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Learning Activity: Exploring the field of engineering

• Quick Guide and Transcript

• 2004 Harris Poll: American Perspectives on Engineers and Engineering

• Engineer's Week

• Introduction to types of engineering

• DiscoveringEngineering.org

CNN STUDENT NEWS

(CNN Student News) -- Students will learn about different facets of engineering and how engineering is linked to everyday life.

Procedure

Point out to students that engineering has been called the "invisible profession" because many people don't know what engineers do. A 2004 Harris Poll revealed that "just one-third of Americans feel very or fairly well informed about engineers." There are many different facets of engineering. Refer pairs of students to the online resources listed to prepare presentations about some of the following engineering fields:

Chemical,

Civil,

Electrical,

Mechanical,

Environmental,

Petroleum,

Ceramic and Material,

Biochemical.

Instruct students to focus on the origin, scope and future of their assigned field. As part of the students' research, have them interview an engineer within the field to learn about the evolution and highlights of his or her career. After the presentations, have students identify the ways in which engineering is linked to different aspects of everyday life.

Correlated Standards

Science

Standard 13. Understands the scientific enterprise

Level III [Grade: 6-8]

Benchmark 1. Knows that people of all backgrounds and with diverse interests, talents, qualities, and motivations engage in fields of science and engineering; some of these people work in teams and others work alone, but all communicate extensively with others

Benchmark 3. Knows various settings in which scientists and engineers may work (e.g., colleges and universities, businesses and industries, research institutes, government agencies)

Level IV [Grade: 9-12]

Benchmark 2. Understands that individuals and teams contribute to science and engineering at different levels of complexity (e.g., an individual may conduct basic field studies; hundreds of people may work together on a major scientific question or technological problem)

Benchmark 6. Knows that creativity, imagination, and a good knowledge base are all required in the work of science and engineering

McREL: Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education (Copyright 2000 McREL) is published online by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks), 2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 500, Aurora, CO 80014

Keywords

engineering, FIRST Robotic Contest, career exploration

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