Existing efforts to introduce engineering into K-12 have traditionally consisted of in-service professional development activities for teachers, summer camp experiences for students and/or single day events in classrooms. A report from the National Academy of Engineering entitled “Standards for K-12 Engineering Education?” said that, “although theoretically possible to develop standards for K-12 engineering education, it would be extremely difficult to ensure their usefulness and effective implementation” at this time, in part because “there is not at present a critical mass of teachers qualified to deliver engineering instruction.” 

Systematic change will require a new paradigm – teachers who have a fundamental understanding of engineering will provide the most effective, sustainable solution for the implementation of K-12 engineering education. The research question becomes: how can we introduce this necessary, systemic change into K-12?

Ohio Northern University has announced a new Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Engineering Education. This degree will provide a graduate with a foundation in engineering, mathematics and education, qualifying the graduate for licensure as a secondary math teacher in the state of Ohio. The degree is similar to a General Engineering degree, expanding potential career opportunities. This degree program offers the opportunity to introduce teachers into middle and high school environments with an inherent appreciation of engineering, producing graduates that are capable of truly integrating math, science, engineering analysis and design into the classroom.

Dr. Kenneth Reid is the Director of First-Year Engineering, Program Director of Engineering Education and an Associate Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at Ohio Northern University. He received his B.S. degree in Computer and electrical Engineering from Purdue University, his M.S.E.E. degree from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and was the seventh person in the U.S. to receive a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University in 2009. He is active in engineering within K-12, serving on the Technology Student Association (TSA) Board of Directors and 10 years on the IEEE-USA Precollege Education Committee.  He co-developed “The Tsunami Model Eliciting Activity” which was awarded Best Middle School Curriculum by the Engineering Education Service Center in 2009.  His research interests include success in first-year engineering, introducing entrepreneurship into the engineering curriculum and engineering in K-12.

Dr. Eric T. Baumgartner received the Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Notre Dame, the master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Currently, he is the Dean of the T. J. Smull College of Engineering at Ohio Northern University. Prior to joining ONU, Dr. Baumgartner spent ten years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, where he held a number of technical and management positions including a leadership role on the Mars Exploration Rover project that successfully launched, landed and operated the Spirit and Opportunity rovers on the Martian surface. Dr. Baumgartner was honored with the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2004 for his efforts on the Mars rover project and, in May 2008, Dr. Baumgartner, along with two of his colleagues at JPL, was presented with the 2008 IEEE Robotics and Automation Award.