Engineering Adventures: Educator Workshop

By the end of this workshop, you will… Know what it feels like to engineer Understand what it means to lead Engineering Adventures successfully Feel ready to lead Engineering Adventures activities with your kids

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

Engineers…. build buildings.

Engineers…. build bridges and roads.

Engineers…. fix cars, engines, and machines.

Engineers…. use or fix computers.

Engineers…. drive trains.

Goals: Kids will learn that: they can use the Engineering Design Process to help solve problems engineers design technologies to help people and to solve problems they have talent and potential for designing and improving technologies they, too, can be engineers

Kids best learn engineering when they: engage in activities that are fun, exciting, and connect to the world in which they live choose their path through open-ended challenges that have multiple solutions have the opportunity to succeed in engineering challenges communicate and collaborate in innovative, active, problem solving

Engineering Adventures Free engineering curricula supported by research

Each Engineering Adventures Unit: engages kids in the Engineering Design Process sets a multicultural and real-life context for the challenge gives kids the chance to work in groups and share their work contains 6-10 activities with flexible scheduling options, written at a 3-5 grade level

Curriculum Development Initial Unit Development National Pilot Testing Unit Revisions National Pilot Testing Unit Revisions Final Unit Released

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

What is Engineering? Tower Power

Learner Hat and Educator Hat

The Engineering Design Process

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

What is Technology?

Computer

iPod

Tree

Airplane

Bird

Backpack

Cave

Dog Food

Hiccup

Kite

Cup

Cardboard Box

Wind Up Toy

Spider Web

Shoe

So…What is Technology?

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

Breaking it Down How would you know if your kids were successful in these activities?

In Engineering Adventures, what does success look like? Kids are engaged and challenged Kids share their ideas Kids value their engineering work as a process, not just as the end result

How do you know?

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

Scenarios What do you do when…its not working?

Scenarios Imagine that your technology was created by a group of your kids. They still have plenty of time to improve it. Come up with several questions you could ask your kids to help guide them to improve their design. Write each question down on a separate sticky note.

Scenarios Imagine that your technology was created by a group of your kids. This is their final design: they will NOT have time to improve. Come up with several questions you could ask your kids to help them explain the positives of their work and their place in the Engineering Design Process. Write each question down on a separate sticky note.

Key Points Asking questions about design choices instead of fixing the problem yourself encourages kids to think through their own problems. Questions focusing on the design process can help all kids talk about their successes, even if their design isnt yet meeting its goals. Asking every group how they might improve emphasizes that there is always room for improvement. Calling out the Improve step for kids helps them recognize failure as a natural and valuable part of engineering.

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

Pass It Along

Your device must pass a note across your table. You can only use one puff of air to activate your device. You may use only the materials in your bag. You need to keep track of how your team is using each step of the Engineering Design Process. You have five minutes.

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

EA Unit Structure Each Engineering Adventures unit: begins with the same prep adventures that introduce kids to engineering and technology. contains an activity to set the context for the unit challenge. contains activities that build up to the final challenge. ends with a Showcase where kids present their work.

Unit Exploration What do you think your kids will like most about these units? What questions do you have before you begin working with these units? What questions do you have about scheduling or materials?

Agenda Overview of Engineering Adventures What is Engineering? Tower Power Stepping Into Technology Success in Engineering Adventures Break Try it Out! Scenarios Pass It Along Unit Exploration Tour through Online Resources

Engineering units Introductory activities Videos Pilot opportunities

Questions?

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