What is E2? E2 is designed to introduce 4th-6th graders to engineering. Our goal has always been to make it easy to implement for teachers, while being fun and effective for students. E2 is a research-based curriculum.
What will E2 teach my students? When students complete the curriculum, they are able to understand what engineers do, and how they solve problems using math and science, including the math and science they are currently learning at school. They are also able to identify different types of engineers, and understand the differences and similarities between various types of engineers. What does E2 include?
3 lessons for the students
online training for instructors
the E2 Materials Kit used for hands on activities with the students.
How does E2 work? 1. The teacher completes the online training for the lessons 2. The teacher leads the lessons using the materials in the kit and the video provided for the lesson.
The teacher-training videos provide straightforward guidance on how to conduct the lessons. These videos also provide information that is helpful in leading discussions with students and answering common questions students have about engineering.
Who has used E2?
Our curriculum has been used throughout Oklahoma, and we have rave reviews from teachers and students. It's not uncommon for teachers to tell us how students will spot something in the school weeks after the lessons and talk about which engineers might have been involved in creating the item, and why those types of engineers might have been involved.
How can engineering companies use E2 to help their local schools?
While our training is typically used by elementary teachers, we have also had success with industry professionals completing the training and providing outreach to schools by teaching the lessons themselves. We have also had companies donate the curriculum to teachers in their area. This gives companies the opportunity to contribute to schools in their communities and invest in the next generation of STEM leaders. Surveys and direct feedback tell us that the curriculum is engaging for students, and, most importantly it is proven to work.
What makes you so certain this works? The creation of our evidence-based curriculum was a joint effort between Engineering and Education faculty at Oklahoma State University. Check out the feedback we have received from schools! Below, you can find research that shows the effectiveness of the program, as well as research that informed the design of the curriculum:
1.Colston, N., Thomas, J., Ley, M.T., Ivey, T., & Utley, J. (2017). Collaborating for early-age career awareness: A comparison of three instructional formats. Journal of Engineering Education 106 (2), 326-344. doi: 10.1002/jee.20166
2.Colston, N., Thomas, J., & Ley, T. (2017). Integrating technology and career learning in elementary engineering education: A formative curriculum evaluation. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Midwest Section Conference, Stillwater, OK.
3.Thomas, J., Colston, N., Ley, T., DeVore-Wedding, B., Hawley, L.R., Utley, J. & Ivey, T. (2016). Developing a rubric to assess children's drawings of an engineer at work. Proceedings of the 2016 Annual Conference & Exposition of the American Society for Engineering Educators, New Orleans, LA. doi: 10.18260/p.26985
4.Colston, N., Thomas, J., Ivey, T., Ley, T. & Utley, J. (2014). Engineer-led videos: A broader impacts model. Proceedings of the 2014 Midwest Section Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education, Fort Smith, AK.
5.Ivey, T., Thomas, J., Colston, N., Ley, T. & Utley, J. (2014). Engineering is Everywhere: Engaging engineers in elementary pre-service teacher training. Proceedings of the 2014 School Science and Mathematics Convention, Jacksonville, FL.
