Developing and Empirically Grounding the Draw-an-Engineering-Teacher Test

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Engineering and Computer Science Innovations Poster Session

Abstract

National reform documents and shifts in educational standards (NGSS, 2013; NRC, 2012) have continued to highlight the importance of engineering and engineering practices within science literacy. Associated with problem-solving and critical thinking high-quality engineering opportunities must be present in formal education. Given this directive to reach students, education reform must also focus on in-service and preservice teachers who will meet these challenges and provide these opportunities. One way to investigate elementary teachers’ understanding of engineering is to collect conceptual diagrams. We developed an empirically ground tool focused on engineering education: Draw-An-Engineering-Teacher-Test (DAETT) which could provide elementary teachers with the opportunity to capture their mental images and reflect on what they believe engineering does or would look like in their classrooms.

Authors

• Tina Vo, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Rebekah Hammack, Montana State University