Constraints and Criteria in the Classroom: Classifying Elementary Teacher Implementation of Engineering Design

• In Event: Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: Science Curriculum and Instructional Interventions

Abstract

As engineering gains greater attention in the K-12 curriculum there is a need to examine how teachers teach engineering lessons. As part of our multi-year K-5 teacher professional development program in STEM education we observed teachers teaching STEM lessons using Lego® like manipulatives. Of the over 160 observed lessons, the 36 focused on design activities which prompted us to consider how these might be consistently examined and classified. In response we developed a “level of design” rubric and applied it to examine how teachers structured their design lessons. Our results indicate that the teachers and students shared the responsibility of the design structure, with high levels of student engagement. The implications and directions for future research will be presented.

Authors

• Louis S. Nadelson, Boise State University

• Patricia Pyke, Boise State University

• Janet Callahan, Boise State University