This blog post was written by David Eisenberg, High School Engineering & Research Practicum Teacher, Eleanor Roosevelt High School (MD), and Andrew Green, Ph.D. Their session, Connecting Students with Engineering, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 7 at the Professional Conference.
As we gear up for the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) Conference, we are excited to share that Engineering for US All (e4usa) will be offering an interactive workshop designed for high school educators who are passionate about expanding engineering education. Whether you’re a seasoned STEM teacher or someone looking to introduce engineering into your classroom for the first time, our workshop will provide valuable insights into e4usa’s unique project-based learning approach.
What is e4usa?
e4usa is a first-of-its-kind, national initiative that brings engineering principles to a new generation of students, regardless of their prior technical background or preparation. Through hands-on, student-centered learning, we empower students to become problem solvers, using engineering to address real-world challenges. Our courses are designed to be inclusive and accessible to all students, making engineering education possible in a variety of school settings.
At e4usa, we offer three dynamic courses tailored to students’ diverse interests:
- e4usa+Making: Encourages students to explore engineering by understanding its societal impacts while developing practical skills in design and problem-solving.
- e4usa+Design: Focuses on empowering students to engage in the engineering design process, tackling global challenges through collaborative teamwork.
- e4usa+Programming: Introduces students to programming as a tool for engineering problem-solving, integrating computational thinking with real-world applications.
What to Expect at Our Workshop
Our 50-minute session at the NCSSS conference will give educators a glimpse into the powerful teaching methods behind e4usa. Here’s what you’ll experience:
- Meet an Experienced e4usa Teacher: One of our dedicated e4usa teachers will share first-hand experiences and success stories from their classroom. Learn how they’ve engaged students with diverse learning backgrounds and inspired them to think like engineers.
- Hands-On Activity: Attendees will participate in a brief hands-on activity that showcases the type of project-based learning that happens every day in e4usa classrooms. Whether it’s designing a simple prototype or working through an engineering challenge, you’ll get a taste of how e4usa encourages creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. Best of all, you’ll be able to take this activity home to implement in your own classroom, with flexible options to scale it to meet the diverse needs of your students.
- Learn How to Bring e4usa to Your School: We’ll share how easy it is to adopt e4usa’s courses, which come with full support, professional development, and a network of fellow educators. You’ll learn about our curriculum and the Communities of Practice we’ve developed, which include educators, industry professionals, and academic liaisons.
Why Attend?
This workshop is more than just an introduction to e4usa; it’s an opportunity to rethink how engineering education can be delivered in your high school. We believe that every student, regardless of their background or future career goals, should have the opportunity to engage in engineering. By attending, you’ll discover how to bring this inclusive, impactful approach to your students and join a growing community of educators transforming STEM education.
I encourage you to join us at the NCSSS conference to explore how e4usa can fit into your high school’s curriculum and inspire the next generation of engineers. Learn more about e4usa by visiting our website, and be sure to check out our testimonials to hear from other educators who have already made e4usa a part of their classrooms.
This workshop promises to be an exciting, interactive, and insightful experience, so mark your calendars and make sure to visit our booth! We look forward to seeing you there.