Grand Challenges for Engineering: GK-12 Experience Katherine
Nelson Christina Foster October 9, 2010
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Overview What are the Grand Challenges for Engineering? ASUs
GK-12 2010-2011 theme To the classroom, and beyond
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National Academy of Engineerings Grand Challenges 1 year ago,
NAE asked technological thinkers to discern what the grand
challenges for the 21 st century were What engineering
breakthroughs would improve life on earth? they came up with 14
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/
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We need to solve these together! Make Solar Energy Economical
Manage the Nitrogen Cycle Advance Healthcare Informatics Prevent
Nuclear Terror Advance Personalized Learning Provide Energy From
Fusion Provide Access to Clean Water Engineer Better Medicines
Secure Cyberspace Engineer the Tools of Scientific Discovery
Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods Restore and Improve Urban
Infrastructure Reverse Engineer the Brain Enhance Virtual Reality
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.
U.S. Prosperity Global Survival Exciting Futures BECAUSE
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/
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Worldwide shipments of Solar Photovoltaics in Megawatts U.S.
Photovoltaics Source: ARPA-E, 2010 U.S.
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World Population Estimates
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Education in STEM = Exciting Futures for Kids!!! Grand
Challenges easily can build E in STEM (multidisciplinary model for
solving worlds problems) E doesnt currently exist in standards
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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
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Involve Education Grand Scholars Program Undergraduate
Engineering Blend extra-curricular activities with research and
coursework expose students to Grand Challenges Grand Challenges
Scholars program ASU Grand Scholars Program
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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?
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Choosing Grand Challenges Problem: Effectively aiding teachers
to develop lessons based on their curriculum that fit a certain
challenge/multiple challenges Solution: Align Fellows Research with
Grand Challenge choice! Research: Focus on Materials to make Solar
Energy more efficient Make Solar Energy Economical Fellow:
ToddGrand Challenge
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Make Solar Energy Economical Manage the Nitrogen Cycle Advance
Healthcare Informatics Prevent Nuclear Terror Advance Personalized
Learning Provide Energy From Fusion Provide Access to Clean Water
Engineer Better Medicines Secure Cyberspace Engineer the Tools of
Scientific Discovery Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods Restore
and Improve Urban Infrastructure Reverse Engineer the Brain Enhance
Virtual Reality Engineering Grand Challenges
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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
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GRAND CHALLENGE LESSONS IN THE CLASSROOM NAVAJO ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL Scottsdale, AZ 6 th Grade Teacher Partner: Miss Dee Dee
Duncan
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GRAND CHALLENGE LESSONS PURPOSE & IMPORTANCE Purpose in the
Classroom: To introduce the sixth grade students at Navajo
Elementary School to five Grand Challenges for 21st centurys
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.
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CARBON SEQUESTRATION: DAY 1 Todays Lesson: Introduce Science
& Engineering Projects NAEs Grand Challenge Overview
Introduction to Carbon Sequestration PBS Video Carbon Sequestration
Images & Discussion
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Todays Lesson: Introduce Science Projects Expectations NAEs
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.
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Todays 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 CO 2 ) 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
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Todays 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.
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Todays 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 DESIGNSUPPLIES
AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS EXAMPLE DESIGN SKETCH BY A STUDENT GROUP
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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
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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
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GRAND CHALLENGE LESSONS CONCLUSION 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
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Thank you!!! Questions?
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Activity: How can you incorporate the NAEs 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
