To have the desired impact, this show much reach its audience before misperceptions of engineering become the norm. By eighth grade, many patterns are already established such as the relatively low percentage of students aspiring to math and science careers (less than 10%) and the significantly lower interest among girls as compared to boys (less than one girl for every two boys) [15]. Therefore, the new show will be designed for kids aged 9–12 (who are typically in middle school). To reach the target audience, WGBH will cast players aged 14–17, relying on the remarkable way kids emulate and imitate other kids, especially slightly older ones. In addition, the show will provide role models for girls and minorities by casting children from a range of racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. When viewers watch, they will see kids like themselves actively involved in engineering.

In order to provide an "under the hood" exposure to engineering, the television show must have substantive and sufficiently advanced content. Viewers will see other children taking raw materials, and with very little adult intervention, transforming them into workable solutions. The projects will have a scale and complexity that will excite the viewing audience. Unlike other children's series, where most of the activities use low-tech materials (such as scissors, tape, and cardboard), this show will use modern technology (such as computers, sensors, and actuators) to solve bigger challenges. As the footage of the design process is filmed and edited, the directors and producers will seek opportunities to compose the program so that it will:

Foster a positive public image of engineering, especially among girls and minorities.

Emphasize the inherent rewards and enjoyment of creative, technical work.

Illustrate physical principles behind the engineering solutions.

Present role models exhibiting intelligence, persistence, teamwork, and gracious competition.

Illustrate effective skills for design, such as convergent and divergent questioning, estimation, planning and analysis of experiments [16].

Accommodate the variety of learning styles that are likely to be reflected in the viewing audience [17].

In order for this project to fully attain its goals, the television show cannot stand alone, but must integrate with other efforts. The best learning outcomes are generally attained by active engagement through pedagogies of cooperative and problem-based learning [18]. These pedagogies cannot be implemented fully if children watch passively. Therefore, the new television show will be a part of a multimedia project. For example, the website associated with the show will provide kids with simplified versions of the show's challenges that they can do at home. An Educator's Guide will provide after-school care providers with a 12-week curriculum containing three engineering challenges adapted from the television series. Volunteer engineers and public television stations will host public engineering events around the country. As a demonstration of feasibility, the team has already hosted design/build activities at the 2005 meeting of the National Society of Black Engineers.