How Engineers Use Failure to Succeed

Crash Course Kids

This educational video from Crash Course Kids explores the critical role of failure within the engineering design process. Hosted by Sabrina, the video reframes the concept of failure not as a negative outcome, but as a necessary step in finding successful solutions. It introduces the specific engineering term "failure point"—the limit at which a solution stops working—and explains how identifying these points early saves time, money, and lives. Key themes include the iterative nature of the design process, the importance of testing variables, and structural engineering. The video uses accessible analogies, such as a bowling ramp experiment and a wooden bridge crossing, to illustrate abstract concepts. It also features a historical case study of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Galloping Gertie) to demonstrate real-world consequences of unidentified failure points. For educators, this video is an excellent resource for STEM curriculums, specifically for introducing the engineering mindset. It helps dismantle student anxiety around making mistakes by normalizing failure as data collection. It serves as a perfect launchpad for lessons on bridge building, stress testing materials, or social-emotional learning discussions about resilience and perseverance in academic pursuits.