Impact of K-12 Learning Environments on Conceptualizations of Engineering

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 1:45 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Contemporary Discussions in Learning Environments 1

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the diversity- uniqueness, differences, and similarities- in prospective teachers’ prior knowledge of engineers and engineering based on their backgrounds as K-12 students in rural, suburban, and urban contexts and thus, determine whether the contexts played a role in their conceptions of engineers and engineering. Data sets included drawings prompted by “Draw a picture of an engineer” and narratives describing the processes, and products in the drawings. Analysis of data indicated a diversity of unique, similar, and different conceptions of engineers and engineering across the contexts and thus illuminated the nature of the relationship between K-12 education learning environments and prospective teachers’ prior knowledge of engineers and engineering.

Authors

• Karthigeyan Subramaniam, University of North Texas

• Christopher S. Long, University of North Texas

• Mila Rosa Librea Carden, University of North Texas