Skip to main content

Engineering Education for Elementary Students

  • Chapter
Pre-university Engineering Education

Part of the book series: International Technology Education Studies ((ITES,volume 1))

Abstract

In the last two decades educators have begun advocate for the inclusion of engineering at the pre-university level. Before this time, efforts were focused on students at the secondary level – a goal was to recruit and prepare students for engineering majors in college. More recently, attention has turned to involving younger children – elementary children – in engineering activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Barron, B. J. S., Schwartz, D. L., Vye, N. J., Moore, A., Petrosino, A. Zech, L., Bransford, J. D., & The Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt. (1998). Doing with understanding: Lessons from research on problem-and project-based learning. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 7(3/4), 271–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brophy, S., Klein, S., Portsmore, M., & Rogers, C. (2008). Advancing engineering education in P-12 classrooms. Journal of Engineering Education, 97(3), 369–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. A., Reveles, J. M., & Kelly, G. J. (2005). Scientific literacy and discursive identity: A theoretical framework for understanding science learning. Science Education, 89, 779–802.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, R. J. (2007). Women and minorities in STEM: A primer. In R. J. Burke & M. C. Mattis (Eds.), Women and minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (pp. 3–27). Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Burns, J. (1992). Student perceptions of technology and implications for an empowering curriculum. Research in Science Education, 22(1), 72–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capobianco, B. M., Diefes-Dux, H. A., Mena, I., & Weller, J. (2011). What is an engineer? Implications of elementary school student conceptions for engineering education. Journal of Engineering Education, 100(2), 304–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, R., & Andrews, J. (2010). Researching primary engineering education: UK perspectives, an exploratory study. European Journal of Engineering Education, 35(5), 585–595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, C. M., & Carlsen, W. S. (2014). Precollege engineering education. In N. Lederman (Ed.), Handbook of research on science education (pp. 747–758). Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, C. M., & Lachapelle, C. P. (2014). Designing engineering experiences to engage all students. In S. Purzer, J. Strobel, & M. Cardella (Eds.), Engineering in pre-college settings: Synthesizing research, policy, and practices (pp. 117–142). Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, C. M., Lachapelle, C. P., & Lindgren-Streicher, A. (2005). Assessing elementary school students’ conceptions of engineering and technology. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Portland, OR.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Vries, M. J. (1996). Technology education: Beyond the “technology is applied science” paradigm. Journal of Technology Education, 8(1), 7–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, D., & King, P. (2007, June 24–27). Adapting a post-secondary STEM instructional model to K-5 mathematics instruction. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Honolulu, HI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fortus, D., Dershimer, R. C., Krajcik, J. S., Marx, R. W., & Mamlok- Naaman, R. (2004). Design-based science and student learning. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 41(10), 1081–1110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fralick, B., Kearn, J., Thompson, S., & Lyons, J. (2009). How middle schoolers draw engineers and scientists. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 18(1), 60–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Technology Education Association [ITEA]. (2000). Standards for technological literacy: Content for the study of technology. Reston, VA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis, T., & Rennie, L. J. (1996). Understanding technology: The development of a concept. International Journal of Science Education, 18(8), 977–992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis, T., & Rennie, L. J. (1998). Factors that influence children’s developing perceptions of technology. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 8(3), 261–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jocz, J., & Lachapelle, C. (2012). The Impact of Engineering is Elementary (EiE) on students’ conceptions of technology. Boston, MA: Museum of Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M. G., Howe, A., & Rua, M. J. (2000). Gender differences in students’ experiences, interests, and attitudes toward science and scientists. Science Education, 84(2), 180–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karatas, F. O., Micklos, A., & Bodner, G. M. (2011). Sixth-grade students’ views of the nature of engineering and images of engineers. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 20(2), 123–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, G. J. (2014). Discourse practices in science learning and teaching. In N. G. Lederman & S. K. Abell (Eds.), Handbook of research on science education (Vol, 2, pp. 321–336). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, M., & Cunningham, C. M. (2004). Draw an Engineer Test (DAET): Development of a tool to investigate students’ ideas about engineers and engineering. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Salt Lake City, UT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolodner, J. L., Camp, P. J., Crismond, D., Fasse, B., Gray, J., Holbrook, J., Puntambekar, S., & Ryan, M. (2003). Problem-based learning meets case-based reasoning in the middle-school science classroom: Putting Learning by Design into practice. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 12(4), 495–547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krajcik, J., & Blumenfeld, P. (2006). Project-based learning. In R. K. Sawyer (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of the learning sciences (pp. 317–334). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachapelle, C. P., & Cunningham, C. M. (2007). Engineering is elementary: Children’s changing understandings of science and engineering. In ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (p. 33). Honolulu, HI: American Society for Engineering Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachapelle, C. P., Cunningham, C. M., Jocz, J., Kay, A. E., Phadnis, P., Wertheimer, J., & Arteaga, R. (2011). Engineering is elementary: An evaluation of years 4 through 6 field testing. Boston, MA: Museum of Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachapelle, C. P., Oh, Y., Shams, M. F., Hertel, J. D., & Cunningham, C. M. (in review). What is technology?: A simple instrument for measuring children’s conceptions. Journal of Engineering Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachapelle, C. P., Shams, M. F., Hertel, J. D., & Cunningham, C. M. (in review). Measuring elementary school children’s conceptions of engineers. Journal of Engineering Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy, S. T. (2013). Young children’s learning of water physics by constructing working systems. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 23, 537–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, P. H., Blessing, J. S., & Schwartz, S. (2006). Gender differences in high-school students’ views about science. International Journal of Science Education, 28(4), 363–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moffett, G. E., Weis, A. M., & Banilower, E. (2011). Engineering is elementary: Impacts on students historically underrepresented in STEM fields. Chapel Hill, NC: Horizon Research Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Academy of Engineering. (2008). Changing the conversation: Messages for improving public understanding of engineering. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • NGSS Lead States. (2013). Next generation science standards: For states, by states. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nightline (Writer). (1999). The deep dive: Five days at IDEO. Nightline with Ted Koppel. ABC News.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth, W.-M. (1996). Art and artifact of children’s designing: A situated cognition perspective. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 5(2), 129–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadler, P. M., Coyle, H. P., & Schwartz, M. (2000). Engineering competitions in the middle school classroom: Key elements in developing effective design challenges. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 9(3), 299–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silk, E. M., Schunn, C. D., & Cary, M. S. (2009). The impact of an engineering design curriculum on science reasoning in an urban setting. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 18(3), 209–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomonidou, C., & Tassios, A. (2007). A phenomenographic study of Greek primary school students’ representations concerning technology in daily life. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 17(2), 113–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wendell, K. B., Connolly, K. G., Wright, C. G., Jarvin, L., & Rogers, C. (2010). Children learning science through engineering: an investigation of four engineering-design-based curriculum modules. Proceedings of the International Conference of the Learning Sciences, Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoder, B. L. (2014). Engineering by the numbers. Retrieved from American Society for Engineering Education web site: https://www.asee.org/papers-and-publications/publications/14_11-47.pdf

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Sense Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Cunningham, C.M. (2016). Engineering Education for Elementary Students. In: Vries, M.J.d., Gumaelius, L., Skogh, IB. (eds) Pre-university Engineering Education. International Technology Education Studies, vol 1. SensePublishers, Rotterdam. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-621-7_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-621-7_6

  • Publisher Name: SensePublishers, Rotterdam

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-6300-621-7

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics