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Submitted By Jim Batterson
The above chart shows a K-12 STEM “continuum” from mathematics to the trades. At the top of the page, on the left, one sees that mathematics is taught as all theory and trades at the other end of the spectrum is almost all hands-on with very little theory. Science is only hands-on in K-12 to the extent that labs are included. In the middle of the chart, we find engineering – the “E” of STEM. Engineering, the parent of technological innovation, is an even blend of hands-on and theory. Unfortunately, there are only a few school divisions in the Commonwealth that teach engineering or even the engineering design process.
Mathematics and science are found in the “traditional academic” division of K-12 while the trades are found in Career and Technical Education (CTE), formerly known as “shop” or “vocational education”. Here in Virginia, to the limited extent that engineering is taught, it is classified as CTE.
Mathematics: Mathematics teaches children languages that quantitatively describe the world. To use mathematics professionally requires a four-year college degree and often a graduate degree.
Science: Science teaches children about the existing world and the discovery of its laws using the scientific method. Professional scientists, like mathematicians, require a four-year college degree and often a graduate degree.
Trades: Our hands-on trades courses are taught out of an area called Career and Technical Education (CTE). This area was called “shop” or "vocational education" in earlier decades. Today’s excellent CTE programs include the traditional skills such as electrician, plumber, and HVAC, as well as 21st century skills such as network administrator, computer repair, and computer aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM). Jobs in these trades areas can be accessed with a high school diploma and a national certification and/or state license. This preparation is focused on building and repairing existing components and systems. However, a number of these graduates continue their education at community colleges or apprentice programs to sharpen both their hands-on skills and further their theoretical understanding of the area. This continuing education moves them to a level sometimes called “engineering technologist”.
Engineering Technologist: At this level, a tradesperson has developed additional skills through post-secondary formal training and/or on-the-job experience and growth so that she can fabricate and operate new components and systems. In research laboratories, a senior engineering technologist may be almost indistinguishable on the surface from an engineer.
Engineer: Engineering incorporates the engineering design process for the creation of new devices that are of value to society. Whereas we saw science as discovering and describing the natural world through the scientific method, engineering is about using knowledge of science, mathematics, and technology to create new value in a human-designed world. As opposed to the trades graduate who builds and repairs existing systems, the engineer designs and fabricates new or innovative systems to satisfy societal needs. While there are several excellent turn-key K-12 engineering programs available nationally, very few school divisions in Virginia take advantage of them. We refer to this lack of institutionalization of engineering in Virginia’s K-12 program as a “K-12 Gap.” Among the curricular programs available for engineering are Virginia Children’s Engineering for K-5; Engineering is Elementary (K-5 Massachusetts); Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a national four-year high school program (Virginia’s PLTW is led out of the Batten School of Engineering at ODU); Gateways, a PLTW program for middle school; and the Infinity Project, a one-year digital design course developed by Texas Instruments and Southern Methodist University. Extracurricular engineering activities are many including Future Cities, Egg Drop Contests, Boat Building Contests, FIRST Lego, Tec, and Robotics. The Commonwealth’s Department of Education does not yet recognize K-12 engineering through a license for an engineering teacher, but rather lumps engineering teachers under general technology education.
Additional information on selected programs
Virginia Children’s Engineering (K-5) - www.childrensengineering.org
Engineering is Elementary (K-5) - www.mos.org/eie
Project Lead The Way (Middle and High School) - www.pltw.org
FIRST Jr. Lego League, Lego League, Tec, Robotics - www.virginiafirst.org
Infinity Project (High School) - www.infinity-project.org
- March 12, 2010 -