Why Iteration Matters with Low-Fidelity Prototypes in Engineering Design Courses

Using low-fidelity prototypes is very important in engineering design classes. Here are some reasons why:

1. Quick Feedback
Low-fidelity prototypes, like sketches or cardboard models, let students share their ideas fast. They don’t have to spend a lot of time or money like they would with more complex prototypes. This quick process means students can get feedback often from classmates and teachers. That feedback helps them improve their ideas.

2. Saves Money
Making low-fidelity prototypes doesn’t cost much. Because they are cheaper, students can try out many different ideas. This way, they can learn from mistakes without worrying about spending too much money.

3. Focus on What Matters
When students work on low-fidelity prototypes, they can pay attention to the key parts of their designs, like how well it works or how it feels to users. This helps them understand the basics of design without getting distracted by how it looks.

4. Better Teamwork
Working on low-fidelity prototypes encourages students to talk and work together. As their prototypes change, they can easily share and tweak ideas. This teamwork creates a fun environment for learning and coming up with new ideas.

5. Understanding Users
By testing their designs with real users often, students gather important feedback. They can quickly make changes based on what users want or need. This aligns with design thinking, which focuses on understanding and caring about users.

In short, using low-fidelity prototypes and iterating on them helps students learn better while also getting them ready for real-life engineering problems.