Did you realize that engineers are responsible to bring some of your favorite holiday traditions to life? Doing anything at scale requires solving problems. Have you ever wondered how so many Americans are able to eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day? Do you aspire to design a fireworks show? Do you want to know how the post office plans for surges in packages during the winter holidays? Bring your big questions about holiday traditions to this class!

In this class, learners will be challenged to think like engineers to solve problems related to various holiday traditions. Each problem statement details the holiday tradition, explains how engineers help solve the problem, and provides opportunities for learners to explore more about the topic. Students will have the chance to review the problem statement before our class meeting. Our class meetings will be focused on finding solutions to a realistic engineering scenario.

Sample problem statements include:
-- How does a box of Valentine's Day chocolate get so many flavors?
-- How do cities plan firework shows?
-- What factors influence design of large parade balloons like those featured in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade?
-- How do engineers develop artificial trees?
Additionally, learners will have the opportunity to propose new problem statement ideas.

Over the course of 4 weeks, learners will grow in their ability to use analytical reasoning to solve complex, multifaceted problems. Together we will practice asking informed engineering questions, gathering information and evidence, modeling solutions using formulas and tools, weighing diverse trade-offs, and making engineering recommendations. I strongly advise that learners spend at least one hour familiarizing themselves with the sample problem statement before class formulating their initial questions in advance. 

Class time is an interactive discussion, using the Zoom whiteboard as a way to keep and organize notes. As the instructor of the class, I will be in the role of engineering team leader. Each class starts by summarizing key aspects of the problem statement and introducing the engineering scenario. Learners are encouraged to bring their own pencil, paper, and calculator to class so they can annotate their own thinking during our discussion and check our mathematical calculations.