Background: The recently released Mathematics, Engineering and Science in the National Interest r... more Background: The recently released Mathematics, Engineering and Science in the National Interest report (May, 2012) highlights the universal perspective that an education in these disciplines is essential to a nation's future prosperity. Although studies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) are being implemented across many schools, progress to date has been slow especially with respect to incorporating engineering experiences in the middle and primary grades. Our concerns for the limited attention given to engineering in STEM and the low uptake of university engineering courses in universities, prompted us to conduct a longitudinal project on engineering education across grade levels 7-9. Purpose: The overall purpose of the engineering activity addressed here (Investigating Foundational Structures) was to engage school students in devising, testing, and evaluating a real-world engineering problem demonstrating the link to mathematical principles and science in...
Abstract: Engineering education for elementary school students is a new and increasingly importan... more Abstract: Engineering education for elementary school students is a new and increasingly important domain of research by mathematics, science, technology, and engineering educators. Recent research has raised questions about the context of engineering problems that are meaningful, engaging, and inspiring for young students. In the present study an environmental engineering activity was implemented in two classes of 11-year-old students in Cyprus. The problem required students to use the data to develop a procedure for selecting among alternative countries from which to buy water. Students created a range of models that adequately solved the problem although not all models took into account all of the data provided. The models varied in the number of problem factors taken into consideration and also in the different approaches adopted in dealing with the problem factors. At least two groups of students integrated into their models the environmental aspect of the problem (energy consu...
The Handbook of Research on STEM Education represents a groundbreaking and comprehensive synthesi... more The Handbook of Research on STEM Education represents a groundbreaking and comprehensive synthesis of research and presentation of policy within the realm of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. What distinguishes this Handbook from others is the nature of integration of the disciplines that is the founding premise for the work – all chapters in this book speak directly to the integration of STEM, rather than discussion of research within the individual content areas. The Handbook of Research on STEM Education explores the most pressing areas of STEM within an international context. Divided into six sections, the authors cover topics including: the nature of STEM, STEM learning, STEM pedagogy, curriculum and assessment, critical issues in STEM, STEM teacher education, and STEM policy and reform. The Handbook utilizes the lens of equity and access by focusing on STEM literacy, early childhood STEM, learners with disabilities, informal STEM, socio-scientific issues, race-related factors, gender equity, cultural-relevancy, and parental involvement. Additionally, discussion of STEM education policy in a variety of countries is included, as well as a focus on engaging business/industry and teachers in advocacy for STEM education. The Handbook’s 37 chapters provide a deep and meaningful landscape of the implementation of STEM over the past two decades. As such, the findings that are presented within provide the reader with clear directions for future research into effective practice and supports for integrated STEM, which are grounded in the literature to date.
This chapter explores engineering as it applies to students in the early grades. First, we consid... more This chapter explores engineering as it applies to students in the early grades. First, we consider engineering as a STEM foundation. We then address ways in which we can provide supportive learning environments for early engineering learning. As part of such environments, we examine how we can build on intrinsically interesting problems. In exploring ways of harnessing young learners’ natural ways of thinking, we consider the role of play in early engineering learning and how we can capitalize on this play. The integration of engineering within the early curriculum is then reviewed, followed by a summary of perspectives on ways in which engineering is developmentally appropriate for, and beneficial to, young learners.
Background: The recently released Mathematics, Engineering and Science in the National Interest r... more Background: The recently released Mathematics, Engineering and Science in the National Interest report (May, 2012) highlights the universal perspective that an education in these disciplines is essential to a nation's future prosperity. Although studies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) are being implemented across many schools, progress to date has been slow especially with respect to incorporating engineering experiences in the middle and primary grades. Our concerns for the limited attention given to engineering in STEM and the low uptake of university engineering courses in universities, prompted us to conduct a longitudinal project on engineering education across grade levels 7-9. Purpose: The overall purpose of the engineering activity addressed here (Investigating Foundational Structures) was to engage school students in devising, testing, and evaluating a real-world engineering problem demonstrating the link to mathematical principles and science in...
Abstract: Engineering education for elementary school students is a new and increasingly importan... more Abstract: Engineering education for elementary school students is a new and increasingly important domain of research by mathematics, science, technology, and engineering educators. Recent research has raised questions about the context of engineering problems that are meaningful, engaging, and inspiring for young students. In the present study an environmental engineering activity was implemented in two classes of 11-year-old students in Cyprus. The problem required students to use the data to develop a procedure for selecting among alternative countries from which to buy water. Students created a range of models that adequately solved the problem although not all models took into account all of the data provided. The models varied in the number of problem factors taken into consideration and also in the different approaches adopted in dealing with the problem factors. At least two groups of students integrated into their models the environmental aspect of the problem (energy consu...
The Handbook of Research on STEM Education represents a groundbreaking and comprehensive synthesi... more The Handbook of Research on STEM Education represents a groundbreaking and comprehensive synthesis of research and presentation of policy within the realm of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. What distinguishes this Handbook from others is the nature of integration of the disciplines that is the founding premise for the work – all chapters in this book speak directly to the integration of STEM, rather than discussion of research within the individual content areas. The Handbook of Research on STEM Education explores the most pressing areas of STEM within an international context. Divided into six sections, the authors cover topics including: the nature of STEM, STEM learning, STEM pedagogy, curriculum and assessment, critical issues in STEM, STEM teacher education, and STEM policy and reform. The Handbook utilizes the lens of equity and access by focusing on STEM literacy, early childhood STEM, learners with disabilities, informal STEM, socio-scientific issues, race-related factors, gender equity, cultural-relevancy, and parental involvement. Additionally, discussion of STEM education policy in a variety of countries is included, as well as a focus on engaging business/industry and teachers in advocacy for STEM education. The Handbook’s 37 chapters provide a deep and meaningful landscape of the implementation of STEM over the past two decades. As such, the findings that are presented within provide the reader with clear directions for future research into effective practice and supports for integrated STEM, which are grounded in the literature to date.
This chapter explores engineering as it applies to students in the early grades. First, we consid... more This chapter explores engineering as it applies to students in the early grades. First, we consider engineering as a STEM foundation. We then address ways in which we can provide supportive learning environments for early engineering learning. As part of such environments, we examine how we can build on intrinsically interesting problems. In exploring ways of harnessing young learners’ natural ways of thinking, we consider the role of play in early engineering learning and how we can capitalize on this play. The integration of engineering within the early curriculum is then reviewed, followed by a summary of perspectives on ways in which engineering is developmentally appropriate for, and beneficial to, young learners.
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