Abstract
The purpose of the study was to analyze the development of middle school science teachers’ understanding of engineering design process. The study conceptualized engineering design process that serves as an important context for integrating engineering into K-12 science instruction and described patterns teachers might use to move towards a more sophisticated understanding. Qualitative case study method was employed to systematically investigate differences in science teachers’ understanding of engineering design process. The procedures of the study included development of an initial version of an engineering design process progression, delivery of a teacher professional development program, and development of the final version of the progression following revisions. The teacher professional development program was implemented with 30 middle school science teachers and was used to collect data for refinement of the initial version of the progression. Data sources included informative literature, teacher logs, and clinical interviews. Results indicated that a higher level of understanding pointed to a recognition of the contribution of engineering design to the society and the iterative nature of engineering design process. This level of understanding was also shown to contain possible confusions of the design steps; redesign and communication. Implications of the study contribute to future research and thinking about middle school science teachers’ understanding of the engineering design process from novice to sophisticated level.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adadan, E., & Oner, D. (2014). Exploring the progression in preservice chemistry teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge representations: The case of “behavior of gases”. Research in Science Education, 44(6), 829–858.
Alonzo, A. C., & Steedle, J. T. (2009). Developing and assessing a force and motion learning progression. Science Education, 93(3), 389–421. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.20303.
Arastoopour, G., Shaffer, D. W., Swiecki, Z., Ruis, A. R., & Chesler, N. C. (2016). Teaching and assessing engineering design thinking with virtual internships and epistemic network analysis. International Journal of Engineering Education, 32(3), 1492–1501.
Bailey, R., & Szabo, Z. (2006). Assessing engineering design process knowledge. International Journal of Engineering Education, 22(3), 508–518. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2005.1612252.
Breslyn, W., McGinnis, J. R., McDonald, R. C., & Hestness, E. (2016). Developing a learning progression for sea level rise, a major impact of climate change. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 53(10), 1471–1499. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21333.
Breslyn, W., Drewes, A., McGinnis, J. R., Hestness, E., & Mouza, C. (2017). Development of an empirically-based conditional learning progression for climate change. Science Education International, 28(3), 214–223.
Brophy, S., Klein, S., Portsmore, M., & Rogers, C. (2008). Advancing engineering education in P-12 classrooms. Journal of Engineering Education, 97(3), 369–387. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2008.tb00985.x.
Capobianco, B. M., & Rupp, M. (2014). STEM teachers' planned and enacted attempts at implementing engineering design-based instruction. School Science and Mathematics, 114(6), 258–270. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssm.12078.
Cardella, M. E., Hsu, M., & Ricco, G. D. (2014). Analysis of design process knowledge task responses: Statistical approaches to uncover patterns (research). Paper presented at the 121st ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, IN. Retrieved from https://www.asee.org/conferences-and-events/conferences/annual-conference/past-conferences/2014
Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Crotty, E. A., Guzey, S. S., Roehrig, G. H., Glancy, A. W., Ring-Whalen, E. A., & Moore, T. J. (2017). Approaches to integrating engineering in STEM units and student achievement gains. Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER), 7(2), 1–14.
Dailey, D., Jackson, N., Cotabish, A., & Trumble, J. (2018). STEMulate engineering academy: Engaging students and teachers in engineering practices. Roeper Review, 40(2), 97–107.
DeJong, B. P., Yelamarthi, K., & Kaya, T. (2016). An engineering research program for high school science teachers: Year two changes and results. Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research, 17(1), 15–21.
Denayer, I., Thaels, K., Sloten, J. V., & Gobin, R. (2003). Teaching a structured approach to the design process for undergraduate engineering students by problem-based education. European Journal of Engineering Education, 28(2), 203–214.
Duncan, D., Diefes-Dux, H., & Gentry, M. (2011). Professional development through engineering academies: An examination of elementary teachers’ recognition and understanding of engineering. Journal of Engineering Education, 100(3), 520–539. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2011.tb00025.
Dym, C. L., Agogino, A. M., Eris, O., Frey, D. D., & Leifer, L. J. (2005). Engineering design thinking, teaching, and learning. Journal of Engineering Education, 94(1), 103–120. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2005.tb00832.x.
Fantz, T. D., De Miranda, M. A., & Siller, T. J. (2011). Knowing what engineering and technology teachers need to know: An analysis of pre-service teachers engineering design problems. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 21(3), 307–320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-010-9121-9.
Goldstein, M. H., Omar, S. A., Purzer, S., & Adams, R. S. (2018). Comparing two approaches to engineering design in the 7th grade science classroom. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology (IJEMST), 6(4), 381–397. https://doi.org/10.18404/ijemst.440340.
Guzey, S., Moore, T. J., & Morse, G. (2016). Student interest in engineering design-based science. School Science and Mathematics, 116(8), 411–419. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssm.12198.
Guzey, S. S., Ring-Whalen, E. A., Harwell, M., & Peralta, Y. (2017). Life STEM: A case study of life science learning through engineering design. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 17(1), 23–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-017-9860-0.
Hammack, R., & Ivey, T. (2017). Examining elementary teachers’ engineering self-efficacy and engineering teacher efficacy. School Science and Mathematics, 117(1–2), 52–62.
Hardré, P. L., Ling, C., Shehab, R. L., Nanny, M. A., Nollert, M. U., Refai, H., & Huang, S. (2017). Situating teachers’ developmental engineering experiences in an inquiry-based, laboratory learning environment. Teacher Development, 21(2), 243–268.
Hynes, M. M. (2012). Middle-school teachers’ understanding and teaching of the engineering design process: A look at subject matter and pedagogical content knowledge. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 22(3), 345–360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-010-9142-4.
Hynes, M. M., Mathis, C., Purzer, S., Rynearson, A., & Siverling, E. (2017). Systematic review of research in P-12 engineering education from 2000-2015. International Journal of Engineering Education, 33(1), 1–10.
Jin, H., Shin, H., Johnson, M. E., Kim, J., & Anderson, C. W. (2015). Developing learning progression-based teacher knowledge measures. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 52(9), 1269–1295. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21243.
Judson, E., Ernzen, J., Krause, S., Middleton, J. A., & Culbertson, R. J. (2016). How engineering standards are interpreted and translated for middle school. Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER), 6(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.7771/2157-9288.1121.
Kang, E. J., Donovan, C., & McCarthy, M. J. (2018). Exploring elementary teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge and confidence in implementing the NGSS science and engineering practices. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 29(1), 9–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560X.2017.1415616.
Kaya, E., Newley, A., Deniz, H., Yesilyurt, E., & Newley, P. (2017). Introducing engineering design to a science teaching methods course through educational robotics and exploring changes in views of pre-service elementary teachers. Journal of College Science Teaching, 47(2), 66–75.
Kim, E., Oliver, J. S., & Kim, Y. A. (2019). Engineering design and the development of knowledge for teaching among pre-service science teachers. School Science and Mathematics, 119(1), 24–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssm.12313.
Krippendorff, K. (2004). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Leden, L., & Hansson, L. (2019). Nature of science progression in school year 1–9: A case study of teachers’ suggestions and rationales. Research in Science Education, 49(2), 591–611. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-017-9628-0.
Lee, J. A., & Lee, K. (2017). A case study for exploring topic-specific PCK progression on elementary teachers’ instruction of ‘Earth revolution’. Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education, 36(4), 405–427.
Lie, R., Aranda, M. L., Guzey, S. S., & Moore, T. J. (2019). Students’ views of design in an engineering design-based science curricular unit. Research in Science Education, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-018-9813-9.
Massachusetts Department of Education. (2006). Massachusetts science and technology/engineering curriculum framework. Malden, MA: Massachusetts Department of Education.
Mathis, C. A., Siverling, E. A., Moore, T. J., Douglas, K. A., & Guzey, S. S. (2018). Supporting engineering design ideas with science and mathematics: A case study of middle school life science students. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology (IJEMST), 6(4), 424–442. https://doi.org/10.18404/ijemst.440343.
Mendoza Diaz, N. V., & Cox, M. F. (2012). An overview of the literature: Research in P-12 engineering education. Advances in Engineering Education, 3(2), 1–37.
Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Meyer, H. (2018). Teachers’ thoughts on student decision making during engineering design lessons. Education Sciences, 8(1), 1–11.
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Mohan, L., Chen, J., & Anderson, C. W. (2009). Developing a multi-year learning progression for carbon cycling in socio-ecological systems. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 46(6), 675–698. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20314.
Moore, T. J., Glancy, A. W., Tank, K. M., Kersten, J. A., Smith, K. A., & Stohlmann, M. S. (2014). A framework for quality K-12 engineering education: Research and development. Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER), 4(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.7771/2157-9288.1069.
Moskal, B. M., Skokan, C., Kosbar, L., Dean, A., Westland, C., Barker, H., Nguyen, Q. N., & Tafoya, J. (2007). K-12 outreach: Identifying the broader impacts of four outreach projects. Journal of Engineering Education, 96(3), 173–189. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2007.tb00928.x.
Nadelson, L. S., Pfiester, J., Callahan, J., & Pyke, P. (2015). Who is doing the engineering, the student or the teacher? The development and use of a rubric to categorize level of design for the elementary classroom. Journal of Technology Education, 26(2), 22–45.
National Research Council. (2009). Engineering in K-12 education: Understanding the status and improving the prospects. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
National Research Council. (2012). A framework for K-12 science education: Practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
Oehlberg, L., & Agogino, A. (2011). Undergraduate conceptions of the engineering design process: Assessing the impact of a human-centered design course. Paper presented at the 118th ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Retrieved from https://peer.asee.org/collections/2011-annual-conference-exposition
Page, C. A., Lewis, C., Autenrieth, R., & Butler-Purry, K. (2013). Enrichment experiences in engineering (E3) for teacher summer research program: An examination of mixed-method evaluation findings on high school teacher implementation of engineering content in high school STEM classrooms. Journal of STEM Education, 14(3), 10–16.
Park, D. Y., Park, M. H., & Bates, A. B. (2018). Exploring young children’s understanding about the concept of volume through engineering design in a STEM activity: A case study. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 16(2), 275–294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-016-9776-0.
Pierson, A. E., Clark, D. B., & Sherard, M. K. (2017). Learning progressions in context: Tensions and insights from a semester-long middle school modeling curriculum. Science Education, 101(6), 1061–1088. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21314.
Purzer, Ş., Goldstein, M. H., Adams, R. S., Xie, C., & Nourian, S. (2015). An exploratory study of informed engineering design behaviors associated with scientific explanations. International Journal of STEM Education, 2(9), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-015-0019-7.
Reimers, J. E., Farmer, C. L., & Klein-Gardner, S. S. (2015). An introduction to the standards for preparation and professional development for teachers of engineering. Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER), 5(1), 39–60.
Schubert, T. F., Jacobitz, F. G., & Kim, E. M. (2012). Student perceptions and learning of the engineering design process: An assessment at the freshmen level. Research in Engineering Design, 23(3), 177–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-011-0121-x.
Sibuma, B., Wunnava, S., John, M. S., Anggoro, F., & Dubosarsky, M. (2018). The impact of an integrated pre-K STEM curriculum on teachers' engineering content knowledge, self-efficacy, and teaching practices. In: 2018 IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC) (pp. 224–227).
Trauth, A., Buckley, J., & Coffey, D. J. (2018). Design of design: Empowering k-12 educators to develop unique standards-aligned engineering design exercises in their own classrooms. Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah. Retrieved from https://peer.asee.org/30269
Van Haneghan, J. P., Pruet, S. A., Neal-Waltman, R., & Harlan, J. M. (2015). Teacher beliefs about motivating and teaching students to carry out engineering design challenges: Some initial data. Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER), 5(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.7771/2157-9288.1097.
Veety, E. N., Sur, J. S., Elliott, H. K., & Lamberth, J. E. (2018). Teaching engineering design through wearable device design competition (evaluation). Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER), 8(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.7771/2157-9288.1197.
Visintainer, T., & Linn, M. (2015). Sixth-grade students’ progress in understanding the mechanisms of global climate change. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 24(2–3), 287–310.
Walker, J. M., Cordray, D. S., King, P. H., & Fries, R. C. (2005). Expert and student conceptions of the design process: Developmental differences with implications for educators. International Journal of Engineering Education, 21(3), 467–479.
Walker, W. S., Moore, T. J., Guzey, S. S., & Sorge, B. H. (2018). Frameworks to develop integrated STEM curricula. K-12 STEM Education, 4(2), 331–339.
Watkins, J., McCormick, M., Wendell, K. B., Spencer, K., Milto, E., Portsmore, M., & Hammer, D. (2018). Data-based conjectures for supporting responsive teaching in engineering design with elementary teachers. Science Education, 102(3), 548–570. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21334.
Wendell, K. B. (2014). Design practices of pre-service elementary teachers in an integrated engineering and literature experience. Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER), 4(2), 29–46. https://doi.org/10.7771/2157-9288.1085.
Yasar, S., Baker, D., Robinson-Kurpius, S., Krause, S., & Roberts, C. (2006). Development of a survey to assess K-12 teachers’ perceptions of engineers and familiarity with teaching design, engineering, and technology. Journal of Engineering Education, 95(3), 205–216. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2006.tb00893.x.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mesutoglu, C., Baran, E. Examining the Development of Middle School Science Teachers’ Understanding of Engineering Design Process. Int J of Sci and Math Educ 18, 1509–1529 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-019-10041-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-019-10041-0