National Center for Technological Literacy

Museum of Science, Boston

Patti Curtis

curtisp@mos.org

The instructional practices and assessments discussed or shown are not an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.

Definitions:

Technology:• Anything human-made or used to solve a

problem or fulfill a desire.• Technology can be an object, a system, or

a process.

Engineering:• A problem-solving process called the

Engineering Design Process• Designing under constraint

Inquiry - Design

Scientific Inquiry Engineering Design

Formulate a question. Define a problem.

Research how others have answered it. Research how others have solved it.

Brainstorm hypotheses and choose one. Brainstorm solutions and select one.

Conduct an experiment. Create and test a prototype.

Modify hypothesis based on results. Redesign solution based on tests.

Draw conclusion, write paper. Finalize design, make drawings.

Submit paper for peer review. Present optimal solution to client.

Ask new question Define new problem.

NAE: K-12 Engineering http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12635

Potential Benefits: • improved learning & achievement in science

& mathematics;• increased awareness of engineering ;• ability to engage in engineering design;• interest in engineering as a career; and,• increased technological literacy - the ability to

use technologyRecommendation:• more research needed

NAE: K-12 Engineering Standards?

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12990

• limited experience , not enough teachers• significant barriers to new stand-alone standardsAlternatives:• infuse INTO existing or revised standards• map big ideas in engineering ONTO existing subjectsRecommendations:• develop core ideas, guidelines for instructional

materials• large scale survey of K-12 engineering• cognitive research on engineering conceptsStates with Engineering in Science Standards:• MA, TN, IN, NH, RI, OR, WA, …

Next Generation Science Standards

www7.nationalacademies.org/bose/Standards_Framework_Homepage.html

• National Research Council developing Framework

• Achieve to develop standards

• Funded by Carnegie Corporation

• includes Engineering practices

Engineering Education for Innovation Act (E2 bill)

• To support efforts to integrate engineering education into K–12 classrooms and to fund evaluation research of same – Planning Grants– Implementation Grants– Evaluation Grants via IES

• Sponsors: Rep. Tonko & Sen. Gillibrand

Engineering is Elementarywww.mos.org/eie

• Lesson 1: Engineering Story

• Lesson 2: Broader View of Engineering

• Lesson 3: Scientific Experiment, Data

• Lesson 4: Engineering Design Challenge

Building Math – Middle Schoolwww.walch.com/product/2137

• Integrate engineering & algebra

• 3 units - grades 6, 7, 8

• 3 design challenges, 2 weeks each

• Integrate engineering & algebra

• 3 units - grades 6, 7, 8

• 3 design challenges, 2 weeks each

• Student-friendly• First-person stories from

a diverse cadre of engineers and technicians

• Engineering, science, and math concepts embedded in real case studies

• Student-friendly• First-person stories from

a diverse cadre of engineers and technicians

• Engineering, science, and math concepts embedded in real case studies

Engineering the Futurewww.keypress.com/etf

Engineering the Futurewww.keypress.com/etf

Resources

• National Center for Technological Literacy E-News

www.mos.org/nctl• Technology & Engineering Curricula (standards-based,

teacher-reviewed) www.mos.org/tec• Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research

(J-PEER) http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jpeer• Learning Science in Informal Environments

http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12190• NCTL T&E Rationale Video

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B-g1_6QCWU&feature=related