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Developing Engineering Content for K-12 STEM Classrooms by Providing a Hands-On Engineering Design Experience for Teachers: A Case Study

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Conference

2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana

Publication Date

June 15, 2014

Start Date

June 15, 2014

End Date

June 18, 2014

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Addressing the NGSS, Part 2 of 3: Supporting K-12 Science Teachers in Engineering Pedagogy and Engineering-Science Connections, Part 2 of 3

Tagged Division

K-12 & Pre-College Engineering

Page Count

8

Page Numbers

24.399.1 - 24.399.8

DOI

10.18260/1-2--20290

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/20290

Download Count

500

Paper Authors

biography

Mounir Ben Ghalia The University of Texas, Pan American

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Dr. Mounir Ben Ghalia is a professor in the electrical engineering department at the University of Texas, Pan American. He is the principal investigator and the director of the Research Experiences for Teachers in Emerging and Novel Engineering Technologies (RET-ENET) in the Rio Grande Valley project, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. His current research interests focus on cooperative, multiple mobile robots and engineering education.

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Hasina Huq University of Texas, Pan American

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Abstract

Developing Engineering Content for K-12 STEM Classrooms by Providing a Hands-On Engineering Design Experience for Teachers: A Case Study (Research-to-Practice)The integration of engineering content in K-12 math and science subjects has been a growingphenomenon. Several studies have reported on the positive implications of engineering educationin K-12 classroom settings. Such benefits include: (i) an increased student motivation to learn themathematics and science concepts [1, 2], (ii) an increased student learning and achievements inmathematics and science [3], and (iii) an increased interest in pursuing a career in the STEMfield [3].There is a limited amount of research that examines the challenges and best practices forengaging teachers to develop engineering content for K-12 mathematics and science classrooms.The goal of this paper is to describe factors that must be considered when engaging teachers todevelop and implement engineering content that can be seamlessly integrated into theirmathematics and science subjects. The results and recommendations of this paper stem from acase study of three teachers that were recruited to participate in the University of _____ researchexperiences for teachers in engineering program. The six-week summer professionaldevelopment program engages teachers in engineering research and design and provides supportfor teachers to develop engineering content for their classrooms. Equipment, materials andsupplies were provided to teachers to implement the new engineering-based math and sciencecurricula during the academic year. The research questions that guided this study are as follows: (1) What are the main considerations for engaging math and science teachers in engineering research and design? (2) What are the challenges that teachers face and what of type of support should be provided to help teachers translate their engineering research into engineering content relevant to the mathematics and science concepts that they teach.This paper presents the methods and results of the case study that engaged a team of threeteachers in an engineering design that consisted in building an experimental setup and analyzingthe electrical characteristics of a carbon nanofiber-based glucose biosensor. The paper describesthe challenges that teachers faced and the support provided to guide the teachers in thedevelopment of engineering curriculum content, inspired by their own engineering designexperience, for their mathematics and sciences subjects. The results of the engineeringcurriculum contents developed through this program and the observations of theirimplementations in teachers’ classrooms during the academic are reported, evaluated anddiscussed. REFERENCES1. Nugent, G.C., et al., Extending engineering education to K-12. Technology Teacher, 2010. 69(7): p. 14-19.2. Cantrell, P., et al., The effects of engineering modules on student learning in middle school science classrooms. Journal of Engineering Education, 2006. 95(4): p. 301-309.3. Katehi, L., G. Pearson, and M.E. Feder, National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council Engineering in K-12 education., ed. N.A. Press. 2009, Washington, DC.

Ben Ghalia, M., & Huq, H. (2014, June), Developing Engineering Content for K-12 STEM Classrooms by Providing a Hands-On Engineering Design Experience for Teachers: A Case Study Paper presented at 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana. 10.18260/1-2--20290

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