Rehash Your Trash: An EngrTEAMS STEM Integration Recycling Curricular Module

Please provide a concise description that includes the workshop’s learning objectives (maximum 750 characters). The abstract is used on the ASEE website, program materials, and otherK-12 Workshop promotional activities. EngrTEAMS is a curricular project that strives to increase student learning of science and mathematics (data analysis and measurement), by using an engineering design-based approach for integrated STEM instruction. One example module is entitled “Rehash Your Trash,” using the context of waste management and recycling to engage students in learning math and science concepts. An engineering design challenge is presented to students asking them to design an automated sorting process for a recycling company. This workshop will provide participants with P ge 1.24.3 WORKSHOP PROPOSAL FORM 2015 Annual ASEE K-12 Workshop on Engineering Education “Authentic Engineering: Representing & Emphasizing the E in STEM” Presented by Dassault Systems Saturday, June 13, 2015 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Sheraton Seattle | Seattle | WA 2015-ASEE-K12Workshop-Proposal-RehashYour Trash Page 3 of 7 an in depth, hands-on introduction to this unit, and provide access to 20+ curricular units for grades 4-8. Workshop Description. Please provide a detailed description of the proposed workshop that, at minimum, explicitly addresses the following (maximum 4,000 characters): a. Learning objectives b. Hands-on activities and interactive exercises c. Materials that participants can take with them d. Practical application for teachers and outreach staff EngrTEAMS is a NSF Mathematics and Science Partnership involving partners from higher education and K-12 schools. The overarching goal of EngrTEAMS is to increase learning of science and mathematics (data analysis and measurement), by using an engineering designbased approach to professional development and curricular design. This workshop will provide teachers with the opportunity to experience a model of STEM integration that an engineering design challenge to facilitate an integrated approach that emphasizes the connections between disciplines. The focus on engineering design and engineering thinking allows for a context in which students can explore the interdisciplinary nature of learning science and mathematics through engineering and within a real-world context. Through this workshop, we anticipate that teachers will gain a better understanding of STEM integration and making meaningful connections between STEM fields while setting the learning in a real-world context. Teachers will also learn about implementation strategies and some of the frameworks we used to help our teachers develop these curricular modules. In this workshop, we will present a unit on recycling called Rehash Your Trash. In this unit, students are faced with an engineering design challenge in which they must develop an automated sorting process for a recycling company that is transitioning from manual sort to single-stream, automated sorting. To develop the tools necessary for this challenge, students must learn about intrinsic and extrinsic physical properties as well as chemical properties. Specifically, students learn how density can be used to separate different types of materials, and while investigating this concept, students collect and analyze real data and apply their knowledge of proportional relationships. During this hands-on experiential session, participants will have the opportunity to experience a model of STEM integration that uses the context of engineering to facilitate an integrated approach that emphasizes the connections between disciplines. This hands-on session will highlight the middle school unit described above and participants will be engaged in the progression of activities with a focus on the meaningful integration of the science, math, and engineering lessons. Throughout the session there will be an ongoing discussion of the focus on engineering that allows for a context in which students can explore the interdisciplinary nature of learning science and mathematics through engineering and within a real-world context. Participants will also learn about implementation strategies, and be P ge 1.24.4 WORKSHOP PROPOSAL FORM 2015 Annual ASEE K-12 Workshop on Engineering Education “Authentic Engineering: Representing & Emphasizing the E in STEM” Presented by Dassault Systems Saturday, June 13, 2015 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Sheraton Seattle | Seattle | WA 2015-ASEE-K12Workshop-Proposal-RehashYour Trash Page 4 of 7 part of an interactive discussion about how these modules could be implemented in middle school classrooms or methods courses. Through this session we anticipate that participants will gain a better understanding of STEM integration and making meaningful connections between STEM fields while setting the learning in a real-world context. They will also be given access to a website where all 20+ units are available for free.