Participate and share: Poster 
The purpose of our session is to demonstrate the benefits of students engaging in the Engineering Design Process and how this can be used to positively impact school culture. Our students engage in the EDP to design custom ornaments for teachers, which are revealed in a surprise fashion. Students learn critical STEM skills by engaging in the EDP and 3D modeling, both content skills and the soft skills of teamwork, persistence, and collaboration for an authentic audience. This is layered with the added benefit of developing meaningful relationships between teachers and students, improving our school culture each and every year. Our student presenters will share their experience in engaging in the EDP, as well as, the social emotional impacts of spreading joy in our community.
The objectives of this poster session are as follows:
1. Participants will be able to understand the content and soft skill benefits of engaging in the Engineering Design Process from both a teacher and student perspective.
2. Participants will engage with student presenters to understand the emotional impact of authentic audiences.
3. Participants will have their own creativity sparked through hands-on activity to inspire use of EDP back in their community.
This poster session will feature a total of 5 Cristo Rey Philadelphia students sharing the impacts of learning the Engineering Design Process through a "Secret Ornament" project. In this project students learn the EDP and CAD modeling but with a special secret mission. Student groups must "secretly" find out information about their teachers to design a custom ornament. This project included both the STEM skills of 3D printing and EDP but enhanced with the soft skills of collaboration, effective communication, and ultimately, relationship building. This is a project that started during the pandemic as a way to students to grow relationships with their teachers but is now a Cristo Rey tradition. Giving students an authentic audience for their design work has enhanced their commitment and resiliency through the EDP. The following content will be addressed in this poster session:
1. The Inspiration for the Secret Mission (
2. Engaging Students in and through the Engineering Design Process
3. Identifying Criteria and Brainstorming Ideas
4. Supporting Student Teams
5. Developing Prototypes (with a try it yourself model!) and Refining Ideas
6. Persistence and Resilience!
7. THE REVEAL!
Additionally, our student presenters will have samples of their work, visualizations of their model, and videos of the surprise reveals! We encourage participants of this poster session to try 3D modeling for themselves with a mini tutorial, as well as, engage with our phenomenal students!
The Importance of Soft Skills for Engineering (https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=102528)
How the Engineering Design Process Improves Science Education (https://www.studiesweekly.com/engineering-design-process/)
Effects of Infusing EDP into STEM PBL (https://stemeducationjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40594-020-00258-9)
Helping Student Embrace Engineering (https://www.gettingsmart.com/2018/12/26/helping-students-and-teachers-embrace-engineering/)
7 Benefits of Infusing 3D printing into Education (https://www.makersempire.com/7-benefits-of-using-3d-printing-technology-in-education/)
Benefits of Using 3D Printing to Enhance Modern Learning Environments (https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2019/06/resurgence-3d-printers-modern-learning-environments-perfcon)
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