Workshop – K - 12 engineering education: Design challenges for pre-college students

Engineering education interventions are increasingly commonplace throughout the K-12 experience, but are often limited to popular standbys like robotics or computers. In this workshop, we introduce an alternative approach, Engineering Teaching Kits (ETKs), and show how they can be structured to accommodate students at various educational levels. ETKs are the result of research conducted on effective outreach through the Virginia Middle School Engineering Education Initiative. Currently, ETKs are structured to provide age-appropriate engineering activities at the middle school level, but they have also been used with audiences of various ages. ETKs are popular among middle school math and science instructors for two reasons: they are standards-based, and are self-contained units built on the principles of guided inquiry and active learning. Participants will receive a review of applicable educational and cognitive developmental theories, be introduced to ETKs, work through selected activities from two ETKs, and draft designs for their own ETKs.

[1]  John Brooks,et al.  In Search of Understanding: The Case for Constructivist Classrooms , 1993 .

[2]  Carolyn Vallas,et al.  Summer Introduction To Engineering For High School Students , 2006 .

[3]  Christine Cunningham,et al.  AC 2007-8: ENGINEERING IS ELEMENTARY: AN ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM FOR CHILDREN , 2007 .

[4]  H. Bart-Smith,et al.  The virginia nuddle school engineering education initiative: using a senior design course to develop engineering teaching kits , 2003, 33rd Annual Frontiers in Education, 2003. FIE 2003..

[5]  L.G. Richards,et al.  Workshop - bringing engineering into middle schools: Learning science and math through guided inquiry and engineering design , 2007, 2007 37th Annual Frontiers In Education Conference - Global Engineering: Knowledge Without Borders, Opportunities Without Passports.

[6]  Randy L. Bell,et al.  Encouraging Conceptual Change In Science Through The Use Of Engineering Design In Middle School , 2009 .

[7]  Herbert D. Thier,et al.  Developing Inquiry-Based Science Materials: A Guide for Educators , 2001 .

[8]  L.G. Richards,et al.  Workshop - elementary engineering education: Engineering Teaching Kits for K-5 students , 2008, 2008 38th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference.

[9]  L. Richards,et al.  Assessing Engineering Teaching Kits For Middle School Students , 2004 .

[10]  Larry G. Richards,et al.  Teaching engineering in the middle schools: Virginia Middle Schools Engineering Education Initiative , 2002, 32nd Annual Frontiers in Education.