Enhancing Future Classrooms: Investigating the Impact of Exposing Pre-service Teachers to Engineering in Elementary Teacher Preparation Programs

Description/Abstract/Artist Statement

This research project aims to explore whether exposing pre-service teachers to engineering during their Elementary Teacher Preparation Program at ODU increases the likelihood of them integrating engineering into their future classrooms. The significance of this study lies in addressing the underrepresentation in STEM fields, with early exposure to STEM education being crucial for cultivating future interest in these careers.

A mixed methods approach, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participant reflections, was employed to collect data from pre-service teachers at the beginning and end of the semester. The data gathered covers aspects such as their knowledge of engineering, willingness to integrate it into their classrooms, and the overall value they assign to engineering education in the K-12 curriculum. Additionally, participant reflections were collected to provide insights into their experiences.

While the results are pending and data is still undergoing analysis, the hypothesis posits that meaningful experiences with engineering will lead pre-service teachers to express a greater willingness to integrate engineering into their future classrooms. The potential outcome of increased engineering integration in K-12 classrooms holds promise for boosting minority participation in STEM careers.

Keywords: Pre-service teachers, Engineering Integration, Diversity, STEM Education, K-12 Education

Presenting Author Name/s

Hope Wood

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Jennifer Kidd

Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department

Teaching and Learning

College Affiliation

College of Education & Professional Studies (Darden)

Presentation Type

Poster

Disciplines

Elementary Education and Teaching | Engineering | Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching | Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education | Secondary Education and Teaching

Session Title

Poster Session

Location

Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library

Start Date

3-30-2024 8:30 AM

End Date

3-30-2024 10:00 AM

Upload File

wf_yes

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 8:30 AM Mar 30th, 10:00 AM

Enhancing Future Classrooms: Investigating the Impact of Exposing Pre-service Teachers to Engineering in Elementary Teacher Preparation Programs

Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library

This research project aims to explore whether exposing pre-service teachers to engineering during their Elementary Teacher Preparation Program at ODU increases the likelihood of them integrating engineering into their future classrooms. The significance of this study lies in addressing the underrepresentation in STEM fields, with early exposure to STEM education being crucial for cultivating future interest in these careers.

A mixed methods approach, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participant reflections, was employed to collect data from pre-service teachers at the beginning and end of the semester. The data gathered covers aspects such as their knowledge of engineering, willingness to integrate it into their classrooms, and the overall value they assign to engineering education in the K-12 curriculum. Additionally, participant reflections were collected to provide insights into their experiences.

While the results are pending and data is still undergoing analysis, the hypothesis posits that meaningful experiences with engineering will lead pre-service teachers to express a greater willingness to integrate engineering into their future classrooms. The potential outcome of increased engineering integration in K-12 classrooms holds promise for boosting minority participation in STEM careers.

Keywords: Pre-service teachers, Engineering Integration, Diversity, STEM Education, K-12 Education