Undergraduate training to teach a hands-on, problem-based, novel application of embedded technology in K-12 classrooms

Abstract

An internally-funded undergraduate research project proposes to study the effectiveness of a hands-on, problem-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) course for three levels of public education: elementary, middle, and high school. The project will have nine undergraduate students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University led by a graduate student, undergraduate technical lead, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alumnus, and advised by an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University faculty member, assume the role of K-12 teachers. Undergraduate participants will instruct public school students in state-of- The- Art embedded technologies involving micro-electronics prototyping, an electronics hardware and software class under development by Prometheus Education, Inc. The undergraduate research project will take place over the course of the 2013-14 academic year, where student- Teachers will master material and develop lesson plans suited for the three K-12 cohorts in the first semester, then assume the role of STEM teachers for the three K-12 cohorts in the second semester, and perform literaturebased research and field data collection research duties throughout the academic year with the ultimate goal of dissemination of findings to national STEM education conferences. During the first semester, the student- Teachers will use the adult-learner oriented lesson plan and electronics kit provided by Prometheus Education, Inc. to create new lesson plans appropriate for all three levels of public education. While learning and developing materials, undergraduate student- Teachers will participate in pre- And post- Assessment to garner gains in technical aspects of the curriculum and in teaching/learning practices, curriculum design, and educational research. Undergraduate participants in the first semester will review engineering education conference papers and journal articles through a formalized process. Undergraduate research participants will research the writing of appropriate learning objectives / desired outcomes to STEM students of varying stages in their K-12 education. Student- Teacher-researchers will develop outcomes-based, level- Appropriate lesson plans and assessment materials. The purpose of this first phase of the study is to gauge the impacts on undergraduate STEM student- Teacher-researchers of a series of four-hour Saturday-based sessions occurring over the course of Fall Semester 2013. Participants in this first phase of the internally-funded undergraduate research project will be assessed for their gains in the areas of K-12 STEM teaching, learning, and educational scholarship, as well as their mastery of relevant technical content necessary for successful micro-controller design, build, application, and instruction to others. Second phase findings from actual lesson plan application in the three K-12 classroom cohorts will be presented in later dissemination efforts, however a preview of preliminary results will be presented along with complete Phase 1 findings. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2014.