Grand Challenges for Engineering: GK-12 Experience Katherine Nelson Christina Foster October 9, 2010

Overview What are the Grand Challenges for Engineering? ASU’s GK theme To the classroom, and beyond

National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges 1 year ago, NAE asked technological thinkers to discern what the grand challenges for the 21 st century were – What engineering breakthroughs would improve life on earth? …they came up with 14

We need to solve these together! Make Solar Energy Economical Manage the Nitrogen Cycle Advance Healthcare Informatics Prevent Nuclear Terror Advance Personalized Learning Provide Energy From Fusion Provide Access to Clean Water Engineer Better Medicines Secure Cyberspace Engineer the Tools of Scientific Discovery Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure Reverse Engineer the Brain Enhance Virtual Reality Engineering Grand Challenges The world's water supplies are facing new threats; affordable, advanced technologies could make a difference for millions of people around the world. Solar energy provides less than 1% of the world's total energy, but it has the potential to provide much, much more.

INSPIRE CHALLENGE EDUCATE WHY?

U.S. Prosperity Global Survival Exciting Futures BECAUSE

Worldwide shipments of Solar Photovoltaics – in Megawatts U.S. Photovoltaics Source: ARPA-E, 2010 U.S.

World Population Estimates

Education in STEM = Exciting Futures for Kids!!! Grand Challenges easily can build E in STEM (multidisciplinary model for solving world’s problems)  E doesn’t currently exist in standards

Involve Education! NAE Grand Challenge K-12 partners program Integrate Grand Challenges in K-12 education – Lessons – Activities – Conferences Grand Challenge K-12 Partners Program

Involve Education Grand Scholars Program – Undergraduate Engineering – Blend extra-curricular activities with research and coursework  expose students to Grand Challenges Grand Challenges Scholars program ASU Grand Scholars Program

What about GK-12? 8 fellows 2 lessons Each lesson will be Grand Challenge Themed (integrate research with grand challenge fellows are carrying out) …What challenges are we doing?

Choosing Grand Challenges Problem: Effectively aiding teachers to develop lessons based on their curriculum that fit a certain challenge/multiple challenges Solution: Align Fellow’s Research with Grand Challenge choice! Research: Focus on Materials to make Solar Energy more efficient Make Solar Energy Economical Fellow: ToddGrand Challenge

Make Solar Energy Economical Manage the Nitrogen Cycle Advance Healthcare Informatics Prevent Nuclear Terror Advance Personalized Learning Provide Energy From Fusion Provide Access to Clean Water Engineer Better Medicines Secure Cyberspace Engineer the Tools of Scientific Discovery Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure Reverse Engineer the Brain Enhance Virtual Reality Engineering Grand Challenges

Long-Term Goal for GK-12 Program: Develop GC Based Curriculum Engage students with the Grand Challenges – Lessons – Activities Educate fellows about the Grand Challenges and provide tools for effective communication about the Challenges Grand Challenge themed lessons Provide professional development opportunities for teachers

GRAND CHALLENGE LESSONS IN THE CLASSROOM NAVAJO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Scottsdale, AZ 6 th Grade Teacher Partner: Miss Dee Dee Duncan

GRAND CHALLENGE LESSONS PURPOSE & IMPORTANCE Purpose in the Classroom: To introduce the sixth grade students at Navajo Elementary School to five Grand Challenges for 21st century’s engineers through week-long inquiry based lessons. To challenge the sixth grade students to complete science and engineering projects that build upon a Grand Challenge that most interests them. Expected Outcomes: To bring engineering to the sixth grade science classroom in a meaningful way. To promote the concept of engineering design and problem solving while addressing the National Science Education Standards.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 1 Today’s Lesson: Introduce Science & Engineering Projects NAE’s Grand Challenge Overview Introduction to Carbon Sequestration PBS Video Carbon Sequestration Images & Discussion

Today’s Lesson: Introduce Science Projects Expectations NAE’s Grand Challenge Overview Introduction to the Grand Challenge of Carbon Sequestration PBS Video: Arizona 8th-grader's science project prompts her scientist dad to develop a new way to pull excess CO2 out of the atmosphere. Carbon Sequestration Images & Discussion CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 1 Learning Objectives: 1. Fossil fuels are made of hydrocarbons and currently provide 85% of the worlds’ energy. 2. Huge quantities of carbon dioxide are released when energy in the form of fossil fuel is burned.

Today’s Lesson: Carbon Cycle Skit Animated Video by the Earth Institute on Carbon Capture & Sequestration PBS Online Model of Carbon Sequestration CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 2 Learning Objectives: 1. Earth is a closed system for matter. The same matter (including CO 2 ) keeps going round and round! 2. Earth is an open system for energy. Energy flows through Earth! 3. The existence of humans does not negatively affect the carbon cycle. However, drilling for fossil fuels and then burning them for energy adds more carbon into the atmosphere. CARBON CYCLE SKIT, INSPIRED BY DR. ART DOES SCIENCE

Today’s Lesson: Carbon Cycle Skit Animated Video by the Earth Institute on Carbon Capture & Sequestration PBS Online Model of Carbon Sequestration CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 2 Learning Objective: Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels and storing it safely away from the atmosphere.

Today’s Lesson: Design and Build “Heat-Trapping Devices” to Model How Carbon Dioxide Holds Heat CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 3 Learning Objective: Carbon dioxide has heat trapping power and causes increases in global temperature. QUALIFICATIONS FOR DESIGNSUPPLIES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS EXAMPLE DESIGN SKETCH BY A STUDENT GROUP

In the middle school years, students’ work with scientific investigations can be complimented by activities that are meant to meet a human need, solve a human problem, or develop a product… NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 3 STUDENTS DESIGNING AND BUILDING THEIR HEAT-TRAPPING DEVICES TO MODEL HOW CARBON DIOXIDE HOLDS HEAT

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 4 STUDENTS TESTING THEIR HEAT-TRAPPING DEVICES TO EXAMINE HOW EFFECTIVELY THEIR MODEL HOLD HEAT The understanding of technology can be developed by tasks which students have to design something and also by studying technological products and systems. NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS

GRAND CHALLENGE LESSONS CONCLUSION The next generation of science standards for K-12 education will have a “strong emphasis on engineering and technology”. Integration of content knowledge with the practices needed to engage in scientific inquiry and engineering design – A PRIORITY By highlighting the E in STEM, we are understanding the importance of understanding the designed world. PANEL MOVES TOWARD ‘NEXT GENERATION’ SCIENCE STANDARDS, EDUCATION WEEK, SEPETEMBER 25, 2010

Thank you!!! Questions?

Activity: How can you incorporate the NAE’s Grand Challenges into your lessons and curriculum? Groups, provide 1 sentence descriptions of lesson ideas to share with the rest of us 15 minutes of brainstorm lesson ideas