Integrating Engineering Challenges

1
Integrating Engineering Challenges

• Matthew Corcoran
• Northeastern RET Participant
• Science Department Head
• Framingham High School
• Framingham MA

2
FHS A Portrait

• Student Body
• 2100 students (6th largest high school in MA)
• Socio-economically diverse population
• 75 go on to four year colleges
• Science Faculty
• 20 faculty members, 115 science classes
• Science Courses
• In each of past three years, 80 of AP Bio AP
  Chem students scored a 5.
• FHS science SAT II scores above national average

3
Our Philosophy Science as a lens.
Earth Science Water cycle, Plate boundaries
Physics Energy transfer propagation
Biology Ecosystems, Flora Fauna, Adaptations
Chemistry Heat capacity, Solution equilibrium
4
Why Engineering?

• Our goal is to develop expert thinking in each of
  the different disciplines we offer.
• We had students expressing interest in
  engineering, but no outlet.
• Our approach
• Revised Technology Education courses
• Integrated engineering problems in science
  courses.

5
Revision of Tech-Ed Courses

• Pre-Engineering
• New Course, uses SolidWorks
• Jointly taught by Tech-Ed Physics teachers
• Practical applications
• Digital Photo
• Revision of traditional course
• From point and shoot to understanding technology

6
Engineering within Science Classes

• Earth Science
• Systems approach
• Integrated GIS software
• Practical applications
• Biology
• Biotechnology labs
• Biotechnology elective course

7
Engineering within Science Classes

• Chemistry
• Probes for immediate
• analysis and redesign
• Analysis of lab error
• in inquiry labs
• Practical applications
• Physics
• Online simulations for modeling
• Videopoint Capture software
• Practical applications.

8
Where are we headed?

• We want to provide expert level thinking.
• However, teachers are not prepared to think like
  engineers.
• What do our teachers want?
• Sustained engineering experience (RET)
• Sustained professional development
• Affordable labs that guide students to
  rigorous thinking