Taryn Bayles

Special session: IEEE Real World Engineering Projects: Discovery-based curriculum modules for first-year students

This special session is organized to provide an interactive forum for the introduction of a set of new curriculum modules developed under IEEEs Real World Engineering Projects (RWEP) program. The modules, which are representative of a larger collection of curriculum modules available to the public via an open-access RWEP web portal, are designed for use in the first-year engineering and computer science classroom, and are hands-on, team-based projects that emphasize the societal impact of the work that engineers do. After a brief introduction to the RWEP program and the showcased curriculum modules, the authors of the modules will work one-on-one with the audience providing tutorials on the laboratory activities associated with their modules in a highly interactive, simultaneous mode. Audience members can learn in-depth about the modules that interest them most. Each project will have its own demonstration table, with posters of information and hands-on demonstrations and/or videos. This will allow for audience members to interact directly with the authors, and to try out the same sorts of activities that are proposed for the students.

Work in progress — Lessons learned during teacher professional development pilot program — Impact on curriculum teacher's guide development & future professional development institute

A Professional Development (PD) pilot program was conducted with twelve High School Technology Education teachers during the summer of 2009. The three week PD Institute threaded the use of the INSPIRES (INcreasing Student Participation, Interest and Recruitment in Engineering & Science) curriculum throughout the program which included deepened teacher content knowledge, pedagogical practices, practice instruction with Upward Bound students, and reflection & evaluation of the videotaped instruction. Each of the teachers have re-enacted the curriculum with their classes in the following academic year. We are now developing a new INSPIRES curriculum module and based on our experiences with the PD pilot program, are planning improvements to the next PD Institute. Student learning assessments and changes in teacher practice will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the PD Institute.