Grand Challenges for Engineering: GK-12 Experience

Katherine NelsonChristina FosterOctober 9, 2010

Overview

• What are the Grand Challenges for Engineering?

• ASU’s GK-12 2010-2011 theme• To the classroom, and beyond

National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges

• 1 year ago, NAE asked technological thinkers to discern what the grand challenges for the 21st century were– What engineering breakthroughs would improve

life on earth?

…they came up with 14

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/We need to solve these together!

Make Solar EnergyEconomical

Manage theNitrogen Cycle

Advance HealthcareInformatics

Prevent NuclearTerror

Advance PersonalizedLearning

Provide EnergyFrom Fusion

Provide Access to Clean Water

Engineer Better Medicines

Secure Cyberspace

Engineer the Tools of ScientificDiscovery

Develop CarbonSequestrationMethods

Restore andImprove UrbanInfrastructure

ReverseEngineer theBrain

EnhanceVirtualReality

Engineering Grand Challenges

The world's water supplies are facing new threats; affordable, advanced technologies could make a difference for millions of people around the world.

Solar energy provides less than 1% of the world's total energy, but it has the potential to provide much, much more.

INSPIRE

CHALLENGE

EDUCATE

WHY?

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/

U.S. Prosperity

Global Survival

Exciting FuturesBECAUSE

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/

Worldwide shipments of Solar Photovoltaics – in Megawatts

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Source: ARPA-E, 2010

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source: U.S. Census Bureau 2005 Data Base http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/world.html

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Education in STEM = Exciting Futures for Kids!!!

Grand Challenges easily can build E in STEM (multidisciplinary model for solving world’s problems)E doesn’t currently exist in standards

Involve Education!

• NAE Grand Challenge K-12 partners program• Integrate Grand Challenges in K-12 education

– Lessons– Activities– Conferences

Grand Challenge K-12 Partners Program

Involve Education

• Grand Scholars Program– Undergraduate Engineering– Blend extra-curricular activities with research and

coursework expose students to Grand Challenges

Grand Challenges Scholars programASU Grand Scholars Program

What about GK-12?

• 8 fellows • 2 lessons• Each lesson will be Grand Challenge Themed (integrate

research with grand challenge fellows are carrying out)

…What challenges are we doing?

Choosing Grand ChallengesProblem: Effectively aiding teachers to develop lessons based on their

curriculum that fit a certain challenge/multiple challengesSolution: Align Fellow’s Research with Grand Challenge choice!

Research:Focus on Materials to make Solar Energy more efficient

Make Solar EnergyEconomical

Fellow: Todd Grand Challenge

Make Solar EnergyEconomical

Manage theNitrogen Cycle

Advance HealthcareInformatics

Prevent NuclearTerror

Advance PersonalizedLearning

Provide EnergyFrom Fusion

Provide Access to Clean Water

Engineer Better Medicines

Secure Cyberspace

Engineer the Tools of ScientificDiscovery

Develop CarbonSequestrationMethods

Restore andImprove UrbanInfrastructure

ReverseEngineer theBrain

EnhanceVirtualReality

Engineering Grand Challenges

Long-Term Goal for GK-12 Program: Develop GC Based Curriculum

• Engage students with the Grand Challenges– Lessons– Activities

• Educate fellows about the Grand Challenges and provide tools for effective communication about the Challenges

• Grand Challenge themed lessons• Provide professional development opportunities for teachers

GRAND CHALLENGE LESSONS IN THE CLASSROOM

NAVAJO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Scottsdale, AZ

6th Grade

Teacher Partner: Miss Dee Dee Duncan

GRAND CHALLENGE LESSONSPURPOSE & IMPORTANCE

Purpose in the Classroom:

• To introduce the sixth grade students at Navajo Elementary School to five Grand Challenges for 21st century’s engineers through week-long inquiry based lessons.

• To challenge the sixth grade students to complete science and engineering projects that build upon a Grand Challenge that most interests them.

Expected Outcomes:

• To bring engineering to the sixth grade science classroom in a meaningful way.

• To promote the concept of engineering design and problem solving while addressing the National Science Education Standards.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 1

Today’s Lesson:

Introduce Science & Engineering Projects NAE’s Grand Challenge Overview

Introduction to Carbon Sequestration PBS Video Carbon Sequestration Images & Discussion

Today’s Lesson: Introduce Science Projects Expectations NAE’s Grand Challenge Overview

Introduction to the Grand Challenge of Carbon Sequestration PBS Video: Arizona 8th-grader's science project prompts her scientist dad to develop a new way to pull excess CO2 out of the atmosphere. Carbon Sequestration Images & Discussion

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 1

Learning Objectives:

1. Fossil fuels are made of hydrocarbons and currently provide 85% of the worlds’ energy. 2. Huge quantities of carbon dioxide are released when energy in the form of fossil fuel is burned.

Today’s Lesson: Carbon Cycle Skit

Animated Video by the Earth Institute on Carbon Capture & Sequestration

PBS Online Model of Carbon Sequestration

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 2

Learning Objectives:

1. Earth is a closed system for matter. The same matter (including CO2) keeps going round and round! 2. Earth is an open system for energy. Energy flows through Earth! 3. The existence of humans does not negatively affect the carbon cycle. However, drilling for fossil fuels and then burning them for energy adds more carbon into the atmosphere.

CARBON CYCLE SKIT, INSPIRED BY DR. ART DOES SCIENCE

Today’s Lesson: Carbon Cycle Skit

Animated Video by the Earth Institute on Carbon Capture & Sequestration

PBS Online Model of Carbon Sequestration

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 2

Learning Objective:

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels and storing it safely away from the atmosphere.

Today’s Lesson: Design and Build “Heat-Trapping Devices” to Model How Carbon Dioxide Holds Heat

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 3

Learning Objective:

Carbon dioxide has heat trapping power and causes increases in global temperature .

QUALIFICATIONS FOR DESIGN SUPPLIES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS EXAMPLE DESIGN SKETCH BY A STUDENT GROUP

In the middle school years, students’ work with scientific investigations can be complimented by activities that are meant to meet a human need, solve a

human problem, or develop a product… NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 3

STUDENTS DESIGNING AND BUILDING THEIR HEAT-TRAPPING DEVICES TO MODEL HOW CARBON DIOXIDE HOLDS HEAT

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 4

STUDENTS TESTING THEIR HEAT-TRAPPING DEVICES TO EXAMINE HOW EFFECTIVELY THEIR MODEL HOLD HEAT

The understanding of technology can be developed by tasks which students have to design something and also by studying technological

products and systems. NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS

GRAND CHALLENGE LESSONSCONCLUSION

The next generation of science standards for K-12 education will have a “strong emphasis on engineering and technology”.

Integration of content knowledge with the practices needed to engage in scientific inquiry and engineering design – A PRIORITY

By highlighting the E in STEM, we are understanding the importance of understanding the designed world.

PANEL MOVES TOWARD ‘NEXT GENERATION’ SCIENCE STANDARDS, EDUCATION WEEK, SEPETEMBER 25, 2010

Thank you!!!

Questions?

Activity:

How can you incorporate the NAE’s Grand Challenges into your lessons and curriculum?

Groups, provide 1 sentence descriptions of lesson ideas to share with the rest of us

15 minutes of brainstorm lesson ideas