Increasing the Roles and Significance of Teachers in Policymaking for K-12 Engineering Education
Increasing the Roles and Significance of Teachers in Policymaking for K-12 Engineering Education

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2017-01-01

Total Pages: 51

ISBN-13: 0309456207

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Engineering is a small but growing part of Kâ€"12 education. Curricula that use the principles and practices of engineering are providing opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students to design solutions to problems of immediate practical and societal importance. Professional development programs are showing teachers how to use engineering to engage students, to improve their learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and to spark their interest in engineering careers. However, many of the policies and practices that shape Kâ€"12 engineering education have not been fully or, in some cases, even marginally informed by the knowledge of teacher leaders. To address the lack of teacher leadership in engineering education policymaking and how it might be mitigated as engineering education becomes more widespread in Kâ€"12 education in the United States, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a convocation on September 30â€"October 1, 2016. Participants explored how strategic connections both within and outside classrooms and schools might catalyze new avenues of teacher preparation and professional development, integrated curriculum development, and more comprehensive assessment of knowledge, skills, and attitudes about engineering in the Kâ€"12 curriculum. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the event.

Building Capacity for Teaching Engineering in K-12 Education
Building Capacity for Teaching Engineering in K-12 Education

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2020-03-13

Total Pages: 261

ISBN-13: 0309499453

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Engineering education is emerging as an important component of US K-12 education. Across the country, students in classrooms and after- and out-of-school programs are participating in hands-on, problem-focused learning activities using the engineering design process. These experiences can be engaging; support learning in other areas, such as science and mathematics; and provide a window into the important role of engineering in society. As the landscape of K-12 engineering education continues to grow and evolve, educators, administrators, and policy makers should consider the capacity of the US education system to meet current and anticipated needs for K-12 teachers of engineering. Building Capacity for Teaching Engineering in K-12 Education reviews existing curricula and programs as well as related research to understand current and anticipated future needs for engineering-literate K-12 educators in the United States and determine how these needs might be addressed. Key topics in this report include the preparation of K-12 engineering educators, professional pathways for K-12 engineering educators, and the role of higher education in preparing engineering educators. This report proposes steps that stakeholders - including professional development providers, postsecondary preservice education programs, postsecondary engineering and engineering technology programs, formal and informal educator credentialing organizations, and the education and learning sciences research communities - might take to increase the number, skill level, and confidence of K-12 teachers of engineering in the United States.

Science Teachers' Learning
Science Teachers' Learning

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2016-01-15

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 0309380189

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Currently, many states are adopting the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) or are revising their own state standards in ways that reflect the NGSS. For students and schools, the implementation of any science standards rests with teachers. For those teachers, an evolving understanding about how best to teach science represents a significant transition in the way science is currently taught in most classrooms and it will require most science teachers to change how they teach. That change will require learning opportunities for teachers that reinforce and expand their knowledge of the major ideas and concepts in science, their familiarity with a range of instructional strategies, and the skills to implement those strategies in the classroom. Providing these kinds of learning opportunities in turn will require profound changes to current approaches to supporting teachers' learning across their careers, from their initial training to continuing professional development. A teacher's capability to improve students' scientific understanding is heavily influenced by the school and district in which they work, the community in which the school is located, and the larger professional communities to which they belong. Science Teachers' Learning provides guidance for schools and districts on how best to support teachers' learning and how to implement successful programs for professional development. This report makes actionable recommendations for science teachers' learning that take a broad view of what is known about science education, how and when teachers learn, and education policies that directly and indirectly shape what teachers are able to learn and teach. The challenge of developing the expertise teachers need to implement the NGSS presents an opportunity to rethink professional learning for science teachers. Science Teachers' Learning will be a valuable resource for classrooms, departments, schools, districts, and professional organizations as they move to new ways to teach science.

Engineering in K-12 Education
Engineering in K-12 Education

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2009-09-08

Total Pages: 595

ISBN-13: 030914471X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Engineering education in K-12 classrooms is a small but growing phenomenon that may have implications for engineering and also for the other STEM subjects-science, technology, and mathematics. Specifically, engineering education may improve student learning and achievement in science and mathematics, increase awareness of engineering and the work of engineers, boost youth interest in pursuing engineering as a career, and increase the technological literacy of all students. The teaching of STEM subjects in U.S. schools must be improved in order to retain U.S. competitiveness in the global economy and to develop a workforce with the knowledge and skills to address technical and technological issues. Engineering in K-12 Education reviews the scope and impact of engineering education today and makes several recommendations to address curriculum, policy, and funding issues. The book also analyzes a number of K-12 engineering curricula in depth and discusses what is known from the cognitive sciences about how children learn engineering-related concepts and skills. Engineering in K-12 Education will serve as a reference for science, technology, engineering, and math educators, policy makers, employers, and others concerned about the development of the country's technical workforce. The book will also prove useful to educational researchers, cognitive scientists, advocates for greater public understanding of engineering, and those working to boost technological and scientific literacy.

Handbook of Research on STEM Education
Handbook of Research on STEM Education

Author: Carla C. Johnson

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-04-27

Total Pages: 619

ISBN-13: 0429664648

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Handbook of Research on STEM Education represents a groundbreaking and comprehensive synthesis of research and presentation of policy within the realm of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. What distinguishes this Handbook from others is the nature of integration of the disciplines that is the founding premise for the work – all chapters in this book speak directly to the integration of STEM, rather than discussion of research within the individual content areas. The Handbook of Research on STEM Education explores the most pressing areas of STEM within an international context. Divided into six sections, the authors cover topics including: the nature of STEM, STEM learning, STEM pedagogy, curriculum and assessment, critical issues in STEM, STEM teacher education, and STEM policy and reform. The Handbook utilizes the lens of equity and access by focusing on STEM literacy, early childhood STEM, learners with disabilities, informal STEM, socio-scientific issues, race-related factors, gender equity, cultural-relevancy, and parental involvement. Additionally, discussion of STEM education policy in a variety of countries is included, as well as a focus on engaging business/industry and teachers in advocacy for STEM education. The Handbook’s 37 chapters provide a deep and meaningful landscape of the implementation of STEM over the past two decades. As such, the findings that are presented within provide the reader with clear directions for future research into effective practice and supports for integrated STEM, which are grounded in the literature to date.

Integrated Approaches to STEM Education
Integrated Approaches to STEM Education

Author: Judy Anderson

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-12-23

Total Pages: 569

ISBN-13: 3030522296

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book provides a platform for international scholars to share evidence for effective practices in integrated STEM education and contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge gained from the diversity of approaches. Many publications on STEM education focus on one or two of the separate STEM disciplines without considering the potential for delivering STEM curriculum as an integrated approach.This publication analyzes the efficacy of an integrated STEM curriculum and instruction, providing evidence to examine and support various integrations. The volume focuses on the problems seen by academics working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and provides valuable, high quality research outcomes and a set of valued practices which have demonstrated their use and viability to improve the quality of integrated STEM education.

But what Does this Have to Do with Science?
But what Does this Have to Do with Science?

Author: Micah Maranda Arafah

Publisher:

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 60

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A national push for reform in STEM K-12 education and a raised focus on including engineering in the classroom have emphasized the necessity for specific professional development opportunities for teachers. These programs are available; however, they are typically very expensive and consequently inaccessible to most educators in the public school sector. The Engineering Education Summer Conference (EESC) is a three day professional development conference for K-12 teachers interested in using engineering in their classrooms and is funded primarily by the University Transportation Center at Cleveland State University. Its goals are to debunk biases of engineers and engineering, provide resources and funding to teachers, and indirectly increase exposure K-12 students have to engineering. One day was devoted to hands-on activities during which teachers participated as learners, and the remaining days consisted of presentations by engineers, engineer organizations, staff at the Great Lakes Science Center, a grant writer, and teachers who have used engineering in their classrooms. The EESC evaluation was conducted in the summer of 2010 and examined the effectiveness in achieving those goals using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Findings show that the conference succeeded in increasing the belief that engineering is important and necessary in society. Results also suggested teachers left more familiar with engineering, though this conflicted with qualitative responses that revealed they were still unsure how to incorporate engineering into the classroom and stated that time constraints, not enough concept knowledge, confusion about how engineering related to their standards, and a lack of money were significant barriers in doing so. Data shows that conference participants left with more stereotypical views of engineers; more specifically, there were significant increases in the beliefs that engineers do not work well with people and that minorities do not have the skills necessary to be an engineer.

AI and education
AI and education

Author: Miao, Fengchun

Publisher: UNESCO Publishing

Published: 2021-04-08

Total Pages: 50

ISBN-13: 9231004476

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education today, innovate teaching and learning practices, and ultimately accelerate the progress towards SDG 4. However, these rapid technological developments inevitably bring multiple risks and challenges, which have so far outpaced policy debates and regulatory frameworks. This publication offers guidance for policy-makers on how best to leverage the opportunities and address the risks, presented by the growing connection between AI and education. It starts with the essentials of AI: definitions, techniques and technologies. It continues with a detailed analysis of the emerging trends and implications of AI for teaching and learning, including how we can ensure the ethical, inclusive and equitable use of AI in education, how education can prepare humans to live and work with AI, and how AI can be applied to enhance education. It finally introduces the challenges of harnessing AI to achieve SDG 4 and offers concrete actionable recommendations for policy-makers to plan policies and programmes for local contexts. [Publisher summary, ed]

Educating Teachers of Science, Mathematics, and Technology
Educating Teachers of Science, Mathematics, and Technology

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2000-12-18

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13: 0309171989

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Each new headline about American students' poor performance in math and science leads to new calls for reform in teaching. Education Teachers of Science, Mathematics, and Technology puts the whole picture together by synthesizing what we know about the quality of math and science teaching, drawing conclusions about why teacher preparation needs reform, and then outlining recommendations for accomplishing the most important goals before us. As a framework for addressing the task, the book advocates partnerships among school districts, colleges, and universities, with contributions from scientists, mathematicians, teacher educators, and teachers. It then looks carefully at the status of the education reform movement and explores the motives for raising the bar for how well teachers teach and how well students learn. Also examined are important issues in teacher professionalism: what teachers should be taught about their subjects, the utility of in-service education, the challenge of program funding, and the merits of credentialing. Professional Development Schools are reviewed and vignettes presented that describe exemplary teacher development practices.