Family Engineering: Exploring Engineering with Elementary-age Children and their Parents
- Conference
- Location
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San Antonio, Texas
- Publication Date
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June 10, 2012
- Start Date
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June 10, 2012
- End Date
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June 13, 2012
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
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Factors Impacting Engineering Career Choices, Including Engaging Families
- Tagged Division
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K-12 & Pre-College Engineering
- Page Count
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14
- Page Numbers
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25.636.1 - 25.636.14
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--21393
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/21393
- Download Count
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556
Paper Authors
David R. Heil David Heil & Associates, Inc.
David Heil, President of David Heil & Associates, Inc., is well-known as an innovative educator, author, and host of the Emmy Award-winning PBS science series, Newton’s Apple. Active in promoting public understanding of science for more than 30 years, he is a frequent conference and workshop presenter on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Heil was the Lead Editor of the popular book Family Science and the Founding President of the Foundation for Family Science and Engineering, one of the three partner organizations responsible for creating Family Engineering.
Neil Hutzler Michigan Technological University
Neil Hutzler, Ph.D.., P.E., is a professor of civil and environmental engineering and the Director of the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach at Michigan Technological University (MTU). He has more than 30 years of experience in engineering education in both K-12 and higher education. MTU is one of the three partner organizations responsible for creating Family Engineering, and Hutzler served as the Principal Investigator of the National Science Foundation grant supporting the development of the Family Engineering program.
Christine M. Cunningham
Museum of Science
orcid.org/0000-0003-1922-7101
Christine Cunningham is a Vice President at the Museum of Science, Boston, where she oversees curricular materials development, teacher professional development, and research and evaluation efforts related to K-16 engineering and science learning and teaching. Her projects focus on making engineering and science more relevant, understandable, and accessible to everyone, especially marginalized populations such as women, underrepresented minorities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, and people with disabilities. She is the Founder and Director of the Engineering is Elementary project.
Mia Jackson Foundation for Family Science & Engineering
Mia Jackson, an Associate with David Heil & Associates, Inc., specializes in program and exhibit development, project management, and evaluation with an emphasis on early learning, parent/child engagement, and public outreach. Trained in elementary education, she has worked in the science education field for more than 15 years, including serving as the Director of Education and Exhibits at the Imaginarium, a science center in Anchorage, Alaska.
Joan F. Chadde Michigan Technological University
Joan F. Chadde os K-12 Education Program Coordinator for the Center for Science & Environmental Outreach since 1995. She is author of several curricula, resource guides, and journal articles. She conducts 20 family science and engineering events each year, using university STEM majors as presenters to the elementary children and their parents.
Abstract
Family Engineering: Exploring Engineering With Elementary-Age Children And Their Parents ABSTRACT The goal of the Family Engineering program is to actively engage elementary-‐age youth in exploring engineering activities and career opportunities with their parents. The program addresses both national and global needs for increasing the number and diversity of individuals interested and skilled in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Family Engineering promotes 21st Century skills of inquiry, creativity, teamwork, and collaborative problem solving and can be used by individuals and organizations to plan and conduct successful community outreach events that increase public understanding and appreciation of engineering and the role it plays in everyday life. Modeled after the popular publications Family Science (1999) and Family Math (1986) a new publication titled Family Engineering: An Activity and Event Planning Guide (2011) will serve as a valuable resource for professional engineering societies and student chapters of those societies as well as formal and informal educators who want to host a Family Engineering event in their community. With support from the National Science Foundation, hands-‐on activities that introduce families to traditional and integrated engineering disciplines and concepts were developed by a team of experienced curriculum developers; field tested at over 40 events in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Utah, and Wisconsin, to determine their suitability for a wide range of settings and audiences; and reviewed by professional educators and engineers. Formative evaluation guided development of the program and, once completed, summative evaluation conducted by an independent evaluation team measured impact and efficacy of the program’s design, resource materials, and event formats. Findings indicate that Family Engineering activities and events are fun and engaging, result in families having an increased appreciation and understanding of engineering, and parents report an increased confidence and willingness to encourage their children to consider a career in engineering.
Heil, D. R., & Hutzler, N., & Cunningham, C. M., & Jackson, M., & Chadde, J. F. (2012, June), Family Engineering: Exploring Engineering with Elementary-age Children and their Parents Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21393
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