The "E" in STEM: Meaningful Content for Engineering

Target Grade(s): K-12

Overview:

Make connections to mathematics and science concepts by participating in engineering activities. Follow the Engineering Design process as you design, test, and evaluate models and hands-on activities and discover the important reciprocities between science, technology, engineering and mathematics in formal design challenges.

Standards-based topic areas include:

National Science Education Standards (NSES)

• Science as Inquiry - Ability to do scientific inquiry, Understanding about scientific inquiry
• Science and Technology - Abilities of Technological Design, Understanding about science and technology
• Physical Science - Properties of Objects and Materials
• Science in Personal and Social Perspectives - Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

International Technology Education Association (ITEA)

• Nature of Technology - The relationships among technologies and the connections between technology and other fields of study.
• Design -Attributes of design, engineering design
• Abilities for a Technological World - Ability to apply design process, ability to assess the impact of products and systems

Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the nature, characteristics, and scope of engineering problem solving and design.
• Examine and draw conclusions about the relationship between the study of engineering, technology, mathematics, and science (and other discipline-based knowledge) through classroom activities.
• Demonstrate the ability to solve engineering problems/challenges.
• Evaluate engineering activities and curriculum that lead students to a greater understanding of the scientific and technological world.
• Incorporate the engineering design process and NASA content into regular classroom instruction.

LIVE sessions:

Session 1: Topic: What is Problem Solving and Engineering Design?

Session 2: Topic: The Processes Engineers Use to Solve Problems

Session 3: Topic: Methods of Implementing NASA Engineering Design into the Classroom

Session 4: Topic: Engineering as an Interdisciplinary Tool for Integrative STEM Education

Additional Study:

After the interactive sessions, participants select from a variety of assignments in order to complete the necessary hours to earn credit for the course. Assignment choices include:

• Create engineering design lessons for your classroom.
• Research curriculum materials available for engineering design.
• Investigate NASA "spinoff" technology with your students in the classroom.
• Develop activities for your students to create innovative solutions to reuse materials for NASA missions.