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4 The Current State of Kâ12 Engineering Education A major goal of this project was to determine the scope and nature of current efforts to teach engineering to Kâ12 students in the United States. How many programs are there, who developed them, and which students have they reached? What purposes do they serve? How do they present engineering and engineering design? How do they relate to sci- ence, mathematics, and technology? What pedagogical strategies do teachers use? Have outcomes data been collected, and how good are these data? We approached this task in two ways: (1) by reviewing curricula for teaching engineering concepts and skills in Kâ12 classrooms and (2) by reviewing relevant professional-development initiatives for teachers. As it turns out, the curriculum landscape is extremely varied; in fact, no two curricula occupy the same âecologicalâ niche. This is not surpris- ing, given the diverse origins of these materials and points of view of their creators. In addition, because there is no widespread agreement on what a Kâ12 engineering curriculum should include, the committee decided not to compare programs directly but to identify areas of relative emphasis and notable omissions. This approach revealed certain cross-cutting themes, which are discussed in detail later in this chapter. Developing a curriculum does not guarantee that engineering education in Kâ12 will be successful. A critical factor is whether teachersâfrom elementary generalists to middle school and high school specialistsâunderstand basic engineering concepts and are comfortable engaging in, and teaching, engi- 71
72 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION neering design. For this, teachers must either have appropriate background in mathematics, science, and technology, or they must collaborate with teachers who have this background. We held two data-gathering workshops to explore the professional-development situation for Kâ12 engineering educators. Infor- mation from those workshops is also included in this chapter. Although the emphasis in this report is on engineering education in this country, the charge to the committee included a directive to ï¬nd examples of pre-college engineering education in other nations, on the grounds that efforts elsewhere to introduce pre-college students to engineering might inï¬uence decisions here. The few initiatives we found are described brieï¬y in an annex to this chapter. Finally, we recognize that numerous efforts have been made to introduce engineering to Kâ12 students outside of formal school settings, through websites, contests, after-school programs, and summer programs. The com- mittee charge did not require us to examine these informal Kâ12 activities. We note, however, that some of these initiatives appear to have increased studentsâ awareness of and stimulated their interest in engineering (e.g., Melchior et al., 2005; TexPREP, 2003). REVIEW OF CURRICULA To identify Kâ12 engineering curricula, the committee relied on the joint efforts of committee members, Prof. Kenneth Welty,1 University of Wisconsin- Stout, and project staff. The methods included reviews of websites of profes- sional organizations, government agencies, and corporations with an interest in engineering education; searches of online curriculum clearinghouses and libraries; and direct communication with engineering educators, technology teachers, supervisors of state departments of education, and principal inves- tigators of known Kâ12 engineering education programs and projects. In May 2008, the committee solicited public comments on a project summary, which brought several additional curricula to our attention. Overall, the committee collected more than 10,000 pages of material, including lengthy narratives downloaded off the Web, material stored on compact disks, material assembled in three-ring binders, and material bound into textbooks. The materials ranged from 425 pages on a single 1The committee chose Prof. Welty because of his expertise in curriculum analysis, as well as his capacity as a co-principal investigator at the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) funded by the National Science Foundation. NCETEâs research agenda complements the overall goals of this project.
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 73 topicâglidersâto just 46 pages on the huge topic of biotechnology. To ensure that patterns would be identiï¬ed and meaningful conclusions drawn, the committee reviewed roughly equal numbers of curricula for each major Kâ12 grade band (i.e., elementary, middle, and high school). Because of limitations on time and funding, as well as practical dif- ï¬culties in locating some more obscure products, this curriculum review cannot be considered comprehensive. Nevertheless, the committee believes nearly all major initiatives and many less-prominent ones are included, thus providing a reasonable overview of the current state of Kâ12 engineering education in the United States. We are aware that there are individual courses not part of larger curricula that address engineering concepts and skills to varying degrees. These courses, typically developed and taught by technology educators, are not treated in our analysis, however. Selection Criteria To bound the analysis, the committee developed criteria to guide the selection of curricula that reï¬ect the committeeâs consensus that design is the distinguishing characteristic of engineering. To be included in the study, therefore, curricula had to meet the following speciï¬cations: The curriculum must engage students in the engineering-design pro- cess or require that students analyze past solutions to engineering- design problems. The curriculum must explore certain concepts (e.g., systems, con- straints, analysis, modeling, optimization) that are central to engi- neering thinking. The curriculum must include meaningful instances of mathematics, science, and technology. The curriculum must present engineering as relevant to individuals, society at large, or both. The curriculum must be of sufï¬cient scale, maturity, and rigor to justify the time and resources required to conduct an analysis.2 2 Speciï¬cally, each initiative had to be designed to be used by people and organizations outside the group responsible for its initial development. It also had to include at least one salient piece that had undergone ï¬eld testing and subsequent revision and was no longer identiï¬ed as a âdraft.â Finally, during the development of the initiative, it had to include some form of review of the initial concept, pilot or ï¬eld testing, iterations based on feed- back, an external evaluation, or a combination of these.
74 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION Review Process The review process was overseen by Prof. Welty with the help of graduate fellows at NCETE. The committee initially underestimated the challenges of conducting in-depth reviews, such as the unique content, point of view, and organization of each curriculum and, often, their large size, which required many more hours of analysis than had been originally budgeted. As a result, the plan for reviews had to be modiï¬ed midway through the project. Ulti- mately, we conducted two types of reviews: in-depth content analyses and descriptive summaries. In-depth reviews were conducted on curricula that (1) appeared to be widely used in schools, (2) appeared to have longevity, or (3) had other special characteristics that merited close examination. The in-depth reviews covered all three grade bands (Table 4-1). TABLE 4-1 Curricula Included in the Studya Title Developer Pre-K 1. Young Scientist SeriesâBuilding Educational Development Center Structures Elementary School 2. The Academy of Engineering (also PCS Edventures! for middle school and high school) 3. Children Designing and Engineering The College of New Jersey 4. City Technology/Stuff That Works City College of New York 5. Engineering is Elementary Boston Museum of Science 6. Full Option Science System Lawrence Hall of Science 7. Insights (Structures Unit) Education Development Center 8. Invention, Innovation, and Inquiry International Technology Education Association 9. A World in Motion Society for Automotive Engineers Middle School 10. Building Math Boston Museum of Science 11. Design and Discovery Intel Corporation 12. Gateway to Technology Project Lead the Way 13. The Inï¬nity Project (Middle School) Southern Methodist University 14. Learning by Design Georgia Institute of Technology 15 LEGO® Engineering Tufts University 16. TECH-Know Technology Student Association continued
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 75 TABLE 4-1 Continued Title Developer 17. Technology Education: Learning by Hofstra University Design 18. A World in Motion Society for Automotive Engineers High School 19. Designing for Tomorrow Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies 20. DTEACh University of Texas at Austin 21. Engineering: An Introduction for Arizona State University/CK12 Foundation High School 22. Engineering by Design International Technology Education Association 23. Engineering the Future Boston Museum of Science 24. Engineering Your Future Gomez, Oakes, Leone/Great Lakes Press 25. Engineers of the Future (Curriculum based on design and technology courses developed in the United Kingdom) 26. Exploring Design and Engineering The College of New Jersey 27. The Inï¬nity Project Southern Methodist University 28. INSPIRES University of Maryland Baltimore County 29. Introduction to Engineering Design Project Lead the Way 30. Material World Modules Northwestern University 31. Principles of Engineering New York State Dept. of Education/Hofstra 32. What is Engineering? Johns Hopkins University 33. A World in Motion Society of Automotive Engineers Other 34. TeachEngineering.org Five-university collaboration (part of the National Science Digital Library) aCurricula shaded in gray received in-depth reviews. Each in-depth review included a detailed inventory of the content of the curriculum that addressed concepts and skills related to engineering, tech- nology, mathematics, and science. The research team also identiï¬ed stated goals, pedagogical strategies, prominent activities, and treatment (if any) of content standards. If available, the team also documented how extensively the curriculum had been implemented and ï¬ndings related to its impact. The authors of the curriculum were contacted, as needed, to provide background information, clarify details, or conï¬rm researchersâ ï¬ndings. Detailed written reports for each in-depth review were read and discussed by the committee. Descriptive summaries were prepared for the other curricular documents.
76 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION The descriptive summaries can be found in Appendix B and the in-depth reviews in Appendix C, included on the CD in the back cover of the report. CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF ENGINEERING CURRICULA The search for Kâ12 engineering education curricula turned up a wide variety of products from many different sources. Each curriculum had its own personality, and no two were completely alike in mission, content, format, or pedagogy. To deal with this complexity, Prof. Welty developed a âbeads-and-threadsâ model (Figure 4-1) that enabled us to analyze the curricula in a systematic way using a manageable set of key variables. The beads represent the âpackagingâ in which the engineering content of the curriculum is delivered to students. Most of the curricular materials used interesting technologies to package content into manageable chunks. For example, âThe Inï¬nity Projectâ focused on technologies likely to be of inter- est to students, such as the Internet and cell phones, digital video and movie special effects, and electronic music. Other developers organized materials around hands-on learning activities familiar to and popular with many stu- dents and teachers. For example, the middle school program of âProject Lead the Way,â Gateway to Technology, includes activities for making and testing CO2-powered dragsters, magnetic-levitation vehicles, water-bottle rockets, model rockets, and Rube Goldberg devices. The content of several curricula was organized around the design process. For example, the âDesign and Discoveryâ curriculum, by Intel Corporation, features lessons and learning activities for identifying problems, gather- ing information, brainstorming solutions, drawing plans, making models, building prototypes, and making presentations. Prominent local or regional industries, such as Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., were used as examples in interdisciplinary thematic units in the âChildren Designing and Engineer- ingâ materials, developed at The College of New Jersey. The material in one curriculum, âEngineering is Elementary,â was organized around traditional ï¬elds of engineering (e.g., civil, environmental, electrical, agricultural, and mechanical engineering). In the conceptual model, the threads, which run through the beads, represent the core concepts and basic skills a curriculum is designed to impart, independent of the particular packaging. Three threads, mathe- matics, science, and technology, represent domain knowledge in these subjects that is used in engineering design. A fourth thread represents the engineering design process. The design thread incorporates a number of spe-
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 77 Threads Beads Science Mathematics Technology Design Analysis Optimization Constraints Trade-offs Modeling Systems FIGURE 4-1 A beads-and-threads model of Kâ12 engineering curricula. ciï¬c attributes of engineering design, such as analysis, constraints, modeling, optimization, and systems. The sections below describe of how these threads play out in the curricula. The Mathematics Thread We deï¬ned mathematics as patterns and relationships among quantities, numbers, and shapes. Speciï¬c branches of mathematics include arithmetic, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Our analysis suggests that mathematics is a thin thread running through the beads in most of the Kâ12 engineering curricula.3 The thinness of the thread reï¬ects the limited role of mathematics in the objectives, learning activities, and assessment tools of the curricula. The mathematics used in the curricular materials reviewed by the committee involved mostly gathering, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data. For example, in the âA World in Motionâ curriculum, students build and test small vehicles (e.g., gliders, motorized cars, balloon- 3A separate analysis of curriculum, assessment, and professional development materials for three Project Lead the Way courses found explicit integration of mathematics âwas apparent, but weakly soâ (Prevost et al., 2009).
78 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION powered cars, wind-propelled skimmers). The testing involves measuring speed, distance, direction, and duration in conjunction with the systematic manipulation of key variables that affect vehicle performance (e.g., balloon inï¬ation, sail size and shape, gear ratios, wing placement, nose weight). The data are organized into tables or graphs to see if they reveal patterns and relationships among the variables. The conclusions based on the data are then used to inform the design of subsequent vehicles. Similar instances of gathering and using data for vehicle design were found in the Models and Designs unit in the âFull Option Science Systemâ and the Gateway to Technology unit of âProject Lead the Way.â Other materials engage students in counting and measuring, completing tables, drawing graphs, and making inferences, such as evaluating pump dispensers, con- ducting surveys, and testing materials. Engineers often use mathematical equations and formulas to solve for unknowns. Young people can learn about the utility of this application of math in various ways, such as by calculating the amount of current in a circuit based on known values for voltage and resistance or determining the output force of a mechanism based on a given input force and a known gear ratio. Several instances of this kind were found in the âEngineering the Futureâ curriculum. In one activity, students calculate the weight of a proposed product (an organizer) based on three different materials prior to prototyping. Another requires that students calculate the mechanical advan- tage of a lever to determine how much force is required to test the strength of concrete. However, most of the mathematics in the âEngineering the Futureâ curriculum is used to teach science concepts by illustrating relationships between variables, rather than to assist in solving design problems. For exam- ple, simple algebraic equations are used to represent the relationship between the cross-section of a pipe and its resistance to ï¬uid ï¬ow, to calculate the output pressure of a hydraulic pump, and to determine the power produced by an electrical circuit. In these cases, mathematics is used to build domain knowledge in much the same way mathematics is used in science classes. Several projects (e.g., âA World in Motion,â âBuilding Math,â Gateway to Technology, âDesign and Discovery,â âDesigning for Tomorrowâ) introduce and require the application of basic geometry principles in conjunction with the development of technical drawings. For example, âEngineering the Futureâ includes lessons dealing with the concepts of scale and X, Y, and Z axes in the context of making orthographic, isometric, oblique, and perspective drawings. Introduction to Engineering Design, a unit in âProject
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 79 Lead the Way,â addresses basic geometry in some detail in conjunction with the exploration of the modeling of solids using computer-aided design soft- ware. In this curriculum, students identify geometric shapes (e.g., ellipses, triangles, polygons), calculate surface area and volume, use Cartesian coor- dinates, and use addition and subtraction to create geometric shapes. One strategy for increasing the mathematics content in some curricula was to include mathematical concepts in supplementary materials as enrich- ment activities. This approach might be characterized as a thread along the outside of the beads. The peripheral placement of the thread indicates that enrichment activities are optional, rather than integral to the unit but complement or extend instruction. This approach was found in materials associated with projects in âChil- dren Designing and Engineering,â âModels and Designs,â âMaterial World Modules,â and âA World in Motion.â For example, in an âextension activityâ in âModels and Designs,â students are asked to determine how long it took them to make an electrical device called a âhum dingerâ (e.g., fastest time, slowest time, average time, total time). In an optional mathematics assign- ment in the Gliders unit of âA World in Motion,â students determine the mathematical properties of different wing shapes (e.g., area, mean chord length, aspect ratio). At the high school level, the âMaterials World Modulesâ invites teachers to engage students in using the formula for Youngâs modulus to determine the deï¬ection of a ï¬shing pole made out of drinking straws. Mathematics is a dominant thread in âThe Inï¬nity Projectâ and âBuild- ing Math.â The latter is designed to teach students how principles learned in middle school algebra can be used in the context of engineering challenges. For example, in the Amazon Mission unit, students design an insulated carrier for transporting malaria medicine, a ï¬ltration system for removing mercury from water, and an intervention plan for containing the spread of a ï¬u virus. Like most of the other curricula reviewed, âBuilding Mathâ also requires that students collect data, make graphs, and interpret patterns, related to, for example, the insulating properties of materials; the ï¬ow of water through holes of different sizes; the deï¬ection of materials based on their length, thickness, and shape; and the effect of angles on the speed of an object sliding down a string. A major goal of the âBuilding Mathâ curriculum is to teach students that engineers use mathematics to minimize guesswork in designing solutions to problems. âThe Inï¬nity Projectâ is one of the few initiatives in which advanced algebra and trigonometry are introduced in engineering contexts. This curriculum encourages students to uncover, examine, and apply basic
80 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION mathematical principles that underlie common digital communication and information technologies. Binary numbers, matrix operations, polynomials, and other forms of mathematics are presented as essential content for syn- thesizing music, compressing video, and encrypting data, and mathematical concepts and equations are presented as tools used by engineers to create or improve a given digital technology or system. In addition, the laboratory activities require that students use mathematics and mathematical reason- ing to design, simulate, and explore digital communication and information technologies. Engineers often develop mathematical models featuring the key vari- ables in a process, system, or device. The variables include forces that act on a structure, the length of time required for a process, or the distance an object moves. The relationships between variables are represented by equations that can be used to test ideas, predict performance, and inform design decisions. However, our review of curricula did not ï¬nd any projects or units in which students were instructed to develop and use mathematical models to assist them in designing solutions to problems. The Science Thread We deï¬ned âscienceâ as the study of the natural world, including the laws of nature associated with physics, chemistry, and biology and the treatment or application of facts, principles, concepts, or conventions associated with these disciplines. Our analysis suggests that science is a moderately thick thread composed of two strands, (1) science concepts related to engineering topics and problems and (2) scientiï¬c modes of inquiry that build knowl- edge and inform design decisions. The First Strand The most common science topics in the ï¬rst strand found in Kâ12 engineering curricula relate to materials, mechanisms, electricity, energy, and structures and typically involve concepts such as force, work, motion, torque, friction, voltage, current, and resistance. In the curricula, most of these concepts are presented in the form of encyclopedia-like explanations that are subsequently reinforced in laboratory activities. âEngineering is Elementaryâ includes concepts related to water, sound, plants, and organisms. At the high school level, âMaterial World Modulesâ address natural degradation processes, bioluminescence and chemilumi-
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 81 nescence, thermal and electrical conductivity, compressive and tensile forces on atoms, the relationship between molecular weight and viscosity, and the absorption and release of energy by molecular bonds. The Second Strand The second strand, scientiï¬c inquiry, is a major theme in several cur- ricula, mostly to explore the interface between science and technology. For example, in the unit on Composites in âMaterial World Modules,â students make and test foam beams laminated with varying amounts of paper to determine the strength and stiffness of composite materials. Similar experi- ments related to materials, structures, electrical circuits, and mechanisms are included in âA World in Motion,â Building Structures with Young Children, a unit in the âYoung Scientist Series,â âChildren Designing and Engineering,â âCity Technology,â âDesign and Discovery,â âEngineering is Elementary,â and âEngineering the Future.â The results of these investigations are often applied in subsequent design activities. Another way scientiï¬c inquiry is used in the curricula is related to the col- lection of data to inform engineering design decisions. For example, the second challenge in âA World in Motionâ requires that students conduct investigations to determine the effect of different gear ratios on the speed and torque of a motorized toy vehicle. In some cases, scientiï¬c inquiry is used to discover, illu- minate, or validate a law of nature, as might be done in a science classroom. For example, in Gateway to Technology, students experience Newtonâs Third Law by sitting on a scooter pointed in one direction, throwing a medicine ball in the opposite direction, and noting the direction and velocity of the scooter in relation to the direction and force used to throw the ball. Many curricula engage students in scientiï¬c inquiry and inquiry-based learning in a symbiotic way. Several curricula introduce students to the basic principles of scientiï¬c investigation under the auspices of doing science. For example, âCity Technology,â âMaterial World Modules,â and âA World in Motionâ all stress the importance of manipulating one variable at a time while keeping the other variables constant. Learning activities in these programs include investigations that apply this principle in the contexts of packaging, structures, materials, and ï¬ight. In addition to teaching students about scien- tiï¬c investigations, they engage students in the generation, testing, revision, and validation of their ideas about protecting goods, making things stronger, and making models ï¬y. In this sense, these curricula use scientiï¬c inquiry as a pedagogical strategy for building student knowledge of engineering design.
82 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION The Technology Thread We deï¬ned âtechnologyâ as the study of the human-made world, speciï¬- cally the knowledge, techniques, systems, and artifacts created by humans to satisfy their wants and needs. Our analysis suggests that technology in Kâ12 engineering curricula is a thick thread that often runs alongside the beads, rather than through them. In most cases, the study of technology in Kâ12 curricula is used to build domain knowledge and develop a vocabulary for describing, discussing, and explaining a given technology. The emphasis on technical content is apparent in materials developed for âProject Lead the Wayâ and âThe Inï¬nity Project,â both of which feature detailed treatments of speciï¬c technologies, such as digital electronics, digital communication and information technologies, automation, computer-aided design, and computer-aided manufacturing. In some curricula, technologies are presented as concrete examples of scientiï¬c principles, especially in curricular materials that use engineering ideas or contexts to enrich science and mathematics learning. For example, a unit on composite materials in âMaterial World Modulesâ features discus- sions on technologies ranging from ancient bricks and clay pots to modern tennis rackets and automobile tires. Some curricular materials are designed, at least in part, to improve technological literacy. For example, the central focus of the books written for âCity Technologyâ is to âengage elementary children with the core ideas and processes of technology (or engineering, if you prefer).â The goal of âEngi- neering is Elementaryâ is to âtap into childrenâs natural curiosity to promote [the] learning of engineering and technology concepts.â âExploring Design and Engineeringâ âhelp[s] youngsters discover the âhuman-made world,â its design and development.â âEngineering the Futureâ is intended to âhelp . . . high school students understand the ways in which they will engineer the world of the futureâwhether or not they pursue technical careers.â âInven- tion, Innovation, and Inquiryâ was created to âprovide professional support for teachers interested in technological literacy in education.â The Design Thread We deï¬ned âengineering designâ as a purposeful, iterative process with an explicit goal governed by speciï¬cations and constraints. Our analysis sug- gests that design in Kâ12 engineering curricula is a strong, thick thread. Virtually all of the curricula present a paradigm for designing solutions to problems that include a cyclical pattern of steps. Although the words and
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 83 phrases used to describe the design process vary from one curriculum to another, the basic approaches are analogous. For example, on the elemen- tary level in âA World in Motion,â the design process is organized around themes, such as setting goals, building knowledge, designing, building, test- ing, and presenting. Similarly, in a project in the âChildren Designing and Engineeringâcurriculum, student design teams are instructed to âknow the problem, explore ideas, plan and develop, test, and present.â The patterns are similar in curricula on the middle school and high school levels. For example, in âThe Inï¬nity Project,â the design process includes the following steps: Identify the problem or objective. Deï¬ne goals and identify the constraints. Research and gather information. Create potential design solutions. Analyze the viability of solutions. Choose the most appropriate solution. Build and implement the design. Test and evaluate the design. Repeat all steps as necessary. Analysis We deï¬ned âanalysisâ as a systematic, detailed examination intended to (1) deï¬ne or clarify problems, (2) inform design decisions, (3) predict or assess performance, (4) determine economic feasibility, (5) evaluate alterna- tives, or (6) investigate failures. Our analysis revealed isolated instances of the ï¬rst three applications of analysis and even fewer instances of the next three. Overall, analysis was rarely an explicit, recurring theme in a design process. Thus in our model, analysis is characterized as a fragment of thread attached to the design thread. In most of the curricula, the ï¬rst step in a design activity is to pose a problem or deï¬ne a task. For example, the ï¬rst three challenges in âA World in Motionâ are framed in the context of designing toy vehicles for a ï¬ctitious company. In all three, the challenge to elementary and middle school stu- dents is to analyze the contents of a letter or request for proposals to identify the problem and speciï¬cations of a successful solution. Similar problem scenarios appear in the Building Structure with Young Children unit in the âYoung Scientists Series,â âBuilding Math,â âChildren Designing and Engi-
84 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION neering,â âEngineering is Elementary,â Gateway to Technology, and âIntro- duction to Engineering Design.â All of these scenarios require basic reading comprehension but very little in the way of engineering analysis. âCity Technologyâ is one of the few curricula that engages students in a robust analysis to identify and deï¬ne a problem. In one unit, Designed Environments: Places, Practices, Plans, elementary students monitor class- room procedures, identify problems, design and implement new procedures, evaluate the new procedures based on data, and use the ï¬ndings of the evalu- ation to redesign the procedures as needed. A similar analysis is conducted to identify problems and develop design criteria to improve the conï¬guration of the classroom. Some of the materials engage students in a detailed analysis of everyday products using a process of reverse engineering. This is the predominant approach in materials in the âDesign and Discovery,â âCity Technology,â and âDesigning for Tomorrowâ curricula. For example, in a lesson in âDesigning for Tomorrow,â high school students analyze hand-powered can openers in terms of their primary and secondary functions, usability in different con- texts, aesthetic qualities, and salient features. In the âDesign and Discoveryâ curriculum, students dissect digital and mechanical alarm clocks to iden- tify basic components and determine the relationships between form and function. The goals of these analyses are to understand how things work, to appreciate attention to detail, and to identify the strengths and shortcomings of given designs. Engaging students in redesigning an existing product, rather than developing an original design, is also a major strategy in âCity Technology,â âDesign and Discovery,â and âDesigning for Tomorrow.â Students ï¬rst analyze the performance of simple devices from a userâs point of view. For example, in one âCity Technologyâ unit, elementary students examine paper and plastic bags. In the âDesign and Discoveryâ curriculum, middle school students study backpacks, toothpaste caps, and water bottles. In the âDesign- ing for Tomorrowâ curriculum, high school students investigate kitchen tools and training cups for toddlers. The analyses are then used to identify prob- lems and/or opportunities for improving the design of the objects. Most of the curricula include steps for assessing the performance of the ï¬nal design, a type of analysis that includes both qualitative and quantita- tive techniques to determine how well the ï¬nal design solves the original design problem. Examples of this kind of analysis can be found in âA World in Motion,â âCity Technology,â âDesign and Discovery,â âEngineering is Elementary,â and âMaterial World Modules.â
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 85 Prior to implementing a design, engineers make decisions based on evidence that a given design will work; they rarely rely on trial and error. The evidence is often based on an analysis that predicts performance for a given conï¬guration of variables. In several curricular projects, students are required to manipulate and test variables in various conï¬gurations to discover the patterns that can inform or optimize a design. This form of analysis is found in âA World in Motion,â âCity Technology,â âEngineering is Elementary,â and âMaterial World Modules.â One of the richest treatments of this kind of analysis was in the Glider unit in âA World in Motion.â In contrast to engineering practice, the curricula provide few opportuni- ties for analysis of the economic feasibility of a given design or of the relative feasibility of competing designs. However, economic factors that can inï¬u- ence design are addressed in âBuilding Math,â âDesign and Discovery,â and âEngineering the Future.â For example, in âBuilding Math,â middle school students perform a variety of mathematical computations to design optimal interventions to contain the spread of a virus in a village in the Amazon rain forest on a budget of $10,000. In the âDesign and Discoveryâ curriculum, students compare the costs and trade-offs associated with using different materials for beverage containers (e.g., aluminum, glass, plastic). In an exercise in âEngineering the Futureâ students perform simple calculations to estimate the cost of materials and production, project a retail price, and estimate the competitiveness of a product in the marketplace. Many curricular materials encourage students to evaluate alternative design options. These analyses typically involve unstructured discussion among students working in a group about the perceived merits of each option to arrive at a consensus about which option should be further developed. For example, in âBuilding Math,â middle school students design an insulated container of medicine that will maintain a temperature of 59°F to 86°F for a minimum of two hours. After gathering data about the insulating properties of various materials, each member of the design team sketches an idea for a container, describes it to the other members of his or her team, and then, âas a group,â they âdecide on one âbestâ solution.â None of the curricula include procedures or expectations for conducting a formal analysis of alternative solutions, such as a trade-off matrix for making quantitative comparisons of the strengths and weaknesses of competing designs (Garmire, 2002). Investigating failure as a speciï¬c line of analysis appears in only a few curriculum projects. A good example, from the Packaging and Other Struc- tures unit in the âCity Technologyâ curriculum, requires elementary students to ï¬ll paper and plastic bags with containers of water until they fail. The
86 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION broken bags are then studied in detail to determine the nature and location of the failures, and the results of the analyses are used to develop proposals for improving the performance of the bags. Constraints We deï¬ned âconstraintsâ as the physical, economical, legal, political, social, ethical, aesthetic, and time limitations inherent to or imposed upon the design of a solution to a technical problem. Our analysis suggests that constraints are a frayed fragment of thread running through some of the beads. The frayed nature of the thread indicates the ambiguities of the con- cept of constraints and the many ways it is interpreted. In engineering practice, constraints frame the problem to be addressed by deï¬ning the salient conditions under which it must be solved. These conditions can include budget limitations, government regulations, patent laws, and project deadlines, among others. In the curricular initiatives that address this concept at all, constraints were presented as âthingsââusually time, money, and materialsâthat limit the design process. However, âCity Technologyâ includes rules and regulations among constraints on the design process. Gateway to Technology includes aesthetic considerations and the limits of human capabilities in its deï¬nition. A module on Reverse Engi- neering in the âDesigning for Tomorrowâ curriculum introduces the idea of constraints as limitations in materials properties and manufacturing processes. Other factors in addition to constraints that can help deï¬ne a problem include design speciï¬cations (i.e., features of the ï¬nal solution, without which the design will not solve the problem) and design criteria (i.e., the parameters that must be tested to evaluate the suitability of ï¬nal product). In the curricula, the terms constraints, speciï¬cations, and criteria are usually used interchangeably. The confusion is most apparent in the learning activities. For example, in a design unit, Power and Energy: The Whispers of the Willing Wind from the âInvention, Innovation, and Inquiryâ curriculum, constraints for the design and construction of a working model of a windmill are outlined. The âconstraintsâ stipulate that the tower must be no more than 12 inches high, that the side of the base must not exceed 6 inches, and that the turbine must be less than 5 inches in diameter. The reasons for these speciï¬cations are not disclosed, but they do not appear to have a relationship to the problem being addressed or to reï¬ect engineering design practices. Their purpose seems to
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 87 be to direct student behavior to ensure success, limit the amount of resources for the project, and make the teacherâs management of the activity easier. This treatment of âconstraintsâ is typical of many curricula we reviewed. Modeling We deï¬ned âmodelingâ as any graphical, physical, or mathematical representation of the essential features of a system or process that facilitates engineering design. Our analysis suggests that modeling is represented by a thin, varicolored thread running through most of the beads. The colors represent the different uses of modeling in engineering activities and in the teaching and learning process. Engineers use models to help visualize potential solutions to design problems and/or as an interim step in the development of working prototypes. In many of the curricula, modeling is deï¬ned the same way. For example, in one unit in the âEngineering is Elementaryâ curriculum, a model is deï¬ned as âa small representation, usually built to scale, that serves as a plan.â In the âDesign and Discoveryâ materials, a model is deï¬ned as a âvisual representation of a total design (or some aspect of the design) that is nonfunctional.â In those same materials, a prototype is deï¬ned as a âwork- ing model used to demonstrate and test some aspect of the design or the design as a whole.â In the Gateway to Technology unit of the âProject Lead the Wayâ curriculum, modeling is deï¬ned as âthe process of creating three- dimensional representations of design solutions.â Computer modeling is deï¬ned as âthe use of computer software applications that allows the user to visualize an idea in a three-dimensional format.â As these characterizations suggest, most of the curricula engage students in making things, usually from everyday materials, to help them visualize their designs and present them to others. For example, in Building Structures with Young Children, students construct towers and enclosures using build- ing blocks. In âChildren Designing and Engineering,â elementary students construct models of lighthouses and habitats for koalas. âEngineering is Elementaryâ projects engage students building models of windmills, water ï¬lters, paper bridges, alarm systems, and other objects. In âA World in Motionâ projects, students construct and test toy vehicles (e.g., motorized cars, gliders). Gateway to Technology involves modeling cranes, magnetic- levitation trains, automated devices, airfoils, and rockets. âMaterial World Modulesâ involve the construction and testing of models of concrete rooï¬ng tiles, composite ï¬shing poles, and humidity sensors. In âThe Inï¬nity Projectâ
88 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION activities, students use simulation software to model sound-effect generators, video systems, and computer networks. In engineering practice, physical and mathematical models are also used to obtain data as a basis for making informed decisions during the design process. An example of this can be found in Challenge Number 3, a unit of âA World in Motion,â in which eighth graders collect and graph data relating the center of gravity of a model glider to where the wing is placed and to the amount of weight in the nose of the glider. Based on the graphs, students predict optimal ï¬ight performance by determining the nose weight that locates the center of gravity closest to the centerline of the wing. Thus this curriculum has students use a physical model, the toy glider, to generate data for a simple mathematical model that represents the relationship between key variables that affect ï¬ight. The model is then used to adjust the design of the glider to achieve desired ï¬ight behavior. In a âGateway to Technologyâ project, students use simulations posted on the Internet to model the effects of changing variables on the performance of rockets. Although the students interact with a mathematical model through the graphical model, the instructional materials do not call attention to the mathematical modeling. For the most part, models are not used to represent key variables in the early stages of the design process but are presented as steps in the later stage of the design process for reï¬ning a relatively mature design solution to a problem. Thus models are used to visualize a design, take it to a higher level of reï¬nement, and communicate its features to others. In many ways, this use of modeling is representative of industrial design rather than engi- neering design. Industrial design is the professional service of creating and developing concepts and speciï¬cations that optimize the function, value, and appearance of products and systems for the mutual beneï¬t of both user and manufacturer (IDSA, 2008). However, the reader should keep in mind that the pedagogical role of modeling is independent of its role in engineering design. Strategies to engage students in cooperative learning, such as Socratic dialogue, inquiry and design, and reï¬ection and debrieï¬ng, typically involve making, testing, and presenting models. Modeling requires that students generate ideas, translate them into concrete form, and assess their validity. In the process, they must re-examine their assumptions, identify misconceptions and fail- ures, reï¬ne their thinking, and develop and implement new ideas. Ultimately, models are embodiments of thought processes, insights, and discoveries in a form that communicates them to others.
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 89 Optimization We deï¬ned âoptimizationâ as the pursuit of the best possible solution to a technical problem in which trade-offs are necessary to balance competing or conï¬icting constraints. Our analysis suggests that optimization is a thin, translucent thread that is often obscured by other threads. Most of the curricula do not explicitly address the concept of optimiza- tion. More often than not, optimization is embedded in lessons rather than called out as a key concept in objectives, laboratory activities, or assessment instruments. Optimization is most often embedded in the concepts of iteration (i.e., making incremental reï¬nements during the development of a design) and redesign (i.e., analyzing an existing design to identify deï¬ciencies or opportunities for improvement). In both cases, the goal is to improve a design. However, improving a design is not always synonymous with making trade-offs. In most of the curricular materials, optimization is equated with âthink harderâ and âmake it even betterâ as part of iteration and redesign. Improve- ments are often based on brainstorming rather than analysis, and little, if any, attention is paid to trade-offs. None of the curricula address the potential of using mathematics, especially for optimizing designs that are subject to economic constraints. Trade-Offs We deï¬ned âtrade-offsâ as decisions made to relinquish or reduce one attribute of a design in order to maximize another attribute. Our analysis suggests trade-offs are, like optimization, a thin, translucent thread. The Skimmer Design Challenge, a unit in âA World in Motion,â challenges students to make informed decisions about the size, shape, and position of a sail on a paper sled that skims across a tabletop pushed by a fan. In this exercise, students must make trade-offs among the size of the sail and the speed, distance, and stability of the sled. They must also determine the proper relationship between the weight of the sled and speed, distance, and stability. Finally, they must determine the orientation of the sail on the mast and the location of the mast on the hull. In the JetToy Design Challenge in the same curriculum, students must determine the optimal relationship between inï¬ation of a balloon, the diameter of the nozzle, and the duration and amount of propulsive force. They must also ï¬nd the optimal weight of the vehicle in relation to its speed and the distance it can travel. This âtuning processâ is informed by data
90 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION describing how each variable (nozzle size, balloon inï¬ation, vehicle weight, and friction) affects vehicle performance (speed and distance). Another example of trade-offs is embedded in the Models and Designs unit in the âFull Option Science Systemâ curriculum. In the course of making and modifying a rubber-band-powered cart, the students are likely to engage in optimization because each challenge inevitably introduces unanticipated cause-and-effect relationships. For example, the size of the wheels affects how far the go-cart travels. If the wheels are bigger, the amount of force required to propel the go-cart may have to be increased. If more tension is applied to the rubber bands to propel the cart a greater distance, traction is likely to become an issue. The increase in tension is also likely to exacerbate the problem of friction. Each of these adjustments introduces the need for trade-offs. However, neither the concept of trade-offs nor the concept of making trade-offs in the interest of optimization is addressed directly in the curricular materials. The unit on Inquiry: The Ultimate School Bag in the âInvention, Innova- tion, and Inquiryâ curriculum includes the redesign and improvement of a backpack for carrying schoolbooks and personal items. Redesign intrinsically involves optimization, although the concept is not addressed directly here, either. Some references are made to the concept of trade-offs in the Building Structure with Young Children unit in the âYoung Scientist Series.â Teachers are encouraged to prepare and ask questions about the advantages and disad- vantages of different design options. For example, in the context of building a model house, teachers are encouraged to entertain ideas such as making the roof out of a lightweight material that requires less support but is not likely to be strong. If children chose to make a strong roof, they might also have to build in more support. In the âGateway to Technologyâ curriculum, trade-off is deï¬ned as âan exchange of one thing in return for another, especially relinquishment of one beneï¬t or advantage for another regarded as more desirable.â Although several assignments involve identifying the positive and negative impacts of various technologies, students do not directly address the balance between competing factors. For example, from a studentâs point of view, the main goal of an activity involving the building a compressed-air dragster is to design the fastest vehicle possible. In this exercise, speed is a function of the vehicleâs mass, assuming that the propulsive force remains constant. Even though mass also affects the stability of the vehicle, the instructional materials do not require that students directly confront the trade-offs between mass, stability, and speed.
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 91 Systems We deï¬ned a âsystemâ as any organized collection of discrete elements (e.g., parts, processes, people) designed to work together in interdependent ways to fulï¬ll one or more functions. Our analysis suggests that systems and systems thinking are fragments of thread interwoven with other, more con- tinuous threads. By this, we meant that systems and systems thinking do not permeate any single curriculum. Both concepts are used selectively, often to help students analyze or explain how a technology works. The committeeâs deï¬nition of systems is consistent with the deï¬nitions in the curricular materials that addressed systems in some manner. For example, âCity Technologyâ explained systems as âa collection of intercon- nected parts functioning together in a way that make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.â In âEngineering is Elementary,â a system is deï¬ned as âa group of parts that interact to create a productâ; in one unit it is deï¬ned as âa group of steps that interact to create a process.â In the Models and Designs unit of the âFull Option Science Systemsâ curriculum, system is deï¬ned as âtwo or more objects that work together in a meaningful way.â The concept of systems is treated most directly in curriculum initiatives focused on domain knowledge. In these cases, systems thinking is often an undercurrent in the storyline of how a speciï¬c technology works. The same is true in âThe Inï¬nity Project for Middle School,â which stresses that most technological systems follow a pattern of inputs, processes, and outputs. The materials provide illustrations of sophisticated systems in the form of simple ï¬ow charts that accompany explanations in the text of how the systems work; the illustrations are also organizers for laboratory activities related to such things as digital music, digital images, and data encryption. The âEngineering is Elementaryâ and âDesign and Discoveryâ curricula introduce the idea that systems can be divided into subsystems and that subsystems can be further divided into components. In the âDesign and Discoveryâ curriculum, a laboratory activity is focused on analyzing bicycles in terms of systems, subsystems, components, and parts. Several curricula featured units or lessons in which reverse engineering is used to engage students in studying simple devices from a systems perspec- tive. These activities involve identifying parts, determining their function, uncovering relationships, discovering how they work together as a system, and identifying ways to improve their performance. This kind of systems thinking was the part of lessons in the âCity Technology,â âDesign and Dis- covery,â and âDesigning for Tomorrowâ curricula that ultimately engaged students in exploring opportunities for redesigning products.
92 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION In rare cases, systems and systems thinking are used to analyze the rea- sons a technology fails. One example is a module on Reverse Engineering in âDesigning for Tomorrow.â This module begins with a case study of failures associated with the space shuttle Challenger disaster. Through a simpliï¬ed form of reverse engineering, the students, in theory, discover that the acci- dent was caused by systems breakdowns in the NASA organization, as well as a failure in the space shuttle technology. Reasons for Teaching Engineering We were not surprised that the reasons for including engineering content in these curricula are as diverse as the materials themselves. It is surprising, however, that teaching engineering is not always a ï¬rst-order objective. In most cases, the primary reason for including engineering is to enhance the study of science, mathematics, or both subjects. For example, the âBuilding Mathâ program uses examples from engineering to demonstrate âhow math is used as a discipline of study and a career path.â The materials in âA World in Motionâ facilitate an âexploration of physical science while addressing essential mathematic and scientiï¬c concepts and skills.â The âInsights (Struc- tures Unit)â provides âstudents with exciting science experiences that extend their natural fascination with the world and help them learn the science skills and concepts they will need in later schooling and in life.â Engineering mate- rials in âThe Inï¬nity Projectâ provide âan innovative approach to applying fundamental science and mathematics concepts to solving contemporary engineering problems.â The materials designed to intensify learning in math and science and other core-curriculum subjects capitalize on the hands-on, interdisciplinary nature of engineering. For example, the goal of âChildren Designing and Engineeringâ is to âdevelop innovative and unique contextual learning units that challenge students to think, act and share.â Similarly, âDesigning for Tomorrowâ provides high school students with âhigh-quality interdisciplinary learning experiences that challenge them academically and develop their problem-solving, critical- thinking, and communication skills.â Sometimes the goal of enhancing the study of science and mathemat- ics is more explicit. For example, Building Structures with Young Children makes âscience the work and play of exploring materials and phenomena, while providing opportunities for children to learn from that experience.â The âBuilding Mathâ program uses the study of engineering to demonstrate âhow math is used as a discipline of study and a career path . . . [through]
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 93 . . . standards-based activities that integrate algebra and engineering using a hands-on, problem-solving, and cooperative-learning approach.â The materials in âA World in Motionâ are designed to facilitate an âexploration of physical science while addressing essential mathematic and scientiï¬c concepts and skills.â The âInsights,â âMaterial World Modules,â and âThe Inï¬nity Project are all designed to improve science education and show how fundamental science and mathematics concepts can be applied to solve engineering problems. Other curricula include engineering content to address the technological literacy needs of students. In the âCity Technologyâ curriculum, the central purpose is to âengage elementary children with the core ideas and processes of technology (or engineering, if you prefer).â The goal of the âEngineering is Elementaryâ curriculum is âto harness childrenâs natural curiosity to pro- mote [the] learning of engineering and technology concepts.â Similarly, the primary objective of the âExploring Design and Engineeringâ initiative is to âhelp youngsters discover the âhuman-made world,â its design and develop- ment.â The âInvention, Innovation, and Inquiryâ curriculum was created to âprovide professional support for teachers interested in technological literacy in education.â Another more general goal of engineering curricula is to improve stu- dentsâ critical thinking. For instance, the goal of one âGateway to Technol- ogyâ unit is âto show . . . students how technology is used in engineering to solve everyday problems.â âEngineering is Elementaryâ develops âinteresting problems and contexts and then invite[s] children to have fun as they use their knowledge of science and engineering to design, create, and improve solutions.â âDesign and Discoveryâ âengages students in hands-on engineer- ing and design activities intended to foster knowledge, skill development, and problem solving in the areas of science and engineering.â Only a few curricula deï¬ne their objective as teaching engineering con- cepts and skills to prepare young people for further education and, ultimately, engineering careers. The Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies curriculum, âDesigning for Tomorrow,â encourages and prepares students âfor success in college and professional careers in ï¬elds such as business, engineering, and technology.â One of the central goals of âThe Inï¬nity Projectâ is to âhelp close the gap between the number of engineering graduates we currently produce in the United States, and the large need for high-quality engineering gradu- ates in the near future.â And PLTW materials âprovide students with the rigorous, relevant, reality-based knowledge necessary to pursue engineering or engineering technology programs in college.â
94 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION In interviews, many curriculum developers stated that teaching engi- neering knowledge and skills was not their primary objective. Their reasons for including engineering content included reversing poor test scores in mathematics and science, engaging students in more scientiï¬c inquiry, and showing students that mathematics has practical applications. Several developers deliberately passed up opportunities to address engineering concepts and skills to focus on other problems or opportuni- ties. Some explained that their projects were required to include enough science content to be considered part of science education, and that too much emphasis on engineering design, constraints, modeling, optimiza- tion, and technological systems could tip the scale toward engineering. They had to maintain a delicate balance, they said, with a modest bias toward science, to improve the chances that their materials would be accepted and implemented. Other developers said their materials were required to have enough mathematics content to be approved for elective credit in mathe- matics. Finally, some noted that in the current No Child Left Behind climate of accountability for student achievement in core subjects, there isnât much room for engineering content in the school curriculum. Another factor that had to be taken into consideration was the com- fort level (sometimes the discomfort level) of elementary, science, and mathematics teachers. Elementary teachers, for example, must have a deep understanding of child development coupled with skills in teaching read- ing, writing, and mathematics, but teaching about engineering is largely uncharted territory. Consequently, in several curricula, materials were con- ï¬gured to capitalize on teachersâ strengths and teaching responsibilities by introducing engineering in conjunction with language arts, social science, and natural science instruction. At the secondary level, many teachers are specialists with teaching assignments based on their training in a given discipline. Because engineer- ing is often outside their areas of expertise, teaching engineering concepts and skills would require learning new content to implement new lessons, learning activities, and assessment methods. Diffusion of Materials The curriculum materials reviewed for this study range in maturity from more than 20 years old to just off the press, and they range in sophistication from units of instruction that can be downloaded from the Internet at no cost to programs featuring courses of study that span multiple grade levels
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 95 and involve formal commitments, professional development, and invest- ments of large amounts of time, resources, and human capital. Much of the data on diffusion of these materials is limited to reports from curriculum pilot- and ï¬eld-test sites, records of sales or dissemination of materials, and the number of teachers participating in professional development activities. However, none of these is a valid indicator of how widely a curriculum is used or whether it has been adopted by schools or school districts. Several developers of curriculum initiatives have entered into formal partnerships with participating schools and thus have mechanisms for structuring, sup- porting, monitoring, and assessing implementation. Table 4-2 summarizes what we have learned about the dissemination of these curricula. Implementation and Costs The costs for curricular materials range from $1,100 for a series of eight three-ring binders to no charge at all for a half-dozen large boxes of curricular and laboratory materials. The contents range from major curricular initiatives with no single objective to modest projects with more than 60. Some curricula can be implemented with everyday items at very little cost; others require large capital investments for speciï¬c, elaborate pieces of laboratory equipment. Project Lead the Way (PLTW) has the most formal and systematic implementation process. For a school district to obtain and implement the curriculum, it must make a signiï¬cant commitment to the program. This involves ï¬rst submitting an application to become a PLTW site, then signing an agreement or memorandum of understanding that outlines the terms for participating in the program. The school district agrees to initiate a minimum of four courses within four years at the high school level, purchase required software through PLTW Inc., serve as a model program for other school districts, adhere to PLTWâs implementation guidelines, ensure that teachers and guidance counselors complete PLTWâs three-phase training program, establish an advisory committee or âPartnership Team,â purchase equipment and supplies approved by PLTW, and participate in PLTWâs sys- tematic evaluation process. Under this agreement, participating high schools must be certiï¬ed by their second year in the program and recertiï¬ed every ï¬ve years thereafter. Certiï¬cation, which is a requirement for participating in the PLTW testing process for earning college credit, includes a self-assessment, a site visit, and a classroom and portfolio review. Schools must demonstrate that they meet PLTWâs quality standards for the professional development of teachers and
96 TABLE 4-2 Diffusion of Curriculum Materials (for selected programs)a Curriculum Diffusion Comments Project Lead The PLTW curriculum is used in all 50 states and the District of the Way Columbia in 2,700 schools (2,000 high schools and 700 middle schools). About 600 high schools have completed PLTWâs program certiï¬cation process, and 34 middle schools have been recognized by PLTWâs âSchool of Excellence Recognition Program.â PLTW estimates that 225,000 students are currently enrolled in PLTW classes and that more than half a million students have taken at least one PLTW course. Materials This curriculum has been used in about 500 schools in 48 states World by some 35,000 middle shool and high school students. The Modules U.S. Department of Defense uses MWM modules in 13 schools associated with military bases overseas. MWM materials are also used in 35 schools by 120 teachers and 1,200 students in seven cities and towns in Chihuahua, Mexico. Inï¬nity The high school course has been used in 350 schools in 37 states The modules on robotics, sound engineering, Project and some schools in several other countries. The materials are rocketry, the engineering design process, and being used as an introductory engineering course at Southern environmental engineering have been incorporated Methodist University and DeVry University. A new set of middle into mathematics, science, and technology classes. school modules is being used in 20 schools in Texas.
Designing for This curriculum, developed by Ford Partnership for Advanced This program has been implemented in Tomorrow Studies, is used in more than 300 schools in 26 states. comprehensive high schools in urban and suburban settings, career and technical-education programs, freshman engineering courses at the college level, and historically black colleges and universities. A World in This curriculum is used in all 50 states and in 10 Canadian More than 17,000 engineers have volunteered in Motion provinces/territories. More than 65,000 AWIM kits have been AWIM programs. shipped to more than 16,000 schools since 1990. The developer (Society of Automotive Engineers) estimates that more than 4 million students in North America have participated in AWIM activities (based on the assumption that the curriculum kits are reused an average of 2.6 times in classes averaging 24 students). Engineering This curriculum is used in about 850 schools in 46 states and Many fewer than 15,000 teachersâabout 5,500â is Elementary the District of Columbia. Based on sales ï¬gures and teacher have received formal professional development to participation in professional development workshops, the teach the EiE curriculum. The difference reï¬ects developer (Boston Museum of Sciences) estimates that about estimates of teachers using the curriculum without 15,000 elementary school teachers are using their materials. having participated in an EiE PD program. Approximately 1 million students have been exposed to the EiE curriculum since its inception. aThese data are presented as reported by the curriculum developers. 97
98 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION counselors; the implementation of curriculum using required equipment and software; the formation and use of a Partnership Team, and more. The ï¬nancial demands associated with implementing the program add up to tens of thousands of dollars over the course of several years, depending on course selection and existing laboratory resources. (âThe Inï¬nity Projectâ and âDesigning for Tomorrowâ have similar, but less formal requirements on a smaller scale.) Several curriculum projects at the elementary and middle school levels offer resources to support implementation. The most comprehensive support is provided by âA World in Motion,â âChildren Designing and Engineering,â âEngineering is Elementary,â âFull Option Science System,â and âMaterial World Modules.â Implementation for these programs begins with the pur- chase of the instructional materials for the units of interest. These materials typically include teacher guides and, sometimes, videos or DVDs to support implementation. Student materials are presented as separate publications or reproducible master copies embedded in the teacher materials. âA World in Motionâ requires participating teachers to involve a practicing engineer (a volunteer) in the delivery of the curriculum. The Society of Automotive Engineers (2009), which developed the curriculum, estimates that 17,000 engineer volunteers have participated since the programâs inception. Teacher materials typically cost $40 to $130, and classroom sets of stu- dent materials cost approximately $200. In addition, these programs offer kits of tools, supplies, and materials to facilitate the learning activities. The kits, which usually come in 4- or 5-cubic-foot containers that ï¬t on a shelf or in a storage cabinet, cost $200 to $750, depending on the topic. âA World in Motionâ provides the curriculum materials and kits free upon request, after a simple partnership agreement has been signed. Several projects also offer âreï¬ll packsâ to replenish the consumables in the kits; these cost $20 to $250, depending on the nature of the materials. Most of these curriculum projects maintain websites that can be used to purchase materials and kits, exchange ideas with other teachers, and tap into additional resources, such as lesson plans, links to relevant websites, a list of books and references, duplicate master copies, curriculum updates, safety data sheets, preparatory videos, discussion boards, additional learning activities, and professional develop materials. Implementation of âCity Technology,â âDesigning for Tomorrow,â and âInvention, Innovation, and Inquiryâ programs require purchasing one or more books and obtaining project-related tools and materials, which are available from popular suppliers, such as home stores, ofï¬ce supply stores,
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 99 discount stores, and vendors for science and technology education. Several recommend that tools and simple mechanical devices for analysis activities be obtained from garage sales or ï¬ea markets. Although these programs do not require large capital investments, they do require signiï¬cant amounts of a teacherâs time and energy. The tools, materials, and supplies necessary to implement these curricula must be located, purchased, counted, labeled, organized, and stored. Despite their low cost and simplicity, assembling these materials for laboratory activities is a time-consuming process that requires thoughtful preparation to minimize problems during instruction. Pedagogy To get some sense of how the curricula envision the teaching of Kâ12 engineering, our analysis included an effort to tease out the materialsâ peda- gogical approaches. Of course, neither we nor our consultant, Prof. Welty, was able to spend time observing teachers teach or attending teacher profes- sional development sessions. Thus what we present below reï¬ects pedagogy inferred from the written materials rather than a ï¬rsthand account of what actually is occurring in classrooms. Most of the curricular materials the committee reviewed rely on time- honored teaching strategies for facilitating learning. These strategies include beginning lessons with an anticipator set, activating prior knowledge, pre- senting new concepts, using questions to promote thinking, providing ï¬rst- hand experiences, posing authentic problems for students to solve, debrieï¬ng students about their experiences, and engaging students in reï¬ection. All of the curricula emphasize hands-on learning activities that involve the application of concepts and skills being investigated. Most learning activ- ities also focus on solving real-world problems (i.e., problems in contexts beyond the school walls). For example, the âYoung Scientist Seriesâ includes a unit titled Building Structures with Young Children, in which students use building blocks to erect enclosures to provide shelter for a toy animal. In the âEngineering is Elementaryâ curriculum, students build and test models that address problems related to harnessing wind power, ï¬ltering water, moving materials in a factory, building a footbridge that spans a stream, and more. In the âBuilding Mathâ curriculum, middle school students address prob- lems related to keeping medicine cool in a tropical environment, collecting rainwater in the absence of fresh water, and designing insulated clothing that allows for easy movement. In âThe Inï¬nity Project,â high school students use simulation software to develop and test a system that counts the animals
100 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION entering and leaving a given area in a refuge. Some curricula, however, do focus on problems that arise in schools. For example, the âCity Technologyâ curriculum engages students in studying and addressing problems related to classroom interruptions, procedures, and layout. In most of the curricula, teachers use a Socratic approach in conjunction with hands-on learning to actively engage students in learning. Questions are often used to reintroduce prior knowledge and experiences, solicit pre- conceptions that can be reassessed, launch and guide investigations, build and check for understanding, debrief students about their experiences, and facilitate reï¬ection. Some of the instructional materials are designed to follow a speciï¬c instructional model. For example, all of the units in âEngineering is Elemen- taryâ follow a sequence of lessons built on one another. The ï¬rst lesson pro- vides introductory activities that prepare students for the unit. The second lesson uses a ï¬ctional engineering story as an advanced organizer for the rest of the unit. The lesson that follows the reading is designed to orient students to a speciï¬c ï¬eld of engineering (e.g., mechanical engineering, civil engi- neering, and agricultural engineering). The fourth lesson engages students in hands-on activities that address relationships between science, math, and engineering. All of the units end with engineering design problems consis- tent with the ones presented in the ï¬ctional account. âMaterial World Modulesâ at the middle school and high school levels follow a similar pattern. Each module has three basic elements. Instruction begins with an introductory activity designed to stimulate interest in the topic at hand; this activity requires that students formulate a hypothesis about a cause-and-effect relationship. Second, students engage in four or ï¬ve hands-on learning activities that introduce key principles, ideas, and methods related to the topic; these activities are framed in the context of one or more design problems. Third, students participate in a design project to develop a prototype product, applying the previously introduced science concepts and skills. A prominent feature in several curricula is an emphasis on people and storytelling. For example, the âDesign and Discoveryâ curriculum features stories about the history of the paper clip, the development of Kevlar⢠by Stephanie Kwolek, the design of a bicycle for women by Georgina Terry, and so on. The textbook for âEngineering the Futureâ reads like transcripts of talks by a series of guest speakers who tell personal stories about their interest in engineering and their work. âDesigning for Tomorrow,â includes case studies of the development of the S.C. Johnson Administration Build designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the space shuttle Challenger disaster, and so
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 101 on. âModels and Designâ includes stories about Henry Fordâs Model T, the cartoonist Rube Goldberg, and NASAâs use of simulation technology. Evidence of Diversity Gender and ethnicity play an important role in the development of a personâs self-efï¬cacy, identity, approach to learning, and career aspirations (see, for example, Bandura et al., 1999; Maple and Stage, 1991). As noted in Chapter 2, engineers in the United States have historically been pre- dominantly white males; and women, African Americans, and Hispanics are still signiï¬cantly underrepresented in the profession. Exposing students to images of engineers who look like them and to engineering-related activi- ties that resonate with their personal and cultural experiences may not only improve their understanding of engineering but may also make engineering more appealing as a possible career (EWEP, 2005; NAE, 2008). Efforts have been made in several curricula to portray engineering as an interesting and accessible career for individuals from diverse backgrounds. For example, the textbook for âEngineering the Futureâ features 31 stories (or chapters) written by engineers, designers, architects, technologists, and technicians, almost half of them women and a third members of minority groups. Similarly, âDesign and Discoveryâ includes vignettes that enable students to âmeet engineers,â half of whom are women. Every unit in the âEngineering is Elementaryâ curriculum features a story about a child who uses basic engineering principles to solve a problem. The main characters in four of the nine units are female, and all of the characters come from differ- ent ethnic backgrounds. In addition, several stories include adult females as mentors and advisors. In contrast, stories in the âModels and Designsâ unit of the Full Option Science System curriculum are dominated by male inventors, scientists, engineers, and industrialists (e.g., Stephen Hawkings, Dick Covey, Rube Goldberg, Henry Ford, Eli Whitney). In addition, almost all of the photo- graphs of people engaged in scientiï¬c and engineering pursuits are male. Several curricula focus on topics and projects that research suggests are more likely to appeal to boys than to girls.4 For example, âA World in Motion,â âGateway to Technology,â and âModels and Designsâ include 4 There is an extensive literature on gender preferences related to technology and engi- neering (e.g., Weber and Custer, 2005) that suggests, among other things, that girls are more interested in socially relevant technologies, while boys are more interested in how technologies work, and that girls prefer collaborative work, while boys are more motivated by competition.
102 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION major learning activities that involve designing, making, and testing model structures or vehicles (e.g., towers, bridges, cars, rockets, airplanes, boats). Other curricula feature lessons and learning activities that capitalize on the knowledge and experience of both male and female students. For instance, in the âDesign and Discoveryâ curriculum, engineering concepts and skills are applied to designing paper clips, improving the caps on tubes of toothpaste, and analyzing bicycle systems. âCity Technologyâ introduces engineering principles in conjunction with testing the design and strength of shopping bags, designing packages, making maps, establishing classroom procedures, analyzing pump dispensers, and building shelves. In the interest of inclusive- ness, the âInï¬nity Projectâ deliberately focuses on technologies likely to be found in a high school studentâs backpack (e.g., digital music players, digital camera, cell phone, etc.). Activities in âDesigning for Tomorrowâ involve the reverse engineering of simple kitchen devices and training cups for small children. We were interested not just in the implicit or explicit messages con- veyed through these curricula, but also in the diversity, or lack of diversity, in the student populations that used these materials. The committee was particularly interested in how many girls and underrepresented minorities had an opportunity to participate. Unfortunately, only one of the curricu- lum projects we reviewed in depth collects demographic data on student participation. A program evaluation of PLTW for the 2006â2007 school year showed that the number of African American and Hispanic students in schools that used this curriculum was proportional to the populations in the states in which the schools were located (Walcerz, 2007). However, African American students were slightly underrepresented in PLTW classrooms compared with their numbers in most PLTW schools. Girls were dramatically under- represented throughout the program; they comprised just 17 percent of all PLTW students that school year. The number for girls cited above is similar to the percentage of entry- level female college engineering students (NSF, 2005) but is well below the proportion of females in the overall U.S. population, which is slightly more than 50 percent (U.S. Census Bureau, 2005). PTLW is taking steps to increase the programâs appeal to women and underrepresented minorities, such as participating in an NSF-funded Engineering Equity Extension Service project5 and partnering with the National Action Council for Minorities in 5For information about the project, see http://www.nae.edu/nae/caseecomnew.nsf/weblinks/ NFOY-75WLB5?OpenDocument.
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 103 Engineering to start 100 academies of engineering under the auspices of the National Academy Foundation. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT As yet, there is no clear description of the knowledge and skills needed to teach engineering to children. Nor do states license or certify teachers of engineering the way they do teachers of science, mathematics, technology, and other subjects. Most instructors who teach engineering in middle and high schools have a background in technology education; 6 a smaller number have backgrounds in science education; and an even smaller number have backgrounds in engineering. Because engineering is a developing area of content for Kâ12 schools, professional training for teachers in this ï¬eld is still in its infancy. Teacher âcontent knowledgeâ can be thought of as having three dimen- sions. First, teachers must know the subject they are teaching, in this case engineering, and its organizing principles. Second, they must have curricular knowledge, that is, an understanding of the materials and programs available to deliver the content. Third, they must have pedagogical content knowledge, which has been deï¬ned as âthat special amalgam of content and pedagogy that is uniquely the province of teachers, their own special form of profes- sional understandingâ (Shulman, 1987). Building on Shulmanâs work, Ball et al. (2008) have identiï¬ed sub- categories of subject-matter knowledge and pedagogical-content knowledge that reï¬ect the specialized understanding unique to teaching. First, teachers must have âknowledge of content and students,â which means they must be able to predict what students will ï¬nd interesting, motivating, and dif- ï¬cult and to interpret studentsâ incomplete thinking. Second, teachers need âknowledge of content and teaching,â which implies they must be able to sequence particular content for instruction, for example, or evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of various representations of speciï¬c ideas. To get a better understanding of how teachers acquire knowledge and skills to teach engineering to Kâ12 students, the committee looked into a number of programs that provide pre-service and in-service professional-development programs. Two committee workshops, in October 2007 and February 2008, were substantially devoted to this topic and are summarized in what follows. 6 For example, 67 percent of teachers delivering the Project Lead the Way curriculum have a teaching certiï¬cate in technology education (R. Grimsely, PLTW, personal communica- tion, June 16, 2009).
104 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION In-Service Programs Most of the professional-development activities we identiï¬ed are in- service rather than pre-service programs that provide supplemental educa- tion based on speciï¬c curricula for teachers already working in the classroom (Table 4-3). One advantage of well-designed, curriculum-focused profes- sional development is that teachers come away with in-depth understanding of the purpose of the materials and ï¬rst-hand experience with some of the difï¬culties and successes students might encounter. A disadvantage is that potentially useful and important content or pedagogical knowledge that is not included in the curriculum will be omitted. Education researchers have identified common characteristics of effective in-service professional development programs for teachers. In a dis- cussion of in-service programs for Kâ12 science educators, Mundry (2007) identiï¬ed the following requirements: clear and challenging goals for student learning, adequate time, follow-up, and continuity, coherence with local policy, teachersâ goals, and state standards, active, research-based learning, critical reï¬ection on practice to support a collaborative professional culture, and evaluation of teacher and student gains resulting from the profes- sional development. Mundry notes that professional development sustained over time is more likely to be coherent, have a clear focus, and support active learning than âone-shotâ workshops and other limited interventions. Opinions differ on the necessary number of hours, but most experts agree that single experi- ences are not likely to support teacher competence or conï¬dence (e.g., NCES, 2001). Research at the NSF-funded National Center for Engineering and Tech- nology Education (NCETE) has focused on identifying the requirements for preparing technology educators to teach engineering. One small, qualitative study identiï¬ed about a dozen interrelated factors that are important to preparing teachers to introduce engineering design concepts into the Kâ12 classroom (Asunda and Hill, 2007). A member of the NCETE leadership team told us that professional development planned jointly by engineering and technology education faculty resulted in better outcomes for teachers
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 105 than professional development planned by either one alone (Hailey et al., 2008). NCETE also conducted an observational analysis of ï¬ve professional- development programs, including three (Engineering the Future, Project Lead the Way, The Inï¬nity Project ) whose curricula we reviewed (Daugherty and Custer, unpublished). Among the studyâs ï¬ndings were that (1) most of the programs were run by the curriculum developers, who rarely had a background in teacher professional development; (2) science, technology, and mathematics teachers have different professional development needs; and (3) hands-on activities were a very common element in the programs, but little instructional time was devoted to metacognitive reï¬ection about either the teacher or student learning involved. Although not all in-service programs for Kâ12 engineering teachers have all of the required features listed above, professional-development programs can have a dramatic impact on how widely the curriculum is used. A good example is âA World in Motion,â developed by SAE International, which was launched in 1990; the ï¬rst professional-development component was not added until 2005. Matthew M. Miller, manager of SAEâs Kâ12 education programs, told us at the February 2008 workshop that the use of the curricu- lum doubled and the number of new classroom volunteers increased almost tenfold once the professional-development program was implemented. Project Lead the Way (PLTW) has a very organized professional- development effort, which may, in part, explain its rapid growth. PTLW con- ducts two-week summer institutes, during which prospective PLTW teachers are immersed in the course they plan to teach, including completing all of the hands-on projects. PLTW has agreements with 36 universities to supply engineering faculty who team teach with PLTW master teachers to run the program. According to PLTW, about 7,200 teachers have taken part in the summer training sessions. Teachers who complete the course receive a certiï¬- cate allowing them to teach the course. Ongoing assistance is available from PLTW through an online Virtual Academy (www.pltw.org/moodle). Other in-service programs run the gamut from one-week summer insti- tutes (e.g., âThe Inï¬nity Projectâ) to self-paced coaching provided on a DVD included in the curricular materials for âBuilding Mathâ(Table 4-2). Pre-Service Initiatives Pre-service training of teachers has some distinct advantages over in- service training. The biggest difference is that teachers have longer exposure
TABLE 4-3 In-Service Professional Development Programs for Teachers of Kâ12 Engineering 106 Program/ Scope of Number of Curriculum Training Target Audience Training Force Teachers Reached Notes Project Lead the All teachers Middle school and 160 master teachers; 7,200 teachers and Online Virtual Way are required high school teachers, 120 afï¬liate professors 5,000 guidance Academy provides to complete mostly technology counselors have ongoing support a two-week educators been trained in all summer 50 states institute Engineering is Optional Elementary Professional development 5,100 teachers A memorandum of Elementary training that generalists staff at the Boston Museum in 28 states and understanding between varies from of Science the District of the Boston Museum of two-hour Columbia (as of Science and Valley City workshops June 2009) State University allows to two-week Engineering the Future sessions and to be used in VCSU semester-long online pre-service programs technology teacher education
City Technology Optional Elementary Authors of the curriculum Several thousand trainingâa generalists, special (City College of New York) teachers and one-hour education teachers, informal educators introductory elementary science in about 20 states workshop specialists, secondary followed by math and science 30-minute teachers, museum workshops educators, after- on particular school program staff, units and parents Children Required: 30- Elementary teachers In Virginia, the training is 1,300 teachers Designing and hour graduate conducted through George since 1999 in six Engineering course Mason University states, the bulk of whom (800) are participants in Virginiaâs Children Engineering Program 107 continued
TABLE 4-3 Continued 108 Program/ Scope of Number of Curriculum Training Target Audience Training Force Teachers Reached Notes Engineering One- or Elementary, middle, Staff at the Stevens Institute 35 teachers in New Planned expansion will Our Future New two-day and high school of Technology Jersey reach 2,000 teachers Jersey (based on workshops teachers the following curricula: Engineering is Elementary, World in Motion, Engineering the Future) The Inï¬nity Required one- High school teachers 500 teachers in Training includes Project week summer grades 9â12 an online discussion institute board for teachers Material World Optional High school teachers Modules workshops that vary in length Engineers of the Summer High school and Nearly 700 trained, Supported by $1.7 Future (training institute middle school the majority using million grant from based on technology the Engineering the New York State several different educators, and is Elementary Education Department curricula) elementary teachers curriculum
Engineering the Half-day, High school teachers A memorandum of Future full-day, and understanding between multiple-day the Boston Museum of sessions in Science and Valley City the Boston State University allows area and 20 Engineering the Future to 40 hour to be used in VCSU moderated online pre-service online technology teacher professional education development course Building Math Training DVD supplied with curriculum materials INSPIRES Two-day Technology teachers workshops in Maryland A World in One-day Elementary, middle, 65,000 kits shipped Teachers must agree to Motion workshop and high school since 1990 (not work with an engineer teachers clear how many who volunteers in the teachers trained) classroom 109
110 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION times to concepts and skills, including math and science skills, necessary to teach engineering. The committee was able to identify just three programs that offer pre-service education to prepare individuals to teach engineering in Kâ12 classrooms. Leveraging its model of in-service professional development, PLTW is working toward âinfusingâ its Kâ12 curriculum into teacher-preparation programs at nine university partners that already serve as sites for PLTW in-service summer institutes. The infusion of PLTW coursework into exist- ing teacher-preparation curricula must be carefully planned to ensure that it aligns with state licensing requirements (Rogers, 2008). As of early 2009, fewer than 10 teachers had graduated from the new PLTW-infused programs (Richard Grimsley, Project Lead the Way, personal communication, January 5, 2009). In contrast to PLTWâs curriculum-focused approach, in 2002 the College of New Jersey (TCNJ) initiated the Math/Science/Technology (M/S/T) inter- disciplinary degree program for aspiring elementary school teachers that requires coursework in all four STEM subjects. The program is a collabora- tive effort by the schools of engineering, education, and science administered by the Department of Technological Studies in the School of Engineering. The 32-credit program (Box 4-1) now has more than 150 graduates and current majors and is one of the fastest growing majors at TCNJ (Karsniz et al., 2007). Students who matriculate from the M/S/T program appear to have an appropriate background for teaching engineering. Unfortunately, TCNJ does not track the employment histories of its M/S/T graduates who, according to school ofï¬cials, are in great demand as science and math teachers (John Karsnitz, TCNJ, personal communication, September 20, 2007). So, at least for now, the TCNJ program does not appear to be contributing to the national supply of engineering teachers. In 2006, Colorado State University in Fort Collins established a joint major in engineering and education. To the committeeâs knowledge, this is the only program of its kind in the United States. Students in the program must complete general-education requirements, core engineering requirements, engineering-school electives, and professional education requirements. In the ï¬rst year, 11 students (70 percent of them female) were enrolled in the program. Graduates will receive an engineering degree and a teaching license (DeMiranda, 2008). Other models of pre-service engineering education for teachers exist. For example, at Boise State University, students majoring in elementary
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 111 BOX 4-1 The M/S/T Major at TCNJ The M/S/T program provides 10 units of âliberal learningâ courses, such as creative design, calculus A, and a natural science. The 12-unit M/S/T academic major has an eight-unit core, which includes courses in multimedia design, structures and mechanics, two additional science courses, and one additional math course (either calculus B or engineer- ing math). Areas of specialization must include four additional units in technology/pre-engineering, mathematics, biology, chemistry, or physics. Specialization is the equivalent of a minor in one of the disciplines and may require that speciï¬c courses be included in the core requirements. M/S/T students who major in education must also complete 10 units of professional education courses. Such students meet New Jerseyâs certi- ï¬cation requirements for highly qualiï¬ed teachers. In addition to primary Kâ5 certiï¬cation, M/S/T majors can apply for an endorsement for teach- ing middle school mathematics or science, if they have completed 15 credits of coursework in the discipline and have passed the appropriate PRAXIS test. They may also receive technology-education certiï¬cation, if they have completed at least 30 speciï¬ed credits and passed the appro- priate PRAXIS test. SOURCE: Karsnitz, 2007. education may enroll in an introductory engineering course offered by the College of Engineering. The course is supplemented by a seminar led by education faculty that considers how engineering projects can be used in the Kâ12 classroom to meet state teaching standards for math and science as well as reading, writing, and other non-technical subjects (Miller and Smith, 2006). Through a collaboration with TERC (www.terc.edu), Lesley University and Walden University offer an online course, Engineering: From Science to Design, for education masterâs degree candidates. The course includes inde- pendent, hands-on work and group feedback and discussion in facilitated online forums (Sara Lacy, TERC, May 15, 2008). At least two states have started programs to provide new Kâ12 teachers with STEM credentials. In California, the University of California, California State University, and state and industry leaders initiated Cal Teach (http://
112 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION calteach.berkeley.edu/), which recruits students majoring in math, science, and engineering to become Kâ12 teachers. The goal of Cal Teach is to have 1,000 teachers in place by 2010. A similar effort, UTeach (http://uteach.utexas. edu/), was launched in 1997 at the University of Texas at Austin. As of 2007, the program had graduated a total of 480 STEM students, 41 of whom had degrees in engineering in addition to teaching certiï¬cates (376 had degrees in the natural sciences) (University of Texas at Austin, 2007). Under the auspices of the National Math and Science Initiative, UTeach has been expanded to 13 additional colleges and universities across the United States. OBSTACLES FACING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Based on information provided during the two preliminary workshops and in the research literature, several barriers to professional development programs must be overcome in preparing educators to teach engineering in Kâ12 classrooms. For instance, teachers who are not familiar with engineer- ing may feel anxious and apprehensive, which can inhibit the effectiveness of professional development programs. Christine Cunningham, the director of professional development for âEngineering is Elementary,â described the problem (Cunningham, 2007): If most elementary teachers are afraid of teaching science, the notion of teaching engineering is often accompanied by terror. Much of the point of our professional development is to defuse their feelings of ineptitude through engagement. Similarly, teachers who do not have adequate knowledge of science and, especially, mathematics sometimes have difï¬culty understanding the material. In addition, some have little, if any, desire to take part in train- ing activities (Diefes-Dux and Duncan, 2007). Reportedly, some teachers also are uncomfortable with the open-endedness of engineering design. âA major challenge in PD for Kâ12 engineering is to undo the mindset that sees answers as right or wrong, and as complete or incomplete,â note Benenson and Neujahr (2007). In a survey of 44 technology teacher-education pro- grams, only 17 percent had completed the mathematics and science courses that would qualify them to teach PLTW courses (McAlister, 2005). McAlister also found that, when a group of 43 technology teachers was presented with two fairly simple problems involving structural load, half of them indicated that they would require additional training before they could teach those
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 113 problems to students. Only one was able to identify the correct formula for solving one of the problems. INSPIRES (INcreasing Student Participation, Interest and Recruitment in Engineering & Science), a small-scale professional-development program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, relies on engineering fac- ulty to lead some activities. The program leaders note, however, that large numbers of engineering faculty might not be able to participate in such ventures because of their workloads and because of typical university reward structures (Ross and Bayles, 2007). More systemic problems, such as a lack of understanding of program content and learning progressions, may also interfere with the effectiveness of professional-development programs for Kâ12 teachers of engineering (Hailey et al., 2008). REFERENCES Asunda, P. and R. Hill. 2007. Critical features of engineering design in technology educa- tion. Journal of Industrial Teacher Education 44(1): 25â48. Ball, D.L., M.H. Thames, and G. Phelps. 2008. Content Knowledge for Teaching: What Makes It Special? Presented at the National Symposium on Professional Development for Engineering and Technology Education, Dallas, Texas, February 11â13, 2007. Available online at www.conferences.ilstu.edu/NSA/homepage.html (accessed May 23, 2008). Bandura, A., W.H. Freeman, and R. Lightsey. 1999. Self-efï¬cacy: The exercise of control. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy 13(2): 158â166. Benenson, G., and J. L. Neujahr. 2007. Unraveling a Knotty Design Challenge: PD for Engi- neering K-12. Paper presented at a workshop of the NAE/NRC Committee on Kâ12 Engineering Education, Washington, D.C., October 22, 2007. Unpublished. Cunningham, C. 2007. Elementary Teacher Professional Development in Engineering: Lessons Learned from Engineering is Elementary. Paper resented at a workshop of the NAE/NRC Committee on Engineering Education, Washington, D.C., October 22, 2007. Unpublished. Daugherty, J.L., and R.L. Custer. Unpublished. Engineering-Oriented Professional Devel- opment for Secondary Level Teachers: A Multiple Case Study Analysis. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. DeMiranda, M. 2008. K-12 Engineering Education Workshop. Paper presented at a work- shop of the NAE/NRC Committee on Kâ12 Engineering Education, Washington, D.C., February 25, 2008. Unpublished. Diefes-Dux, H and D. Duncan. 2007. Adapting Engineering is Elementary Professional De- velopment to Encourage Open-Ended Mathematical Modeling. Paper presented at a workshop of the NAE/NRC Committee on Kâ12 Engineering Education, Washington, D.C., October 22, 2007. Unpublished.
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THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 115 Rogers, G. 2008. Pre-Service Professional Development for Middle School and High School Teacher of Engineering. Paper presented at a workshop of the NAE/NRC Committee on Kâ12 Engineering Education, Washington, D.C., February 25, 2008. Unpublished. Ross, J. M. and T. M. Bayles. 2007. Implementing the INSPIRES Curriculum: The Role of Professional Development. Professional Development of Engineering and Technol- ogy: A National Symposium Proceedings. Illinois State University. SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). 2009. A World in Motion. Facts. Available online at http://www.sae.org/exdomains/awim/aboutus/facts.htm (accessed April 2, 2009). Shulman, L.S. 1987. Knowledge and teaching: foundations of the new reform. Harvard Educational Review 57(1): 1â22. TexPREP (Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program). 2003. Program Resultsâ2003 PREP Fact Sheet. Available online at http://www.prep-usa.org/portal/texprep/generaldetail. asp?ID=107 (accessed January 30, 2009). University of Texas at Austin. 2007. UTeach, Special Addition, 10th Anniversary Report. Available online at https://uteach.utexas.edu/download.cfm?DownloadFile=1DE15E0B- 9A97-2621-857E36A4D0DFC1EA (accessed August 13, 2008). U.S. Census Bureau. 2005. Population Proï¬le of the United States: Dynamic Version. Race and Hispanic Origin in 2005. Available online at http://www.census.gov/population/ pop-proï¬le/dynamic/RACEHO.pdf (accessed January 5, 2009). Walcerz, D. 2007. Report on the Third Year of Implementation of the TrueOutcomes Assessment System for Project Lead the Way. Available online at http://www.pltw. org/pdfs/AnnualReport-2007-Public-Release.pdf (accessed August 11, 2008). Weber, K., and R. Custer. 2005. Gender-based Preferences Toward Technology Education Content, Activities, and Instructional Methods. Available online at http://scholar.lib. vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v16n2/weber.html (accessed December 15, 2008). Annex PRE-UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES1 Given the universality of science and technology, the committee felt it appropriate to look into how other nations encourage engineering thinking in pre-college students. However, because of budget and time constraints, 1This appendix is adapted from a paper written for the committee by Dr. Marc J. DeVries, Eindhoven University, The Netherlands, based on research conducted by Carolyn Williams, a 2007 Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellow at the National Academy of Engineering.
116 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION BOX 4A-1 Selected Countries with Pre-College Engineering Programs England/Wales: General Certiï¬cate of Education, Engineering Australia (New South Wales): Higher School Certiï¬cate in Engineering Studies Israel: ORT Innovative Science Track in Engineering Sciences Germany: Junior-Ingenieur-Akademie (Academy for Junior Engineers) South Africa: Further Education and Training in Electrical Technology France: Baccalauréat General, Série Scientiï¬que Sciences de lâIngénieur; Baccalauréat Technologique, Série Sciences et Technologies Industrielles Netherlands: Technasium, Research and Design Colombia: Pequeños Cientiï¬cos (Little Scientists) the committee did not pursue this research and analysis with the same intensity as it had for U.S. efforts. In addition, because of differences in the organization and operation of educational systems in other countries, it was difï¬cult to draw direct comparisons with the situation in the United States. Materials in languages other than English further complicated the analysis, and curricular documents were not always available. In many cases, the curriculum content had to be inferred from a review of sample assessment items. Despite these limitations, the committee was able to identify several important principles. The committee used a variety of information-gathering techniques, including online searching; telephone interviews; and e-mail requests to professional, corporate, academic, government, and education groups and individuals. Eight programs or projects in eight countries were identiï¬ed (Box 4A-1), all but one of which (Pequenos Cientiï¬cos) were for senior secondary-level students (i.e., grades 10â12). In all probability, these eight initiatives represent only a fraction of these kinds of activities around the world. The Goals of Pre-College Engineering Education Two primary purposes were identiï¬ed for exposing pre-college students to the study of engineeringââmainlineâ goals (i.e., general education) and
THE CURRENT STATE OF Kâ12 ENGINEERING EDUCATION 117 âpipelineâ goals (i.e., preparation for engineering careers). The majority of programs were in the âpipelineâ category. In France, for example, prepara- tion for the academic study of engineering is preceded by a competitive selection process at the pre-college level with the goal of identifying the very best students for continued engineering education. Based on sample exam questions for prospective engineers in Israel, the committee inferred that the emphasis of the ORT engineering sciences program is on preparing students for post-secondary engineering education, rather than on expanding their general education. Programs in some countries seem to serve both purposes. For example, in England and Wales, the General Certiï¬cate of Education, Engineer- ing, has some features in common with the U.K.âs Design and Technology Curriculum, which is designed primarily for general education purposes. At the same time, to receive a General Certiï¬cate, students must master a good deal of speciï¬c knowledge in engineering domains, thus preparing them for further engineering studies. Treatment of Engineering Concepts and Domains The focus on core engineering concepts in international programs varies greatly. The U.K. materials, for example, treat the concepts of systems and control in some detail, while other concepts, such as optimization, are largely absent. The design process is evident, consistent with the inï¬uence of the design and technology paradigm. In the Israeli programs, the curriculum and sample exam questions focus on the concept of systems; related ideas, such as control, feedback, and parameters, are also treated in some detail. By contrast, the South African assessment materials have few explicit refer- ences to general engineering concepts; instead, they focus on ideas speciï¬c to electrical engineering, most of which are scientiï¬c rather than engineer- ing concepts (e.g., voltage, current). Exam questions in the French Série de Sciences de lâIngénieur explicitly refer to engineering concepts, including system analysis, requirements, and optimization. Overall, the international pre-college engineering programs include a wide range of engineering domains. The U.K. General Certiï¬cate of Educa- tion, Engineering, reï¬ects the compulsory pre-college design and technol- ogy curriculum; thus it explores the traditional disciplines of electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as less traditional areas, such as food technology and biotechnology. The exam questions for Australiaâs Higher School Certiï¬cate in Engineering (HSCE) Studies address issues in telecom-
118 ENGINEERING IN Kâ12 EDUCATION munications, transportation, civil engineering, aeronautics, and electronics; the exam also includes a biotechnology module. In addition to two engineering sciences courses, students pursuing the Israeli ORT curriculum pick a specialization course from one of the follow- ing areas: motion systems, biomedical engineering, robotic systems, artiï¬cial intelligence, or aerospace engineering. The content of the sample exam for the ORT curriculum, however, appears to focus on computer programming. The French baccalauréat programs cover a variety of engineering domains spread over different âsériesâ in the âbacâ. In the engineering series, the focus is on electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and information science. Treatment of Science, Technology, and Mathematics International pre-college engineering initiatives appear to face same challenges as U.S. initiatives, such as teaching students to use math and science to solve or optimize authentic design challenges. In the French cur- riculum, math and science are integrated, but at a high level of difï¬culty. Exam questions for the âSéries de Sciences de lâIngénieurâ describe a technical device that has to meet a given set of requirements, and students are asked to calculate certain variables based on their knowledge of science. In most instances, however, math and science concepts are treated as separate from technological content. For example, sample assessment items for the Australian HSCE require the application of scientiï¬c knowledge and mathematical skills to problems speciï¬c to technical devices. Either the tech- nical device is used as a context for asking a question that requires knowledge of science and/or math, or the question is about technology and does not require science or math. The same separation was evident in exam questions and practical assessment tasks in the South African curriculum. The exam includes ques- tions about abstract situations (e.g., diagrams representing electrical and logical circuits) in which students must make calculations and apply their knowledge of the laws of electricity. The practical assignments are design challenges, but they do not encourage the application of science or math to develop or optimize the design solution.