Executive Summary
Cunningham, C. M., & Lachapelle, C. P. (2012). Research and evaluation results for the Engineering is Elementary project: An executive summary of the first eight years. Boston, MA: Museum of Science. Link
About EiE Research
Research, evaluation, and assessment studies are integral to the development of the Engineering is Elementary® curriculum, and an important facet of the team’s curriculum development philosophy. The EiE team believes that a high-quality curriculum is one that is well-researched and thoroughly tested at all stages, from basic understanding of what students and teachers know about engineering and technology to the first brainstorm to the published product. From its inception in 2003-2004, the Engineering is Elementary project has been committed to creating high-quality teacher guides and professional development for teachers and a world-class curriculum for students through multiple cycles of research, development, testing, and improvement.
All EiE units are thoroughly tested and evaluated at all stages of development. In the earliest stages of development, proposed subject matter is researched in the scientific literature and supplemented by interviews and focus groups with teachers and students to solidify our understanding of the content area, student readiness and ability, and grade-level needs. Once a unit has been drafted, it is first tested in the classroom by experienced pilot teachers, observed and evaluated by EiE team members, revised, and further tested. At the same time, student assessments that address the learning objectives of the unit as well as key science and mathematics skills and concepts that will be reinforced are developed and validated with the target audience. In the second year of development, each unit is tested with a wider national audience, and student learning is assessed with the pre- and post-assessments developed in the first year, and compared against a matched national sample of classrooms collecting control data.
A sampling of our current research questions includes:
- What do students know about engineering and technology?
- How does the EiE curriculum affect what students know about engineering and technology?
- How does the EiE curriculum affect students’ understanding of related science and mathematics topics?
- How does the EiE curriculum affect students’ attitudes towards STEM activities and careers?
- How does the EiE curriculum impact the understanding and attitudes of female students, students of color, low-income students, and other populations underrepresented in STEM fields?
- How does EiE professional development affect teachers’ pedagogy for STEM topics?
- How does EiE professional development affect teachers’ attitudes towards teaching engineering and technology in their classrooms?
Formal Findings and Publications
2012
Jocz, J., & Lachapelle, C. (2012). The Impact of Engineering is Elementary (EiE) on Students‘ Conceptions of Technology. Boston, MA: Museum of Science. Link
2011
Lachapelle, C. P., Cunningham, C.M., Jocz, J., Kay, A.E., Phadnis, P., Wertheimer, J., & Arteaga, R. (2011). Engineering is Elementary: An evaluation of years 7 and 8 field testing. Boston, MA: Museum of Science. Link Summary
Lachapelle, C. P., Jocz, J., Phadnis, P. (2011). An evaluation of the implementation of Engineering is Elementary in fourteen Minneapolis Public Schools. Boston, MA: Museum of Science. Link Summary
Moffett, G.E., Weis, A.M., Banilower, E.R. (2011). Engineering is Elementary: Impacts on Students Historically-Underrepresented in STEM Fields. Chapel Hill, NC: Horizon Research, Inc. Link
Faux, R. (2011). The Bostom Museum of Science BEST Project: Interim Evaluation Report April 2011. Somerville, MA: Davis Square Research Associates. Link
Faux, R. (2011). The Bostom Museum of Science BEST Project: Interim Evaluation Report January 2011. Somerville, MA: Davis Square Research Associates. Link
Lachapelle, C. P., Cunningham, C. M., Jocz, J., Kay, A. E., Phadnis, P., & Sullivan, S. (2011). Engineering is Elementary: An evaluation of year 6 field testing. Presented at the NARST Annual International Conference, Orlando, FL. Link
Lachapelle, C. P., Cunningham, C. M., Jocz, J., Kay, A.E., Phadnis, P., Wertheimer, J., & Arteaga, R. (2011). Engineering is Elementary: An evaluation of years 4 through 6 field testing. Boston, MA: Museum of Science. Link
2010
Faux, R. (2010). The Bostom Museum of Science BEST Project: Interim Evaluation Report December 2010. Somerville, MA: Davis Square Research Associates. Link
Cunningham, C. M., Lachapelle, C. P., & Keenan, K. (2010). Elementary teachers’ changing ideas about STEM and STEM pedagogy through interaction with a pedagogically supportive STEM curriculum. Presented at the P-12 Engineering and Design Education Research Summit, Seaside, OR. Link
Lachapelle, C. P., Cunningham, C. M., Lee-St. John, T. J., Cannady, M., & Keenan, K. (2010). An investigation of how two Engineering is Elementary curriculum units support student learning. Presented at the P-12 Engineering and Design Education Research Summit, Seaside, OR. Link
Lachapelle, C. P., & Cunningham, C. M. (2010). Assessing elementary students’ understanding of engineering and technology concepts. Presented at the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Louisville, KY. Link
Cunningham, C. M., & Lachapelle, C. P. (2010). The impact of Engineering is Elementary (EiE) on students’ attitudes toward engineering and science. Presented at the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Louisville, KY. Link
2009
Cunningham, C. M. (2009). Engineering is Elementary. The Bridge, 30(3), 11-17. Link
2008
Lachapelle, C. P., Cunningham, C. M., Oware, E. A., & Battu, B. (2008). Engineering is Elementary: An evaluation of student outcomes from the PCET program. Boston, MA: Museum of Science. Link Appendices
Faux, R. (2008). Evaluation of the Museum of Science PCET project: Evaluation report. Somerville, MA: Davis Square Research Associates. Link
Cunningham, C. M. (2008). Elementary teacher professional development in engineering: Lessons learned from Engineering is Elementary. Presented at the National Academy of Engineering, Washington, DC. Link
2007
Lachapelle, C. P. (2007). Engineering is Elementary: A national evaluation of years 2-3. Boston, MA: Museum of Science. Link Appendix A Summary
Faux, R. (2007). Evaluation of the Museum of Science PCET program: Interim report. Somerville, MA: Davis Square Research Associates. Link
Carson, R., & Campbell, P. (2007). Museum of Science: Engineering is Elementary; Impact on teachers with and without training. Groton, MA: Campbell-Kibler Associates, Inc. Link
Carson, R., & Campbell, P. B. (2007). Museum of Science: Engineering is Elementary; Exploring the impact of EiE on participating teachers. Campbell-Kibler Associates, Inc. Link
Cunningham, C. M., & Hester, K. (2007). Engineering is Elementary: An Engineering and Technology Curriculum for Children (p. 17). Presented at the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Honolulu, HI. Link
Lachapelle, C. P., & Cunningham, C. M. (2007). Engineering is Elementary: Children's Changing Understandings of Science and Engineering. Presented at the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Honolulu, HI. Link
2006
Lachapelle, C. P. (2006). Engineering our Future New Jersey: Evaluation of the implementation of elementary curricula. Boston, MA: Museum of Science. Link
Cunningham, C. M., Lachapelle, C. P., & Lindgren-Streicher, A. (2006). Elementary teachers' understandings of engineering and technology. In American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Chicago, IL: American Society for Engineering Education. Link
Faux, R. (2006). Evaluation of the Museum of Science PCET Program: Interim report. Somerville, MA: Davis Square Research Associates. Link
2005
Cunningham, C. M. (2005). Assessment Report for Engineering is Elementary. Boston, MA: Museum of Science. Link
Cunningham, C. M., Lachapelle, C. P., & Lindgren-Streicher, A. (2005). Assessing elementary school students' conceptions of engineering and technology. Presented at the ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, OR. Link
2004 and earlier
Knight, M., & Cunningham, C. M. (2004). Draw an Engineer Test (DAET): Development of a tool to investigate students' ideas about engineers and engineering. Presented at the ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Salt Lake City, UT. Link
As more results of this research becomes available, we will share our findings here.
