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E 4 E: Engineering for Educators

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Conference

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

San Antonio, Texas

Publication Date

June 10, 2012

Start Date

June 10, 2012

End Date

June 13, 2012

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Innovations in Promoting Technological Literacy I

Tagged Division

Technological and Engineering Literacy/Philosophy of Engineering

Page Count

9

Page Numbers

25.482.1 - 25.482.9

DOI

10.18260/1-2--21240

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/21240

Download Count

407

Paper Authors

biography

Dan G. Dimitriu San Antonio College

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Dan G. Dimitriu has been practicing engineering since 1970 and taught engineering courses concurrently for more than 20 years. He has been the coordinator of the Engineering Program at San Antonio College since 2001. His research interests are: alternative fuels, fuel cells, plastics, and engineering education.

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biography

Simona Dana Dimitriu Pat Neff Middle School - Northside Independent School District (NISD)

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Simona D. Dimitriu practiced engineering since 1981 for 20 years and following a graduate degree in education started teaching science since 2007 and math since 2002. She has been involved in numerous initiatives to integrate engineering in science and math education and combine education research with education practice.

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biography

Thomas Gadsden Jr. Our Lady of the Lake University

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Thomas Gadsden is a nationally recognized science educator (45 years), and a recipient of 2006 Distinguished Service Award from National Science Teachers Association and awards from the Council of State Science Supervisors and Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics. He has a B.S. in physics and M.Ed. and Ed.D. degrees in science education (1972), University of Florida. He was a research school physics teacher for 17 years, a Associate Professor of education, University of Florida, Director of Science, K-12, Richardson (Texas) ISD, Head of Education, Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory, Associate Director, Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Math & Science Education, the Ohio State University. and Associate Professor of physics and chemistry, Our Lady of the Lake University, retired.

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Abstract

E 4 E: Engineering for EducatorsAbstractK-12 science and math education is part of the Administration’s American CompetitivenessInitiative (ACI). As one part of the larger initiative that seeks to encourage research anddevelopment, innovation, and global competitiveness, the education arm of the ACI proposesnew Federal support to improve the quality of math, science, and technological education in K-12 schools.Recent data confirm that teaching is not an easy profession: A new study from the NationalScience Teachers Association, for example, shows that for the past 10 years 50% of teachersleave teaching within their first 5 years if trained traditionally and 80% if they do alternativecertifications.Yet teaching remains a source of fulfillment and intellectual excitement for many thousands ofeducators, and continues to speak to the interests and ideals of many young people and mid-career professionals.So, what can be done to help teachers find new ideas that will attract and excite students to learndifficult subjects such as Math and Science?There is only one answer: By helping teachers become themselves more interested and excitedabout these subjects! That means exposing teachers to the most exciting and the least understoodprofession which is engineering! In doing so we bring them examples and real life applicationsthat will help them correlate theory with reality.The paper presents a program initiated at “Our Lady of the Lakes University” and incorporatedin a Master’s Degree in Education. The program targeted primarily high school Physics teachersbut the concept can be easily expanded to the entire spectrum of Math and Science education forall K-12 grades.Science is the art of obtaining knowledge. Engineering is the art of using knowledge to achieveobjectives and solve problems. If we put them together in the class room early enough we havebetter chances to raise more interested and dedicated students.

Dimitriu, D. G., & Dimitriu, S. D., & Gadsden, T. (2012, June), E 4 E: Engineering for Educators Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21240

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