Adapting Engineering Education to Resource-Constrained Middle Schools: Teaching Methodologies and Computing Technologies

Middle school students are at a critical age where exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields can greatly impact their career goals. Unlike other STEM fields, many schools do not have the expertise or resources needed to acquire and utilize existing engineering education platforms. Thus, we have begun to investigate how to adapt proven interactive project-based learning techniques for resource-constrained middle school environments as well as evaluate interactive platforms or platform characteristics that can be adapted to ensure greater accessibility of these materials.

[1]  Pattie Maes,et al.  Siftables: towards sensor network user interfaces , 2007, TEI.

[2]  Toni M. Kempler,et al.  The Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences: Motivation and Cognitive Engagement in Learning Environments , 2005 .

[3]  Susan Lysecky,et al.  Non-expert construction of customized embedded systems to enhance STEM curricula , 2009, SIGBED.

[4]  Marcia C. Linn,et al.  The Psychology of Gender: Advances through Meta-Analysis , 1989 .

[5]  Charles R. Warren An Exploration of Factors Influencing the Career Preferences of Junior High Students. , 1990 .

[6]  Martin Carnoy The Globalization of Innovation, Nationalist Competition, and the Internationalization of Scientific Training , 1998 .

[7]  R. Mayer Cognitive theory for education: What teachers need to know. , 1998 .

[8]  J. Eccles,et al.  Sex differences in achievement patterns. , 1984, Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. Nebraska Symposium on Motivation.

[9]  Jerilee Grandy TEN‐YEAR TRENDS IN SAT SCORES AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TAKING THE SAT AND PLANNING TO STUDY MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, OR ENGINEERING , 1987 .

[10]  Daniel L. Schwartz,et al.  Doing with Understanding , 1998 .

[11]  Richard J. Noeth,et al.  College Readiness Begins in Middle School. ACT Policy Report. , 2005 .

[12]  Susan Lysecky,et al.  Educational Technologies for Precollege Engineering Education , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies.

[13]  Michael S. Horn,et al.  Designing tangible programming languages for classroom use , 2007, TEI.

[14]  Deanna Kuhn,et al.  What is Scientific Thinking and How Does it Develop , 2007 .

[15]  M. Sinclair,et al.  Project-based learning. , 1998, NT learning curve.

[16]  Frank Vahid,et al.  Applications and experiments with eBlocks - electronic blocks for basic sensor-based systems , 2004, 2004 First Annual IEEE Communications Society Conference on Sensor and Ad Hoc Communications and Networks, 2004. IEEE SECON 2004..

[17]  Joseph Krajcik,et al.  Performance of Students in Project-Based Science Classrooms on a National Measure of Science Achievement. , 2002 .

[18]  C Bron,et al.  COGNITIVE STRATEGIES AND LOOPING CONSTRUCTS - AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY , 1984 .

[19]  Susan Lysecky,et al.  Adapting the eBlock Platform for Middle School STEM Projects: Initial Platform Usability Testing , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies.

[20]  P. Csermely,et al.  A Renewed Pedagogy for the Future of Europe , 2007 .

[21]  Joseph Krajcik,et al.  Standardized Test Outcomes of Urban Students Participating in Standards and Project Based Science Curricula , 2004, ICLS.

[22]  Timothy S. McNerney From turtles to Tangible Programming Bricks: explorations in physical language design , 2004, Personal and Ubiquitous Computing.

[23]  Daniel L. Schwartz,et al.  Doing with Understanding: Lessons from Research on Problem- and Project-Based Learning , 1998 .

[24]  I. D. Clifton,et al.  Access Denied: Race, Ethnicity, and the Scientific Enterprise , 2002 .

[25]  Michael J. Prince,et al.  Inductive Teaching and Learning Methods: Definitions, Comparisons, and Research Bases , 2006 .