Conference Session

Successful K-12 Programs for Girls & Minorities

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Regina Middleton, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Shelly Perdomo, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

AC 2008-2716: WOMEN IN ENGINEERING CAREER DAY CONFERENCE: ARECRUITMENT TOOL FOR MASSACHUSETTS HIGH SCHOOL GIRLSRegina Middleton, University of Massachusetts, AmherstShelly Perdomo, University of Massachusetts Amherst Page 13.1406.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 WOMEN IN ENGINEERING CAREER DAY CONFERENCE: A RECRUITMENT TOOL FOR MASSACHUSETTS HIGH SCHOOL GIRLSAbstractIt is no surprise, like many other Research I institutions, the University of Massachusetts atAmherst is experiencing an under representation of women in the field of Engineering.Although women comprise 50% of the undergraduate student body, only 14% of female studentsare enrolled in the

Conference Session

Engineering Student Involvement in K12 Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jill Andrews, University of Michigan; Lorelle Meadows, University of Michigan; Joy Oguntebi, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

AC 2008-2868: ENGINEERING GRADUATE STUDENTS: ENGAGING TODAY'STEACHERS, TRAINING TOMORROW'S SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, ANDOPENING NEW ACADEMIC AND CAREER PATHS FOR K-12 STUDENTSJill Andrews, University of Michigan Jill H Andrews is a trained journalist with a professional background that spans 25 years in an academic setting as an administrator, educational outreach director and corporate liaison. From 1984-2005 she worked at the California Institute of Technology and University of Southern California, where she built lasting relationships and working partnerships among scientists and engineers, practicing professionals, formal and informal educators and students, government

Conference Session

Successful K-12 Programs for Girls & Minorities

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stan Komacek, California University of Pennsylvania; Carol Adukaitis, PA State System of Higher Education

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

Higher Education Carol Adukaitis received a BS degree from the University of Delaware, an MS from Bloomsburg University, and an EdD from Temple University. She has been a faculty member at Reading area Community College, Temple University, and adjunct at Montgomery County Community College, and has held the position as Industry/Curriculum Coordinator at several Career and Technology Centers. She has served as a PA Department of Education Evaluator for ten Governors Institutes and was a consultant for NOCTI Assessment Development and Test Preparation for the Massachusetts Department of Education. She is currently employed by the PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) on a Department of

Conference Session

Engineering in Middle Schools

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tris West, Lewisburg Area School District; Abe Feuerstein, Bucknell University; Steven Shooter, Bucknell University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

AC 2008-590: USING CYBER-INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCED PRODUCTDISSECTION TO INTRODUCE ENGINEERING TO MIDDLE SCHOOLSTUDENTSTris West, Lewisburg Area School DistrictAbe Feuerstein, Bucknell UniversitySteven Shooter, Bucknell University Page 13.1334.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Using Cyber-Infrastructure Enhanced Product Dissection to Introduce Engineering to Middle School StudentsAbstractThis study examines the influence of engineering dissection activities on middle school students’interest in science and engineering careers. Attracting students to engineering is a matter ofgrowing concern considering that engineering related jobs are

Conference Session

Successful K-12 Programs for Girls & Minorities

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bruce Gehrig, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Deborah Sharer, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Stephen Kuyath, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Anthony Brizendine, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

of North Carolina at Charlotte Associate Professor, Department of Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology Program, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. PI on the NSF funded Career Opportunities for Meritorious Engineering Technology Students (COMETS) project.Anthony Brizendine, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Chair and Professor, Department of Engineering Technology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Page 13.23.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 A Comprehensive and Integrated Approach to Increase Enrollments in Engineering

Conference Session

Gender & Minority Issues in K-12 Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karla Korpela, Michigan Technological University; Shalini Suryanarayana, Michigan Technological University; Christine Anderson, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

academic programs, and a number of shorter school-year programs that increase career awareness and academic preparedness, and address access to higher education topics for over 2,000 precollege students annually. She identifies new program areas, and works with faculty and other professionals to develop new courses for 6th-12th grade students, and ensures that all aspects of the programs are coordinated, including staffing, funding, accounting, implementation, and evaluation. Karla oversees a staff of four full time employees, five summer full time staff members and a seasonal staff of 200. Karla also directs the Ford PAS initiative, the GEAR UP program, and providing

Conference Session

Gender & Minority Issues in K-12 Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

LaRuth McAfee, Case Western Reserve University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

make while in high school, and the post-program choices students makeregarding college and major.Evaluations indicate that this program has had very positive results in its initial phase ofimplementation. While many students initially indicated minimal experience with research andtechnical communication, in one year all have made significant improvements. This change wasself-reported on surveys, and observed in the oral and written communication assignmentscompleted by the students. Additionally, positive changes were observed in students’ academicand career aspirations through their experiences in the program. Students initially indicatedinterests in obtaining no higher than Master’s degrees in a variety of fields, but now all haveexpressed a

Conference Session

Engineering in Middle Schools

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Juanita Jo Matkins, College of William and Mary; John A. McLaughlin, McLauglin Associates; Eugene Brown, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Gail Hardinge, College of William and Mary; Nancy West, College of William and Mary; Robert Stiegler, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division; Kirk Jenne, Office of Naval Research

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

college and college-level teaching of geology and science instructional methods. She has served as coordinator of mathematics and science curriculum for a school district. Her interests and experience focus on field studies and problem-based learning.Robert Stiegler, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division Robert Stiegler is currently supporting the USMC Targeting and Engagement Systems and the Office of Naval Research, N-STAR initiative. His recent career experience has included service as a program manager for USMC science and technology programs, Science Advisor to the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic, and Head, NAVSEA Combat Systems Safety and Engineering

Conference Session

Public Engineering of Engineering, K12 Standards, and Overview

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth Welty, University of Wisconsin, Stout; Linda Katehi, University of Illinois; Greg Pearson, National Academy of Engineering; Michael Feder, National Research Council

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

minorities are seriously underrepresented in engineeringstudies and in the engineering workforce.2 Nor is there disagreement about the desirability ofmaking students more aware of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)career options. Thus one motivation for exposing children to engineering prior to college is thedesire to correct imbalances in the engineering pipeline as well as make the pursuit of scienceand engineering careers more appealing. The problem-solving orientation and teamworkcharacteristics of engineering are also deemed desirable workplace attributes more generally,3suggesting another possible benefit of encouraging engineering thinking in the primary andsecondary grades.Many in the science and mathematics education

Conference Session

Topics in K-12 Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

William Lee, University of South Florida

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

AC 2008-1570: ENGINEERING IMAGES IN TELEVISION: AN ANALYSISFOCUSING ON THE IMAGES DEVELOPED BY HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS ANDSENIORSWilliam Lee, University of South Florida William E. Lee III is presently a Professor at the University of South Florida and is also director of the biomedical engineering program. He has been active in the area of engineering education for all of his academic career. Page 13.511.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2008 Engineering images in television: An analysis focusing on the images developed by high school juniors and seniorsAbstractMedia images can

Conference Session

K-12 Engineering Outreach Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kelly Crittenden, Louisiana Tech University; James Nelson, Louisiana Tech University; Galen Turner, Louisiana Tech University; Alicia Boudreaux, Louisiana Tech University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

relationships that are built between the high school and university faculty will have along-term impact on all students influenced by these high school teachers.TechSTEP consists of three distinct projects which are delivered on a three-year cycle. Theseprojects are each centered on a common theme which connects high school level math andscience to engineering. Each year’s theme showcases a topic that encompasses engineeringconcepts, as well as team skills, creative problem solving, and career exploration. These themesserve as good applications of algebra and trigonometry, are very hands-on and intuitive, give anexcellent introduction to engineering design, and easily lead to a design competition. Theprojects pique student interest and show the

Conference Session

Innovative K-12 Engineering Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Elisabeth McGrath, Stevens Institute of Technology; Susan Lowes, Teachers College, Columbia University; Peiyi Lin, Teachers College, Columbia University; Jason Sayres, Stevens Institute of Technology; Liesl Hotaling, The Beacon Institute; Rustam Stolkin, Stevens Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

, particularly from underrepresented groups, to pursue IT andengineering degrees and careers. A deliberate effort was made to enlist the participation ofdifferent types of teachers—general science, physics, engineering, technology education, andcomputer teachers—from a varied socioeconomic and academic group of schools across NewJersey in order to understand how the project can be implemented in a range of environments.Data from teacher and student surveys, student pre- and post-tests, and teacher follow-up surveysare being gathered and analyzed. The model and effectiveness of the summer institutes isdescribed, as are the varying implementation models, challenges, and successful classroomstrategies.IntroductionBUILD IT is a three-year National Science

Conference Session

Topics in K-12 Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Miller, Society of Automotive Engineers International; Elizabeth Bachrach, Goodman Research Group, Inc.

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

content also focuses on problem-solving skills and career orientation emphasized in school-to-work initiatives. Electricity & Electronics Challenge: This middle school kit provides students with team activities that experiment with series and parallel circuits, magnetism, and an introduction to electronics. High School Electricity & Electronics Challenge: This Challenge takes high Grades 9 & 10 school teams through in-depth experiments involving transistors and semiconductors, analog integrated circuits, and digital integrated circuits.The AWIM CurriculumThe AWIM materials

Conference Session

Successful K-12 Programs for Girls & Minorities

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Zbigniew Pasek, University of Windsor

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

professions found in these areas so they mayconsider them as future career choices3. For either of these goals to be attained, the proposedexhibit must accomplish three tasks: (1) attract visitors, (2) motivate them to become engagedwith the exhibit, and (3) facilitate the acquisition of the knowledge, understanding, and attitudesthe exhibit is designed to convey.Typical exhibits in an hands-on museum require a great deal of development effort. On averageit takes 2 to 3 years, a solid budget (anywhere from $100,000 to a few million in extreme cases,depending on complexity), and a diverse team working full time to create an individualinteractive exhibit. Similar effort was invested in the exhibit described here, except that the teamconsisted mostly of

Conference Session

Engineering in High Schools

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mitchell Nathan, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Natalie Tran, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Allen Phelps, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Amy Prevost, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

future studies and careers in engineering. We addressthe mathematics topics that are presented in these curricula and how the topics are sequenced andpresented to students. The results of our content analyses reveal differences in the organizationof the intended pre-engineering and academic curricula. The PLTW curriculum addresses farfewer mathematic content and process standards when compared to academic curricula, and alsoexhibit far fewer points of potential integration of mathematics knowledge than expected, giventhe clarion call made in recent national policy reports and the Perkins Act.Curriculum AnalysisCurricula—the textbooks, activities and materials that make up a course— provide a critical linkbetween standards and accountability

Conference Session

Engineering in High Schools

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nicholas Oswald, Oklahoma State University; Charlie Huddleston, Oklahoma State University; Alan Cheville, Oklahoma State University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

State University. Thepurpose of the six week intervention, part of a campus-wide Upward Bound program was to givestudents a realistic view of engineering as a career option.To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention two assessments were used. A pre-post Drawan Engineer1 with a written component was used to measure perceptions of engineers. Morestudents self-identified themselves as engineers following the intervention. Overall the draw anengineer shows an increased understanding of what is involved in engineering. Post-interventioninterviews also examined students’ changes in attitudes about engineering. Interview dataindicates increases in student intentions to pursue engineering and that the format of theintervention gave students a

Conference Session

K-12 Engineering Outreach Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Larry Lim, University of Southern California

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

" activities, demonstrations, projects, and experiments. More than 500 studentsparticipate annually.Following Mission Science is our Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA)program. MESA identifies students with interest and potential for an engineering career. MESAstudents meet on a regular basis and participate in a variety of motivational, informational,academic, and competitive activities that prepare them for college and a major in engineering, math,or science. The program exists in twenty-two middle and high schools, serving nearly 1500 studentseach year, with more than 90% of the seniors enrolling in college upon graduation.During the summer, we offer Discover Engineering, a month-long, residential program to introducehigh school

Conference Session

Successful K-12 Programs for Girls & Minorities

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Leslie Wilkins, Maui Economic Development Board; Isla Young, Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

2007 there were 20 (out of 63).Project EAST also positively impacted student interest in pursuing STEM careers. In 2005, 61%of students entered the program with a desire to pursue a STEM career and that numberincreased to 71% after participation. In 2006, the initial percentage of interested students was66%, which increased to 72% after participation. In 2007, the initial percentage of interestedstudents was 58% and the number increased to 66% after participation. When these numbers arebroken down further to show just the experience of the female students, the number leaving theprogram with the intention of pursuing a STEM career was 72% in 2006 and 51% in 2007.Again, of special interest are the females who began the program reporting no

Conference Session

K-12 Engineering and Pre-College Outreach Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Marilyn Barger, University of South Florida; Robin Little, Douglas L. Jamerson Jr. Elementary School; Richard Gilbert, University of South Florida; Charles Parsons, Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Elementary School; Debbie O'Hare, Douglas L. Jamerson Jr. Elementary School; Pat Van Driessche, Douglas L. Jamerson, Jr. Elementary School; Kim Parsons, Pinellas County School District

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

Social Studies Using the signs as a • Awareness of engineering springboard for fields Technology discussion: • Recognize women and minorities in engineering • Recognize various • Understand the high school careers and the course requirements needed for requirements of each college entrance to engineering • Recognize past gender fields differences in various

Conference Session

K-12 Engineering Outreach Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cindy Waters, North Carolina A&T State University; Devdas Pai, North Carolina A&T State University; Alice Stewart, NCA&T State University; Jagannathan Sankar, North Carolina A&T State University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

Engineering Education, 2008Abstract:This paper describes the outreach activities that have been effective in educating students aboutthe area of advanced materials as an engineering career, and discusses the impact that ourUniversity’s Engineers Starters Program has on motivating underrepresented minority students toconsider the engineering educational and career paths. The overall goal of the program is togenerate or sustain adolescents’ interest in engineering and technology and to enhance self-confidence and motivation toward education. The portion of the program developed by theCenter for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures (CAMSS) is shaped by a philosophicalapproach that emphasizes the direct benefit of learning by active methods and by

Conference Session

Successful K-12 Programs for Girls & Minorities

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Patricia Tolley, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Deborah Sharer, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Anthony Brizendine, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Michael Phillips, Department of Engineering Technology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Adam Harris

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

Carolina at Charlotte(UNC Charlotte), the National Science Foundation, and local partners. NCJETS involves over 30middle and high schools from seven counties. The purpose of the program is to engage studentsin educational, interesting, and challenging activities that: (1) introduce them to variousdisciplines and career opportunities afforded by the engineering profession; (2) inform themabout two- and four-year college admission requirements and actions they need to ensure theireligibility for admission; and (3) establish a sense of community with Lee College students andfaculty prior to their graduation from high school. Week-long resident summer camps areprovided for middle and high school students, where the high school students receive a

Conference Session

Engineering Professional Development for K-12 Teac

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Morgan, Texas A&M University; Luciana Barroso, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

) Page 13.934.4Remaining challenges include: ‚ Don’t know how to work in groups on written assignments ‚ Don’t know anyone who has gone to college – not part of their expectations for themselves and other classmates. They don’t know anyone who is an engineer – they don’t see that as a possible career path, much less connect College as a way to achieve future career goals."What do we do? – A Typical Professional Development (PD)A “typical” sequence of professional development (PD) is used to move teachers from a focus on“passing the test” to a focus on “achieving learning outcomes.” The sequence includes: ‚ Introduce Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to build connections between and among teachers. This

Conference Session

Gender & Minority Issues in K-12 Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Adam Christensen, Georgia Institute of Technology; Willard Nott, American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Douglas Edwards, Westlake High School; Leann Yoder, Jets, Inc.; Christina Ho, Engineers Without Borders; Shannon Flanagan, Engineers Without Borders; Stephanie Hurd, JETS, Inc.; Marion Usselman, Georgia Institute of Technology; Donna Llewellyn, Georgia Institute of Technology; Jeffrey Rosen, Georgia Institute of Technology; Cathy Leslie, Engineers Without Borders; Samuel Graham, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

university setting.However, there has been limited effort directed towards an authentic service learning experiencein the pre-college sector. A discussion of the public’s perception of engineering careers mayilluminate why there has been a slow rate of incorporation of pre-college service-learningprograms. Hirsch points out that common stereotypes of engineers, ranging from the negative(i.e. “engineers are nerds”) to the unrealistic positive (i.e. “all engineers are geniuses”), can havea negative impact on engineering enrollment12. She also points out that students may have someincorrect notions of engineering in general, most notably, that “engineering requires noknowledge about business or the environment”. When taken together, these

Conference Session

K-12 Engineering and Pre-College Outreach Poster Session

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Marshall, University of Southern Maine

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

students understand that a technical career path can genuinely beexciting and neat. Some have the short-term view that good paying jobs are plentiful, sowhy take the really difficult courses. Many sell their own abilities short and convincethemselves that it is too difficult a career path. And still others conjure up the image of adirty, dull, dangerous, and demeaning factory floor and run (not walk) in the otherdirection.What is needed to turn these impressions around are exciting exposures to technicaltopics in existing high school curriculums such as technology education, science, mathand physics. The purpose of this paper is to identify exactly one such exciting modulethat has been successfully used to build bridges that link high school

Conference Session

Innovative K-12 Engineering Programs

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aaron Clark, North Carolina State University; Jeremy Ernst, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

, andmathematics.IntroductionThe use of visual-based systems in modern culture and education is becoming more prevalent,requiring schools to adapt their curricula and instructional practices accordingly. Visual literacyis becoming central to curricular initiatives as society begins to rely heavily on visualization andvisual communication strategies 1. Education, aesthetics, communication, ethics, research, andother aspects of learning have placed emphasis on visual science and visual literacy as a responseto our increasingly complex, highly visual, and interconnected society 2. Developinginstructional materials and methods of instruction that develop visualization abilities, meeting theneeds of technology educators, and preparing students for future careers in STEM areas

Conference Session

Public Engineering of Engineering, K12 Standards, and Overview

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Nelson, University of Texas at Tyler; Michael Odell, University of Texas at Tyler; William Geiger, University of Texas at Tyler; Kristian Trampus, University of Texas at Tyler

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

. He has authored many technical papers that have been presented in national and international forums and co-authored three textbooks. Dr. Nelson has served as a technical advisor to the United States Delegation to the International Maritime Organization and in that capacity is a primary author of the international recommendation for testing free-fall lifeboats and many of the international regulations regarding the launch of free-fall lifeboats.Michael Odell, University of Texas at Tyler Dr. Odell began his career in education as an Earth Science teacher in Irving, Texas (1984-1990). He received his B.A. in Geoscience (1984) and M.A.T. in Science Education (1989) from the

Conference Session

Engineering Professional Development for K12 Teachers

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brian Howell, Western Carolina University; Robert Houghton, Western Carolina University; Elaine Franklin, Western Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

school. Because of the added costs of these kits, no high schoolsin the district were able to participate in this work, however in future years, the desire is to makethem an integrated part of the learning-mentoring-learning experience.The ultimate goals for the students were as follows: For grades six-eighth, increase studentexposure to technology and technological careers and raise expectations to these students thatsuch careers are possible and educational resources are available to them at both vocational anduniversity levels. Specifically, use robotics and data logging tools to expose the students to usingthese tools for competitions, and to solve math, science, and engineering problems. In addition,through the process of working with

Conference Session

Public Engineering of Engineering, K12 Standards, and Overview

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Don Giddens, Georgia Institute of Technology; Greg Pearson, National Academy of Engineering

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

underrepresented groups for the country to maintain, letalone increase, its technological capability.13 Thus messages that effectively encouragegirls and underrepresented minorities to consider careers in engineering could be crucialto U.S. success and leadership in the future.This paper reports on messaging research conducted by the National Academy ofEngineering (NAE) with support from the National Science Foundation.Message DevelopmentIn the lexicon of marketing, messages are a key component of branding. A brandassociates specific traits in a person’s mind that induce behavior. At one time, brandswere associated only with consumer products, such as dish soap, cereal, or new cars.Branding is now applied more broadly, to organizations, to entire

Conference Session

Gender & Minority Issues in K-12 Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Thompson, Purdue University; Pamela Turner, Purdue University EPICS; William Oakes, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

. Almost all of the teachers and administrators strongly felt theirstudents had very little awareness of what engineering was.At the end of the workshops, they were more convinced that engineering could be fun,and that they didn’t realize there are many career possibilities and variety of engineeringfields. One participant commented that, “the EPICS program is a great introductoryopportunity for high school students into engineering fields”.Participants’ felt they had a broader view of engineering after completing the workshop.Comments included that understanding the engineering fields required many talents – notjust science and math, and a belief that anyone could develop the skills necessary tobecome an engineer. One participant said that their

Conference Session

Engineering Professional Development for K-12 Teac

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Birdy Reynolds, University of Pittsburgh; Matthew Mehalik, University of Pittsburgh; Michael Lovell, University of Pittsburgh; Christian Schunn, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

% enteringengineering) on the ECAP program; many of our teachers are sharing their engineeringknowledge and implementing design-based engineering curricula that reinforces what thestudents learn during the summer (see the last two columns of Table 1).Table 1: Engineering Career Access Program (ECAP) statistics before and after onset of currentRET site. Pre- RET Post- RET 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 % ECAP-Grads Enrolling in College 100 98 100 98 100 100 % ECAP-Grads Enrolling in STEM Major 41 47 44 58 63 45 % ECAP-Grads Enrolling in Engr