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Engineering for Your Classroom 4–9

Studies show that over 70% of future jobs will require STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Engineering activities provide students with a robust learning experience that will allow them to design, make, collaborate, inquire, and solve real-word problems in hands-on tasks and experiences. Welcome to the Engineering for Your Classroom (EFYC) online course for educators! This course is designed primarily for grades 4–9 educators including classroom teachers, teacher candidates and administrators, but can be useful for anyone who wants to gain knowledge about teaching STEM. It is open to all levels, from beginners to professionals. The course aims to provide educators with the necessary knowledge, skills and resources to incorporate engineering into the classroom or other educational settings.

What you'll learn

Become familiar with engineering through interactive lessons and activities
Become more comfortable and confident incorporating engineering in your classroom
Inspire engineering thinking in learners through collaborative and stimulating hands-on activities
Create online and in-person STEM activities using materials around you
Find relevant resources that can be incorporated into your curriculum through STEM activities
Incorporate general strategies for evaluating engineering activities
Understand common key terms that come up throughout the course

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Become familiar with engineering through interactive lessons and activities
Become more comfortable and confident incorporating engineering in your classroom
Inspire engineering thinking in learners through collaborative and stimulating hands-on activities
Create online and in-person stem activities using materials around you

Find relevant resources that can be incorporated into your curriculum through stem activities
Incorporate general strategies for evaluating engineering activities
Understand common key terms that come up throughout the course

Become familiar with engineering through interactive lessons and activities
Become more comfortable and confident incorporating engineering in your classroom
Inspire engineering thinking in learners through collaborative and stimulating hands-on activities
Create online and in-person stem activities using materials around you
Find relevant resources that can be incorporated into your curriculum through stem activities
Incorporate general strategies for evaluating engineering activities
Understand common key terms that come up throughout the course

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Course is designed to help intermediate learners strengthen their existing knowledge

Covers key terms, concepts, and principles of engineering

Provides resources and strategies for incorporating engineering into STEM activities

No clear indication that access to additional materials, equipment, or software could pose a barrier to participation

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Reviews summary

Practical engineering for educators 4-9

According to learners, this course is a highly practical and inspiring guide for educators looking to integrate engineering into grades 4-9 classrooms. Students particularly value the hands-on activities and ideas for creating STEM activities with readily available materials, which significantly boost their comfort and confidence in teaching engineering. While it serves as an excellent foundation for beginners, some more experienced educators found it too basic for advanced insights. Overall, it provides actionable strategies and valuable resources for incorporating engineering thinking.

Provides general strategies, though some desired more detail.

"Some of the evaluation strategies were a bit theoretical, but overall, it gave me a lot of confidence."

"The evaluation strategies were a bit generic."

"I appreciate the inclusion of evaluation strategies, but I was hoping for more practical examples."

Provides a strong foundational understanding for new educators.

"The course has good intentions, but I found some parts a bit too basic. Still, a decent foundation for absolute beginners."

"Decent course. It covers the basics. For me, it wasn't revolutionary, but it's a good starting point for someone entirely new to STEM integration."

"This course provides an excellent entry point for educators just starting their journey in teaching engineering concepts."

Increases comfort and skill in teaching engineering concepts.

"I found the modules on creating STEM activities incredibly useful. Some of the evaluation strategies were a bit theoretical, but overall, it gave me a lot of confidence."

"Wonderful course! It completely demystified integrating engineering. My comfort level teaching engineering has gone up significantly."

"I've been struggling to bring engineering into my 5th-grade class, and this course provided clear, actionable strategies and fantastic hands-on ideas. I now feel confident."

Offers ready-to-use, engaging activities for engineering.

"The hands-on activities were practical and easy to adapt. I particularly appreciated the focus on using readily available materials."

"It's incredibly well-designed, offering practical advice and inspiring ideas. The collaborative aspects mentioned in the objectives truly shone through in the activities."

"This course provided clear, actionable strategies and fantastic hands-on ideas. The interactive lessons were engaging, and I now feel confident."

May lack advanced content for those already familiar with STEM.

"The course has good intentions, but I found some parts a bit too basic. As someone who already teaches some STEM, I was hoping for more depth."

"Expected more. While it touched on some key terms, I felt the 'engineering for your classroom' part was sometimes vague. Needed more concrete examples."

"It wasn't revolutionary for me as an experienced educator; I was looking for more advanced or novel approaches."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Engineering for Your Classroom 4–9 with these activities:

Review core engineering concepts

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Reviewing core engineering concepts will build a foundation for the knowledge and skills taught in this course, making it easier to understand and apply.

Browse courses on Engineering

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Review notes or textbooks on basic engineering principles.
Solve practice problems or exercises related to engineering concepts.
Attend a refresher workshop or webinar on engineering fundamentals.

Read Mindstorms

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This book provides a philosophical foundation for the course material on engineering and education.

View Mindstorms: Children, Computers, And Powerful... on Amazon

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Purchase a copy of the book.
Read the book.
Take notes on the book.
Discuss the book with a friend or colleague.

Watch tutorials on engineering topics

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This activity will allow you to learn about new engineering topics and reinforce your understanding of the course material.

Browse courses on Engineering

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Find tutorials on engineering topics.
Watch the tutorials.
Take notes on the tutorials.
Discuss the tutorials with a friend or colleague.

Eight other activities

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Explore engineering design principles through tutorials

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Following guided tutorials on engineering design principles will provide hands-on practice and reinforce the theoretical concepts learned in the course.

Browse courses on Engineering Design

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Find online tutorials or courses on engineering design.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step and complete any exercises or projects.
Apply the principles learned in the tutorials to real-world engineering challenges.

Solve engineering problems

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This activity will help you develop your problem-solving skills and your understanding of engineering principles.

Browse courses on Engineering

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Find practice problems.
Solve the problems.
Check your answers.
Reflect on your mistakes.

Create a collection of engineering resources

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This activity will allow you to organize and share your engineering resources with others.

Browse courses on Engineering

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Gather engineering resources.
Organize the resources.
Share the resources with others.

Attend engineering conferences

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This activity will allow you to network with other engineers and learn about the latest trends in engineering.

Browse courses on Engineering

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Find engineering conferences.
Register for conferences.
Attend conferences.
Network with other engineers.

Design and build a simple engineering project

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Engaging in a hands-on engineering project will allow you to apply your knowledge and skills, fostering deeper understanding and retention.

Browse courses on Problem-Solving

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Identify a simple engineering problem to solve.
Research and gather information about potential solutions.
Design and build a prototype of your solution.
Test and evaluate your prototype.
Refine and improve your design based on testing.

Design and build a bridge

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This project will allow you to apply the engineering principles you learn in the course to a real-world problem.

Browse courses on Engineering

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Gather materials.
Design the bridge.
Build the bridge.
Test the bridge.
Reflect on the project.

Create a video tutorial on how to build a robot

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This activity will allow you to share your knowledge of engineering with others and help them learn about robotics.

Browse courses on Engineering

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Plan the tutorial.
Create the tutorial.
Upload the tutorial to YouTube.
Promote the tutorial.

Write a research paper on a topic in engineering

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This activity will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of a topic in engineering and develop your research and writing skills.

Browse courses on Engineering

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Choose a topic.
Conduct research.
Write the paper.
Submit the paper.

Career center

Learners who complete Engineering for Your Classroom 4–9 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Science Teacher

A Science Teacher has a passion for engineering-related concepts, and they enjoy sharing their knowledge with students of all ages. Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 can help future Science Teachers build on their pedagogical skills and learn new ways to make science and engineering concepts more accessible and enjoyable to students. Teachers will also gain insights into how to better incorporate collaborative learning and hands-on activities into lesson plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers design and implement educational materials and programs, aiming to enhance the learning experience for students. Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 provides educators with a clear roadmap for integrating engineering principles into lesson plans. Through this course, future Curriculum Developers gain practical tools to help students develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and design skills from a young age.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

Education Consultant

Educational Consultants help schools and organizations improve their educational practices. Armed with the knowledge gained from Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9, Education Consultants will become adept at evaluating engineering activities, identifying areas for improvement, and providing guidance to enhance STEM education for students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Consultant

STEM Program Manager

STEM Program Managers oversee the development and implementation of STEM programs and initiatives. The hands-on, interactive approach of Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 provides STEM Program Managers with practical strategies for engaging students in STEM activities and creating a dynamic learning environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for STEM Program Manager

Educational Researcher

Educational Researchers study teaching and learning processes to improve educational outcomes. Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 can help aspiring Educational Researchers develop a deeper understanding of engineering education and identify effective methodologies for incorporating STEM concepts into the curriculum.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Researcher

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers create and deliver educational materials and programs, ensuring effective learning experiences. By taking Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9, Instructional Designers can refine their skills in designing engaging and interactive STEM learning activities that foster student creativity and problem-solving abilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Science Writer

Science Writers communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences. The interactive lessons and activities in Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 will equip aspiring Science Writers with the ability to translate engineering principles into clear and engaging language, making STEM accessible to a broader audience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

STEM Advocate

STEM Advocates promote the importance of STEM education and encourage participation in STEM fields. Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 empowers future STEM Advocates with the knowledge and resources to effectively advocate for STEM education, inspiring students to pursue STEM careers and address future societal challenges.

See salaries and explore the career path for STEM Advocate

Museum Educator

Museum Educators design and deliver educational programs in museums and other informal learning environments. By participating in Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9, Museum Educators will gain valuable insights into developing hands-on, inquiry-based STEM activities that engage visitors and foster a lifelong love of learning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Educator

Education Policy Analyst

Education Policy Analysts research, analyze, and evaluate education policies to inform decision-making. Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 provides Policy Analysts with a comprehensive understanding of STEM education and its impact on student learning, enabling them to make informed recommendations and advocate for effective STEM policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Policy Analyst

STEM Librarian

STEM Librarians specialize in providing access to and supporting the use of STEM resources in libraries. The knowledge gained from Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 will empower future STEM Librarians to curate relevant STEM materials, conduct effective research assistance, and create engaging STEM programming for library patrons.

See salaries and explore the career path for STEM Librarian

Informal Science Educator

Informal Science Educators teach science and engineering concepts outside of traditional classroom settings, such as in museums, science centers, or community organizations. Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 provides Informal Science Educators with practical strategies for designing and implementing hands-on, inquiry-based STEM activities that spark curiosity and promote scientific literacy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Informal Science Educator

Science Journalist

Science Journalists communicate scientific research and discoveries to the public. The interactive lessons and activities in Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 will provide aspiring Science Journalists with a solid foundation in engineering principles and hands-on experience in translating complex technical concepts into clear and engaging narratives.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Journalist

STEM Outreach Coordinator

STEM Outreach Coordinators develop and implement programs that promote STEM education and careers to underrepresented communities. By participating in Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9, future STEM Outreach Coordinators will gain valuable insights into effective STEM teaching practices and strategies for engaging diverse audiences in STEM activities.

See salaries and explore the career path for STEM Outreach Coordinator

Teacher

Teachers educate and inspire students in a variety of subjects. Engineering For Your Classroom 4-9 empowers future elementary and secondary school Teachers with the knowledge and skills to effectively integrate engineering concepts into their lesson plans. By participating in interactive lessons and hands-on activities, Teachers will gain confidence in teaching engineering and fostering a passion for STEM in their students.

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Reading list

We've selected 13 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Engineering for Your Classroom 4–9.

Engineering Instruction for High-Ability Learners...

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Explores the nature and impact of engineering education in K-12 schools. It provides research-based evidence and insights on how to teach engineering effectively.

Engineering for Your Classroom 4–9

What you'll learn

What's inside

Learning objectives

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical engineering for educators 4-9

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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