Conference Session

Assessment and Evaluation of K-12 Engineering Programs

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stacy S. Klein-Gardner, Vanderbilt University; Amber C. Spolarich, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy, K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

, sketches, and an explanation of its suitability to the desert environment. We evaluated the effectiveness of the curricula developed through the RET programbased on the following research question: Does the use of this challenge-based instructionincrease the motivational impact of teaching units? We developed the hypothesis that studentswould find science and engineering more exciting, interesting, and applicable to their daily livesbecause of their teacher’s participation in the RET program. This would be reflected in higherstudent motivational levels during the instruction of the RET teacher’s research-based module ascompared to a control teacher’s instruction.Student Motivation Survey In order to gauge student motivation, an

Conference Session

Public Policy in Engineering Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tom C. Roberts P.E., Kansas State University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

in the early2000’s Kansas was the epicenter for renewed evolution debates related to K-12 curriculumchanges. Science standards were changed to reflect “Intelligent Design” for 2 years before beingrescinded in 2005).The 2009 Transportation Conference survey results showed that contact with local (county andcity) officials (30%) was double that with state officials. However, consistent with statepercentages, fewer than 10% of the respondents had contact with local school board officials.In June 2010, the authors co-presented to the KSPE Annual Meeting using similar content to the2006 ASEE Midwest Section presentation. However, the entire morning of the conference wasfocused on legislative issues and the final presentation of the morning was

Conference Session

Public Policy in Engineering Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Maria Dawn Blevins, University of Utah

Tagged Divisions

Engineering and Public Policy

were as important asknowing the material. When asked what students would change or what would they liketo learn more about, most felt the training was fine and would not change it. A fewstudents offered helpful suggestions such as adding more real life examples, moreinformation about being empathetic, and how to develop effective listening skills. Theyalso requested more practice and information about fielding difficult questions. In my personal reflection about the training, I would do two things differently.First, I would give the training at least 30 more minutes, and second I would find outabout the specific class activities the students are involved in and make sure I was usingthose as a starting place for the lecture and role