Introduction to the Workshop

Pasha Antonenko

Rebecca Damron

Jean Dockers

Karen High

Gayla Hudson

Alonzo Peterson

Susan Stansberry

Assessments

• Survey of Enacted Curriculum

• Content

• Arizona State University Assessment

Video and task sheets

• Groups will be randomly video taped and asked to fill out task sheets regarding thinking processes

What is Engineering?

• Boston Museum of Science What is technology What is engineering

• Tools are available on line that you can use for your students.

What is technology?

• “…the diverse collection of processes and knowledge that people use to extend human abilities and to satisfy human needs and wants” (ITEA, 2000)

• “In the broadest sense, technology extends our abilities to change the world… We use technology to try to change the world to suit us better.” (AAAS, 1989)

Collected by Cathy Lachapelle and Christine CunninghamBoston Museum of Science

• An engineer is “a person who is trained in and uses technological and scientific knowledge to solve practical problems”. Engineers “are the innovators and designers”. (ITEA 2000)

• Engineers are problem solvers who search for quicker, better, and less expensive ways to use the forces and materials of nature to meet today’s challenges.” (ASEE website)

• “Engineers solve problems by applying scientific principles to practical ends.” (AAAS Benchmarks, p. 48)

Lachapelle and Cunningham

What is Engineering?

Engineering Pictures1. Select two pictures:

One that represents engineering One that is not engineering

2. As an individual, write in your journal about why you selected the pictures you did

3. As a group classify the pictures into those that represent engineering and those that are not engineering

4. Select one picture that best represents engineering

5. Be prepared to have a volunteer stand up and explain the group picture using the document projector

Society•Values•Needs•Environment•Economy

ScientistsInvestigate thenatural world

EngineersCreate the

designed world

Technologiesthe products and

processes createdby engineers

ScientificKnowledge

what scientistshave learned about

the natural world

Science Technology

Adopted Lachapelle and Cunningham

Susan do target

How do students conceptualize technology?

• products, not processes (deVries 1996)

• modern or new (deVries 1996, Cunningham, Lachapelle, & Lindgren-Streicher 2006, Solomonidou & Tassios 2007)

• powered, especially by electricity (Cunningham, Lachapelle, & Lindgren-Streicher 2006, Solomonidou & Tassios 2007)

Lachapelle and Cunningham

How do students conceptualize engineering?

• engineers fix things (especially buildings, cars, electrical things, or engines)

• engineers build things (especially buildings or electrical things)

Lachapelle and Cunningham

Students’ conceptions are:• Rooted in activities that focus on construction,

building, machinery, and vehicles.

• Based on the products, not the type of work engineers do.

Lachapelle and Cunningham

• Children associate “engineering” with only a few engineering fields. These include: Civil engineering Computer engineering Electrical engineering

http://www.g9toengineering.com/activities/worldwithouteng.htm

A World without Engineers

Engineering Design

www.adventureengineering.org

Design involves inquiry!Engagement

Exploration

ExplanationApplication

Evaluation and Communication

Problem Based Learning

Integration

Sustainability

Sustainability can be defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [Brundtland Report (1987)]

Why sustainability is important to engineers

•Improving process economics•Improving socio-economic situations

•Better health Standards•Around 2.8 million people live on $2/day

•Adverse environmental changes •2 billion hectares of soil (15%) of the earth land classified as degraded•Half world’s river depleted and polluted•Depletion of the ozone layer•Concentration of Co2, linked to global warming

– 25% warmer than 150 years ago

Four Sustainable Design Challenges

• Airplane Design (7th)

• Windmills as Renewable Energy (5th)

• Save the Penguins (8th/9th)

• Water Purification (6th)

Structure of Workshop

Expectations for Workshop