Early in November; Keri Wolfe, Boni Li and myself had the opportunity to give a presentation on the importance of introducing engineering to students at a young age. Our audience was a first year seminar class for students expressing an interest in elementary education. The presentation focused on how easy and simple it is to bring engineering into the classroom. Keri presented information about how rapidly technology is being developed. She then proceeded to inform us that more engineers are needed to translate and work with these new modern advances. In order for students to become interested in engineering we believe it starts in elementary school where students start developing their interests in science. Then Boni processed to talk about actual data, showing that countries that are more developed have less of an interest in a career in technology. Next showing how girls have less of an interest going into a field dealing with technology. Boni then shared with the class a personal experience when he was in elementary school. He explained to us how one of his elementary teachers inspired him to become the person he is today. Boni is from China and because his teacher helped him follow his goals he was able to come to the United States for his college degree.
The final portion of our presentation is where I did an example of a lesson plan that could be applied to third grade students. It was a project that allowed students the opportunity to learn what an aerospace engineer is and does. Doing the project students are given the task that an aerospace engineer would also face, landing a space on the moon. The overall presentation went very well. It also led into a great discussion that we had with the students and their professor.
-Kylie Sheplock
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