Transcript Summer Academy 2006

Institute for P-12 Engineering
Research and Learning
(INSPIRE)
Heidi Diefes-Dux
Teri Reed-Rhoads
Institute for P-12 Engineering
Research and Learning (INSPIRE)
• Purdue University recognized center (est. 2006)
• Funded by S.D. Bechtel, Jr. and the Martinson
Family Foundation
VISION
To create an engineering literate society through
preeminence in P-12 engineering education
research and scholarship
MISSION
To construct theory on engineering thinking and
learning and to inspire diverse students to pursue
engineering and science for the benefit of humanity
and the advancement of society
Who becomes as engineer?
Typical Statistics:
Out of 100 9th graders in Texas
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•
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62 graduate from High School
32 enter college
19 are still in college 2nd year
11 will obtain a degree
<2 will be engineers
Global Competition
Number of Engineering Graduates
• New China > 350,000
• New India > 200,000
• USA = 75,000
Serious economic and
standard-of-living
implications!!!
Institute for P-12 Engineering
Research and Learning (INSPIRE)
Investigate how students learn and to instill a
desire in students to study engineering from
elementary through high school
– Prepare teachers to successfully implement
engineering curriculum in P-12 classrooms
– Increase classroom activities that build students’
conceptual understanding of and ability to apply
science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) in real-world contexts
– Increase the numbers and diversity of students
majoring in engineering disciplines at the
university level
INSPIRE Activities
Research/Discovery
Education/Learning
 INSPIRE Summer
Academy I & II
 Bechtel Faculty Scholars
 Bechtel Fellows
 YES Research Seed Grants
 Engineers in The
 Graduate Students
Classroom
 Research Assistantships
 K-12 Engineering
Teacher’s Program
Outreach/Engagement
 INSPIRE Institutes
 Informal Education
 Communications and
Marketing
 Legislative issues
 Public Affairs and Policy
 Conferences and Events
INSPIRE Summer Academy
Program Learning Objectives
At the end of the week-long program,
teachers were to be able to:
• Convey a broad perspective of the nature and
practice of engineering
• Articulate the differences and similarities between
engineering and science thinking
• Develop a level of comfort in discussing what
engineers do and how engineers solve problems
with P-6 grade students
• Use problem-solving processes (i.e. science inquiry,
model development, and design processes) to
engage P-6 grade students in complex open-ended
problem solving
Bechtel Fellows
• Innovative Teachers in P-6
• Month-long Residence on Purdue Campus working
with INSPIRE faculty and staff
• INSPIRE Summer Academies
– Curriculum Development
– Instructors, Mentors, and Implementation Advisors
• Mathematical Modeling Activities
– Professional Development
– Curriculum Development