Main Content
Syllabus
SCIED 855 Precollege Engineering Education (3 Credits)
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accomodating Disabilities | Additional Policies
Overview
Welcome to Precollege Engineering Education. This course is intended to help educators to critically understand the “E” in “STEM education.” Engineering has only recently roared into state and national curriculum standards, venturing out of its traditional lair in higher education. We’ll explore the reasons for this development, as well as the opportunities and challenges that the change presents for students and teachers. As we proceed, we’ll capitalize on your varied experiences; we expect that students in this course may include experienced elementary teachers with no background in engineering, and experienced engineers who are just beginning their educational studies. We’re venturing out into new country, and there are many forms of expertise to support this journey!
My expectation is that every one of us should be challenged. As instructor, I intend to assess your performance relative to your starting point. If you have never done any computer modeling, for example, you should develop a good foundation. If you are already a proficient modeler, you should extend that knowledge significantly. In other words, your work will not be evaluated relative to a standard, or even to a norm; the goal is growth, for you as an individual and for our professional learning community.
Method of Instruction
If this is your first online course, you will find it is very different from traditional face-to-face classroom environment. The anxiety that you may feel at the beginning is normal. Be assured that it will become less stressful, once you are comfortable with the technology and the rhythm of the course.Please note that you will likely need to spend nine to twelve hours a week on the tasks for this course. If you can’t block out that much time in your schedule now, consider taking this course at a later date.
The course is structured as a set of modules, listed in the bulleted Course Structure outline below. Note that some modules are scheduled to take one week, and some two weeks. At the beginning of each module, you'll find a summary of the assignments for that module. Note: This is not a self-paced course. Deadlines exist to coordinate our group activities and ensure that everyone can succeed, and some modules have assignments that are due mid-module, to allow for collaboration and instructor feedback.
If you are taking this course during the summer, we do understand that teachers (even professors!) take vacations and, especially if you have a family, some of that vacation time may have to overlap with our course schedule. In addition, you may be somewhere where you cannot count on high-speed network access. So, even if you are willing to do coursework during vacation time, think carefully ahead about whether that will work. If you anticipate difficulty submitting assignments during a period of travel, please look over that module well in advance and propose to the instructor a plan for working ahead. This is especially important for assignments that require collaboration with or feedback to other students, because THEY may not be planning to work ahead. Anticipate also that if your network access isn't good, it may be difficult to stream videos, download software, etc.
Course Structure
What is Engineering?
- The nature and history of engineering and engineering education (1 week)
- Research on precollege engineering education (1 week)
Doing Engineering
- Solid object modeling (2 weeks)
- Systems modeling (1 week)
- Analysis and reverse engineering (1 week)
The Engineering Curriculum
- Engineering curriculum materials (1 week)
- Course project charrette (1 week)
What Happens When Children Engineer?
- Observing children engineer - Epistemic practices (1 week)
- Adolescent engineers: Competitions, vocational ed, service learning, the maker movement, etc. (1 week)
Why is Engineering Unique in the School Setting?
- Patents, intellectual property, and other norms-busting features of engineering (1 week)
- Final technology presentations and external review (1 week)
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate growth in your individual knowledge of the nature and history of engineering as a field of study and a profession.
- Describe and illustrate new skills in the use of software for modeling, design, and analysis of technologies.
- Critique one or more extant models of the process of engineering design, propose modifications, and apply that new model to an outline of an instructional unit relevant to your professional responsibilities, with particular emphasis on students’ epistemic practices.
- Building upon prior classroom research, observe children engaged in engineering activities and contribute a systematic analysis of some aspect of that activity.
- Design, construct, analyze, and document a new technology that would be of interest to other educators, and review and critique new technologies developed by other teachers.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Software for Solid Modeling and Design
Several free educator solid-modeling programs are available. As a general guide, consider Trimble SketchUp Pro if you are an elementary teacher and AutoDesk Inventor if you teach middle or secondary school. But consult with your professional colleagues at your school. If students are already using another licensed program, by all means consider using it. And if you are already proficient with a CAD (computer aided design) program, challenge yourself to try something new or to explore advanced features. Other commonly used programs include SolidWorks (you can use it for free as a Penn State webapp), various AutoDesk products, etc. You can also download free CAD software at sites like emachineshop.com, which will even —for a fee-- fabricate your design in your choice of materials.
Software for Systems Modeling
You have number of software options for systems modeling as well, starting with something as basic as Excel. If you are new to systems modeling, you might want to explore Forio Simulate, STELLA, VenSim or NetLogo. We’ll provide guidance when we get to that point in the course. Our goal is to help you learn about systems modeling with a tool that is appropriate for your knowledge and instructional setting.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
Grading Criteria
Below is a description of the required percent range to earn the corresponding letter grade for this course.
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 94 - 100 |
| A- | 90 - 93.99 |
| B+ | 87 - 89.99 |
| B | 84 - 86.99 |
| B- | 80 - 83.99 |
| C+ | 77 - 79.99 |
| C | 70 - 76.99 |
| D | 60 - 69.99 |
| F | 0 - 59.99 |
Graduate Grading Policy
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Deferred Grades
Course Schedule
- Course length: 12 weeks
Unit 1: What is Engineering?
Lesson 1: The Nature and History of Engineering and Engineering Education
| Readings: |
Course Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu.)
Other Readings
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Lesson 2: Research on Precollege Engineering Education
| Readings: |
Textbook
NGSS Lead States (2013). Next Generation Science Standards: For states, by states. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Course Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu.)
Other Readings
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Unit 2: Doing Engineering
Lesson 3: Solid Object Modeling
| Time frame: |
Note: This lesson spans two weeks.
|
|---|---|
| Readings: |
Web Resource
Videos
Note: To access these resources, click on Modules in your Course Navigation Menu, navigate to Lesson 3, and click on both lesson page 3.4. (Video Introduction to Solid-Object Modeling) and lesson page 3.5. (Video Introduction to Solid-Object Modelers). Other Readings
|
| Assignments: |
|
Lesson 4: Systems Modeling
| Readings: |
Textbook
Other Readings
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Lesson 5: Analysis and Reverse Engineering
| Readings: |
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Unit 3: The Engineering Curriculum
Lesson 6: Engineering Curriculum Materials
| Readings: |
Textbook
Course Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu.)
Other Readings
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Lesson 7: Course Project Charrette
| Readings: | There are no assigned readings for this lesson. |
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Unit 4: What Happens When Children Engineer?
Lesson 8: Observing Young Children Engineer (Epistemic Practices)
| Readings: |
Course Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu.)
Other Readings
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Lesson 9: Adolescent Engineers: Competitions, Vocational Education, Service Learning, the Maker Movement, etc.
| Readings: |
Course Reserves (To access these articles, click on the Library Resources link in your Course Navigation Menu.)
Other Readings
|
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Unit 5: Why is Engineering Unique in the School Setting
Lesson 10: Patents, Intellectual Property, and Other Norms-busting Features of Engineering
| Readings: |
Links to readings are provided in the lesson content pages. |
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Lesson 11: Final Technology Presentations and External Review
| Readings: | None |
|---|---|
| Assignments: |
|
Graduating Students
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
One Year Course Access
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS):
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.