ENGINEER

ENGINEER will support the widespread adoption in Europe of innovative methods of science teaching and provide extensive teacher training on inquiry-based methods. It will be based on the proven Engineering is Elementary (EiE) program developed by Boston's Museum of Science (BMOS) since 2003-04 and now widely used in primary schools throughout the U.S. Evaluations of EiE have found that incorporating engineering in science teaching, using inquiry-based pedagogic methods, results in highly desirable impacts on students and teachers, raising students interest in science and engineering. BMOS will play an instructional and advisory role in ENGINEER.
ENGINEER will develop 10 engineering design challenge units suited to European environments using EiEs Engineering Design Plan model. Each unit will focus on one engineering field and will use inexpensive materials for student-led design problem-solving. ENGINEER will adapt and enhance EiE teacher training materials. Project materials will be tested in pilot applications and refined before use in outreach.
Science museums will lead the outreach effort that targets schools, teachers and science museums. Teachers trained in using ENGINEERs materials will incorporate the units into science teaching in their classes. Museums will offer programs for student groups as well as for the general public. Training will be provided to 1,000 teachers, and trained teachers and school/museum activities will reach 27,000 students during outreach.
Dissemination activities will increase awareness of ENGINEER and help promote participation. An advocacy program is specifically aimed at influencing education policy makers throughout Europe. Its major goal is to promote the much more widespread future deployment of ENGINEERs tools after the project formally ends.
ENGINEERs consortium features 10 science museums and 10 schools, as well as universities and other organizations that will contribute expertise to project tasks.