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This website features work from the completion of Phase 1 of the SCALES Project.

We are currently seeking partnerships for Phase 2.

Content Knowledge

  • Idea Generation and Concept Evaluation

    Now that your design problem has been clearly defined and the specifications have been set out, it is time to concentrate on thinking of solutions. 

    Read more: Idea Generation and Concept Evaluation

  • Build-It Module Wrap Up

    Build-It modules are hands-on opportunities to learn how to use a variety hand tools, machine tools and prototyping equipment in project-based training sessions. You choose which module to take based on your interest in the project / skills taught, and are encouraged to coordinate with your teams to gain a variety of experiences that you can then share with each other.

    Read more: Build-It Module Wrap Up

  • Discussion Questions 1

    Write short answers to the following questions and submit them.

    Read more: Discussion Questions 1

  • Design@MIT

    Consider the objects and products you encounter every day while at MIT—all of these were designed. When looking at a design, it’s important to be critical, but in a constructive manner. It’s also important to recognize that there are very few instances where a design is totally great or totally terrible; there are typically good parts of a poor design, and vice versa.

    Take a picture of two very different objects or products, one that you believe is a relatively bad design, and one that is a relatively good design. Discuss the pros and cons of each design, and why you have come to your overall “good” or “bad” conclusion. Also discuss what trade-offs and constraints the designers likely faced in developing these products, and how these challenges were managed.

    Read more: Design@MIT

  • OPT Production Game Assignment

    Your assignment is to schedule a small job-shop with the objective to maximize your cash after two weeks. You start with $1500 and you must pay a fixed operating cost of $2500 at the end of each week. There are no loans available and you go out of business if you run out of cash.

    Read more: OPT Production Game Assignment

  • Contracts and Procurement

    Problem set on forecasting from the course D-Lab: Supply Chains.

    Read more: Contracts and Procurement

  • Inventory Models

    Problem set on forecasting from the course D-Lab: Supply Chains.

    Read more: Inventory Models

  • Process Analysis

    Problem set on forecasting from the course D-Lab: Supply Chains.

    Read more: Process Analysis

  • From Cancer Cells to String Theory: Communicating Complex Material

    After completing the readings for this session, please write what you think did and did not work about the communication used.

    Read more: From Cancer Cells to String Theory: Communicating Complex Material

  • Science in the Blogosphere

    Identify a science blog of your choice from the Discover Magazine “stable” of blogs available at: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/, follow it for at least three days during the week preceding this class, and write a short critical review of it. What is the blog trying to do, and how well is it doing it? Come to class prepared to give a short (2 minute) review of your chosen blog.

    Read more: Science in the Blogosphere

Notice something that doesn’t seem right? Want to make a suggestion or provide feedback about how something is classified? 
Please reach out to esi [at] mit.edu and include SCALES Website in the subject of your email.
Feedback and any actions taken with regards to the feedback, will be shared as they are addressed.