The Impact of Industrial & Systems Engineering on In-Person Voting

Welcome to our new K-12 education modules developed in partnership with the URI Navy STEM Coalition, the Engineering for Democracy Institute, and the Guiding Education in Math and Science Network (GEMS-Net). The project, “The Impact of Industrial & Systems Engineering on In-Person Voting,” demonstrates the impact of applying core concepts in Industrial & Systems Engineering to election systems.

These modules are for both STEM and social studies educators by including four primary ideas:

Wait Times

at an In-Person Polling Location

Layout

at an In-Person Polling Location

Vote Center

Location Site Selection & Analysis

Vote by Mail

Ballot Processing & Analysis

Teaching Resources

The modules scaffold these different topics, making the materials more complex as students move through their education and become more familiar with key terms and concepts. Each task is designed to get students to work through small-scale optimization techniques and principles of systematic layout planning.

Background

Engineering For Democracy: Planning for an Election

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Apply site-wide

Grades K-2

Task 1 – Simulation Activity

Task 1 – Simulation Worksheet

Potential Standards Alignment

Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Engineering Design: K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, K-2-ETS1-3
Connecticut Social Studies Standards: 3.Civ.2.a
Rhode Island Social Studies Standards: SS3.1.4, SS4.6.4, SS5.3.4 + Anchor Standards: K-12: Civics and Government

Grades 3-5

Task 1 – Simulation Activity

Task 1 – Simulation Worksheet

Task 2 – Data Analysis

Task 2 – Data Worksheet

Potential Standards Alignment

Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Engineering Design: 3-5-ETS 1-2
Connecticut Social Studies Standards: 3.Civ.2.a
Rhode Island Social Studies Standards: SS3.1.4, SS4.6.4, SS5.3.4 + Anchor Standards: K-12: Civics and Government

Grades 5-8

Task 1 – Simulation Activity

Task 1 – Simulation Worksheet

Task 2 – Data Analysis

Task 2 – Data Worksheet

Potential Standards Alignment

Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Engineering Design: MS-ETS1-3
Connecticut Social Studies Standards: CG.Civ.8.a, CG.Civ.8.b + Math: Model with Mathematics CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP4
Rhode Island Social Studies Standards: SS8.6 + Anchor Standards: K-12: Civics and Government

Grades 9-12

Task 1 – Simulation Activity

Task 1 – Simulation Worksheet

Task 2 – Data Analysis

Task 2 – Data Worksheet

Potential Standards Alignment

Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Engineering Design: HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate Solutions, Data Analysis, Engineering Design, HS-LS2-1: Carrying Capacity
Connecticut Social Studies Standards: HS.CG.Civ.1.b, HS.CG.Civ.3.a
Rhode Island Social Studies Standards: HS.CVC.1.2, HS.CVS.1.3 + Anchor Standards: K-12: Civics and Government