Engineering learning standards

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An interesting crucible for the relationship between how new a field of curriculum is, and how standardized it is, is the field of K-12 engineering curriculum.

Consider this post from the Triangle Coalition, sent by e-mail Nov 3, 2010:

STANDARDS FOR ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN K-12?
While content standards currently exist for three STEM disciplines -- science, technology, and mathematics -- none exist for engineering. A new report from the National Academy of Engineering assessed the value and feasibility of developing and implementing content standards for engineering education at the K-12 level. The report concluded that, although it is theoretically possible to develop standards for K-12 engineering education, it would be extremely difficult to ensure their usefulness and effective implementation. This conclusion was based on the following: (1) there is relatively limited experience with K-12 engineering education in U.S. elementary and secondary schools, (2) there is not at present a critical mass of teachers qualified to deliver engineering instruction, (3) evidence regarding the impact of standards-based educational reforms on student learning in other subjects, such as mathematics and science, is inconclusive, and (4) there are significant barriers to introducing stand-alone standards for an entirely new content area in a curriculum already burdened with learning goals in more established domains of study. Based on this perspective, the committee argued against the development of standards for K-12 engineering education at this time. Instead, they made two recommendations: 1. Federal agencies, foundations, and professional engineering societies with an interest in improving precollege engineering education should fund a consensus process to develop a document describing the core ideas of engineering that are appropriate for K-12 students; and 2. The U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation should jointly fund the development of guidelines for K-12 engineering instructional materials.
Ioannis Miaoulis, founding director of Triangle Coalition member, the National Center for Technological Literacy http://www.nctl.org/ at the Museum of Science, Boston disagrees with the recommendation against Engineering Standards. "The Academies found last year that K-12 engineering education is on the rise and shows promise in helping students learn math and science and become more technologically literate. Engineering standards will help curricula developers, states, teachers, and administrators by providing clear expectations. The Academies recommendations are baby steps at a time when we need to start running in this direction." The report is available online http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12990 . Cateogry:Studies