Engineering Explorations are curriculum modules that engage children across contexts in learning about science and engineering. We used them to leverage multiple education sectors (K–12 schools, museums, higher education, and afterschool programs) across a community to provide engineering learning experiences for youth, while increasing local teachers’ capacity to deliver high-quality engineering learning opportunities that align with school standards. Focusing on multiple partners that serve youth in the same community provides opportunities for long-term collaborations and programs developed in response to local needs.
In a significant shift from earlier sets of standards, the Next Generation Science Standards include engineering design, with the goal of providing students with a foundation “to better engage in and aspire to solve the major societal and environmental challenges they will face in decades ahead” (NGSS Lead States 2013, Appendix I). Including engineering in K–12 standards is a positive step forward in introducing students to engineering; however, K–12 teachers are not prepared to facilitate high-quality engineering activities. Research has consistently shown that elementary teachers are not confident in teaching science, especially physical science, and generally have little knowledge of engineering (Trygstad 2013). K–12 teachers, therefore, will need support.
Our goal was to create a program that took advantage of the varied resources across a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education ecosystem to support engineering instruction for youth across multiple contexts, while building the capacity of educators and meeting the needs of each organization. Specifically, we developed mutually reinforcing classroom and field trip activities to improve student learning and a curriculum to improve teacher learning. This challenging task required expertise in school-based standards, engineering education, informal education, teacher professional development, and classroom and museum contexts.
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Engineering Explorations: Connecting K-12 classroom learning and field trip experiences through engineering design
Interactive science centers are in a unique position to provide opportunities for engineering
education through K-12 field trip programs. However, field trip programs are often disconnected
from students’ classroom learning, and many K-12 teachers lack the engineering education
background to make that connection. Engineering Explorations is a 3-year project funded by the
National Science Foundation (NSF) program Research in the Formation of Engineers (RFE)
(EEC-1824856 and EEC-1824859). The primary goal of this project is to develop and test
engineering education modules that link K-12 students’ classroom learning to field trip
experiences in an interactive science museum, increasing student learning and extending the field
trip experiences. Each Engineering Explorations module consists of one 50-minute field trip
program completed at an interactive science center and curriculum for three 50-minute lessons to
be implemented by the classroom teacher before (2 lessons) and after (1 lesson) the field trip
program. Our paper will present both development and research outcomes.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1824856
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10285040
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- 2021 American Society for Engineering Education Conference Proceedings
- Issue:
- 2021
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 33533
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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