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Research in Engineering Education Symposium 2011 - rees2009

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Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) Pág<strong>in</strong>a 636 de 957<br />

Topic: Transition 2- Chair: Johannes Strobel<br />

Development of learn<strong>in</strong>g environments to <strong>in</strong>crease the understand<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>terest<br />

<strong>in</strong> eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g and technology amongst Australian primary school students<br />

Nicoleta Maynard<br />

N.Maynard@curt<strong>in</strong>.edu.au<br />

Curt<strong>in</strong> University<br />

Australia<br />

Rekha Koul<br />

R.Koul@curt<strong>in</strong>.edu.au<br />

Curt<strong>in</strong> University<br />

Australia<br />

Kate Ala’i<br />

K.Alai@curt<strong>in</strong>.edu.au<br />

Curt<strong>in</strong> University<br />

Australia<br />

Barry Fraser<br />

B.Fraser@curt<strong>in</strong>.edu.au<br />

Curt<strong>in</strong> University<br />

Australia<br />

Moses Tadé<br />

M.O.Tade@curt<strong>in</strong>.edu.au<br />

Curt<strong>in</strong> University<br />

Australia<br />

Abstract: The paper reports on the results of an action research study, aimed at<br />

develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>terest and understand<strong>in</strong>g among primary school students <strong>in</strong> the<br />

fields of eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g and technology as potential career choices <strong>in</strong> order to<br />

redress the <strong>in</strong>adequate supply of tra<strong>in</strong>ed professionals <strong>in</strong> the fields of<br />

Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g and Technology. Data was collected by adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g a modified<br />

version of a pre-validated pictorial questionnaire ‘Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g is Elementary’<br />

(EIE) twice to 340 students from 15 primary classrooms <strong>in</strong> years 4, 5 and 6 <strong>in</strong><br />

Perth, Australia <strong>in</strong> a three phase study. In the first phase students’ exist<strong>in</strong>g<br />

understand<strong>in</strong>g about ‘What Eng<strong>in</strong>eers Do?’ and ‘What is Technology?” were<br />

explored. In the second phase a lecture expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the relationship between<br />

Science, Technology and Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g was delivered <strong>in</strong> each of the participat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

classes followed by three eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g related student activities. In the third<br />

phase the EIE was readm<strong>in</strong>istered and significant differences <strong>in</strong> student<br />

understand<strong>in</strong>g were identified <strong>in</strong> recognition of the items <strong>in</strong> the EIE suggest<strong>in</strong>g<br />

that an <strong>in</strong>tervention programme could play key role <strong>in</strong> creat<strong>in</strong>g students <strong>in</strong>terest<br />

<strong>in</strong> eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g and Technology.<br />

Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs of <strong>Research</strong> <strong>in</strong> Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />

Madrid, 4 th - 7 th October <strong>2011</strong>

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