Engaging Youth through Engineering Modules (Curriculum Exchange)

Susan Atkins Pruet; Melissa Divonne Dean

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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: K-12 and Pre-College Engineering Division Curriculum Exchange
Tagged Division: K-12 & Pre-College Engineering
Page Count: 3
Page Numbers: 24.490.1 - 24.490.3
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--20381
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/20381
Download Count: 398

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Paper Authors

biography

Susan Atkins Pruet STEMWorks

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Dr. Susan Pruet has been actively involved in STEM education – as a teacher, teacher educator and director of reform initiatives for over 30 years. Since 1998 she has developed and directed two STEM reform initiatives for the Mobile Area Education Foundation (MAEF): the Maysville Mathematics Initiative and, most recently, Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE), a K-12 workforce development and STEM initiative in Mobile, Alabama. Both initiatives involve valuable partnerships with the Mobile County Public School System, the University of South Alabama, and area business and industry. Change the Equation, a non-partisan, CEO-led commission focused on mobilizing business communities to improve the quality of STEM learning in America, recognized the EYE Modules as one of Change the Equation’s STEM Works Programs. Dr. Pruet has served on a number of education boards and committees including vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Engineering Coalition (AMSTEC) and Executive Board member of the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE) K-12 Division. Dr. Pruet received her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Birmingham-Southern College, her master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and her doctorate from Auburn University in mathematics education. Currently Dr. Pruet is an independent consultant as President, STEMWorks, LLC, and Founding Director, Engaging Youth through Engineering.

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Melissa Divonne Dean Mobile Area Education Foundation

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Melissa Dean is a respected leader in STEM education based on engineering content in the Mobile, Alabama community. For the past few years she has served there as Assistant Director of the Engaging Youth through Engineering Program at the Mobile Area Education Foundation. In that capacity, she has coordinated the development of a series of STEM modules for middle school grades that truly integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning in the classroom.
She is an experienced science educator having lead for years the development of informal curriculum and programs for the Science Centers in Alabama and Louisiana. She is highly experienced in curriculum development, writing, training and implementation. She has lead teacher development programs, as well as conducted pilot engineering design lessons in the classrooms. She works closely with STEM teachers in the 60,000 students Mobile County Public School System and has the reputation as a teacher leader and change agent. Her work with K-12 students, teachers and education administrators is gaining attention and respect nationally.
Melissa Dean received her bachelors of science from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and is currently working toward her graduate degree in Instructional Design and Development at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

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Abstract

Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE) Modules (Curriculum Exchange)Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE) is a partnership-driven K-12 economicdevelopment initiative underway in Mobile, Alabama that is spearheaded by a local non-profiteducation entity in collaboration with a large urban school system, higher education and areabusiness and industry. Its purpose is to produce high school graduates eager and able to meet thegrowing demand for tech-savvy workers who are also innovative problem solvers. EYE usesengineering design challenges to bring practical relevance and rigor to K-12 math and sciencecurriculum. At the middle grades level, local and National Science Foundation funding areenabling EYE to develop a set of integrated STEM instructional units, the EYE Modules, toinspire and motivate all middle grades students, especially those typically underrepresented inSTEM, to take the high school courses needed in preparation for 21st century workforce needs.Each EYE Module is designed such that students use engineering practices and apply requiredmathematics and science content, to develop solutions to relevant problems facing humans today,fostering the development of engineering “habits of mind.”The set of eight EYE Modules, which will be on display at the ASEE Curriculum Exchange, arecomprehensive and extensive instructional guides for middle grades teachers to implementcollaboratively in mathematics and science classes. The Modules address standards-basedSTEM content and practices that fill gaps between state-mandated and tested content and whatbusiness and industry say they need, including innovative problem solving, communication andteamwork skills. Module specific professional development and implementation materials kitsaccompany each Module. The Modules are not a complete engineering, technology or STEMcurriculum; rather they supplement and support the existing mathematics and science curriculum.They are a set of comprehensive and extensive instructional guides that use design challengesand the engineering design process to engage middle grades students in pursuing STEM careersand academics.

Citation
Format

Pruet, S. A., & Dean, M. D. (2014, June), Engaging Youth through Engineering Modules (Curriculum Exchange) Paper presented at 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana. 10.18260/1-2--20381

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -                Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE) Modules                                 (Curriculum Exchange)Engaging Youth through Engineering (EYE) is a partnership-driven K-12 economicdevelopment initiative underway in Mobile, Alabama that is spearheaded by a local non-profiteducation entity in collaboration with a large urban school system, higher education and areabusiness and industry. Its purpose is to produce high school graduates eager and able to meet thegrowing demand for tech-savvy workers who are also innovative problem solvers. EYE usesengineering design challenges to bring practical relevance and rigor to K-12 math and sciencecurriculum. At the middle grades level, local and National Science Foundation funding areenabling EYE to develop a set of integrated STEM instructional units, the EYE Modules, toinspire and motivate all middle grades students, especially those typically underrepresented inSTEM, to take the high school courses needed in preparation for 21st century workforce needs.Each EYE Module is designed such that students use engineering practices and apply requiredmathematics and science content, to develop solutions to relevant problems facing humans today,fostering the development of engineering “habits of mind.”The set of eight EYE Modules, which will be on display at the ASEE Curriculum Exchange, arecomprehensive and extensive instructional guides for middle grades teachers to implementcollaboratively in mathematics and science classes. The Modules address standards-basedSTEM content and practices that fill gaps between state-mandated and tested content and whatbusiness and industry say they need, including innovative problem solving, communication andteamwork skills. Module specific professional development and implementation materials kitsaccompany each Module. The Modules are not a complete engineering, technology or STEMcurriculum; rather they supplement and support the existing mathematics and science curriculum.They are a set of comprehensive and extensive instructional guides that use design challengesand the engineering design process to engage middle grades students in pursuing STEM careersand academics.
AU  - Susan Atkins Pruet
AU  - Melissa Divonne Dean
CY  - Indianapolis, Indiana
DA  - 2014/06/15
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Engaging Youth through Engineering Modules (Curriculum Exchange)
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/20381
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--20381
ER  -