that could hold a lot of weight and the beam was not to weigh much.
No statement of problem
Weak statement
Clear statement of problem
II DESIGN BRIEF, including limits, constraints, specifications, and timeline
1 I worked with the team. 2 7 inches long and 1 period. 3 7 inches long, 1.5 inches wide, and 1 period 4 Using 1 yard of balsa wood and glue, we had to build, in 1 period, a beam that was not solid but was 7" long and 1.5" wide.
No design brief
Weak design brief
Clear design brief
III Product design, including appropriate sketches and exploring multiple SOLUTIONS
1 I gave out some ideas. 2 We designed 3, but we chose 1. 3 I-beams, box, and square beams. 4
No sketch
Partially sketched designs
Well thought out designs
IV Product construction, including effective use of RESOURCES
1 Well I didn't do very good on this point. 2 We used balsa wood but we wasted most of it by playing with it by cutting. 3 We didn't use our resources really well while building the beam and only 1" was left over. 4 We used our resources well, using only 27", and gave back 9 " of balsa wood.
Wasting resources
Not very thoughtful
Sensible use of resources
V Product function, including a working model or PROTOTYPE
1 We didn't have a prototype because it break easy 2 We didn't make a very good prototype but we tryed (sic) hard. 3 The problem with the prototype was that the glue was not sicking untell (sic) we use tools. 4 We built our I-beam prototype well and on time.
No prototype
Poorly designed prototype
Elegant working prototype
VI Evaluation, including testing, modifing, and improving prototype based on FEEDBACK
1 No change in design 2 We tested for our beam and put more suporters (sic) inside the beam. 3 I tried it out 2 times because I thought it would hold more, so I did 1st try 113 and 2nd try 213. 4 We also tested it 3 times along different positions and it held increasingly more weights, 29 lbs, 204 lbs, and 229 lbs. Our beam was 19.0 g and the strength-to-mass ratio was 12.1 lbs/g. We placed second in class, because the other team held 161 lbs. but was very light, only 12.7 g, and it's strength-to-mass ratio was better, 12.7 lbs/g.
No modifications
Some modifications
 Well thought out modifications