An Overview of the Literature: Research in P-12 Engineering Education - Summer 2012 - paper overview

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky

This paper provides an extensive overview of preschool through 12th grade (P-12) engineering education literature published from 2001 to 2011. Library database searches and queries in established engineering education publications identified over 50 works. A synthesis-based rubric with distinct classification criteria was created to support consistent analysis of studies and to organize findings across seven dimensions. Current research levels and recommendations for advancing P-12 engineering education research are discussed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages37

Reading Time1 h 33 min

AccessFree to download

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

ADVANCES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Research trends driving engineering education in the United States

Initiatives and programs for P-12 engineering education

| | Ad | vances in Engineering Edu | cation | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SUMMER 2012 An Overview of the Literature: Research in P-12 Engineering Education NOEMI V. MENDOZA DIAZ Brazos School of Inquiry and Creativity Houston, TX and MONICA F. COX Purdue University West Lafayette, IN ABSTRACT This paper presents an extensive overview of preschool to 12th grade (P-12) engineering education literature published between 2001 and 2011. Searches were conducted through education and engineering library engines and databases as well as queries in established publications in engineering education. More than 50 publications were found, including books, articles, and reviews that discussed P-12 engineering education research efforts. With the synthesis of literature and distinct criteria to classify the literature, a rubric was developed. This rubric allowed authors to synthesize retrieved publications in seven ways: (1) overarching agenda,(2) nature of the engineering program or intervention,(3) assessment methods,(4) object of the study/unit of analysis,(5) population/ sample of interest,(6) informing theory, and (7) standards addressed. Discussions of the current levels of research based on recommendations of National Agencies are presented along with a set of recommendations for the advancement of the P-12 engineering education research. INTRODUCTION Several national trends are driving the advancement of engineering education within the United States. These trends include a declining interest of U. S. -born students in engineering (Melsa, 2007); a decrease in national achievement in mathematics and sciences at pre-college levels (National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2007); and a lack of technological literacy for all Americans (Pearson and Young, 2002) . SUMMER 2012 1 ADVANCES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION An Overview of the Literature: Research in P-12 Engineering Education Adding to these concerns are expectations that in the U. S. government, science and engineering professionals reaching retirement age will not be replaced by a younger generation of professionals (National Science Board, 2006a; Selingo, 2008 ) . In mathematics and science, U. S. pre-college students “perform at or near the bottom on international assessments”(National Science Board, 2006b, p. i) . In order to pose alternatives to improve situations facing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, several authors have identiﬁed the necessity of focusing on the education of pre-college populations (National Academy of Engineering, 2005) . For example, the National Science Board (2006b), via the companion to the 2006 Science and Engineering Indicators, identiﬁes the following priorities for developing high quality STEM education: • Strong public support of STEM education for all students and citizens, • A high quality teaching workforce, • Appropriate learning opportunities for all students, • Effective guidance counseling on STEM education and careers, and • Assessment tools that reinforce learning in STEM ﬁelds (p. ii) . Experts also advocate the integration of engineering activities in current curricula to increase students’ interest in STEM (Schunn, 2009; Katehi, Pearson, and Feder, 2009; Brophy, Klein, Portsmore, and Rogers, 2008) . One discipline that is focused upon operationalizing these priorities is engineering education. Engineering education is an emerging ﬁeld of study that is gaining momentum and recognition within the United States. Within the last eight years, Purdue University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Utah State University, and Clemson University have created doctoral-granting engineering education schools/departments within their respective Colleges of Engineering that are devoted to developing engineering education scholars

FAQs

What time range and scope does the paper cover for its literature overview?

It covers P-12 engineering education literature published between 2001 and 2011, focusing on preschool through 12th grade.

How was the literature synthesized and classified in the study?

The authors developed a rubric with distinct criteria to classify publications across seven dimensions, enabling consistent synthesis of retrieved works.

What kinds of recommendations does the paper provide?

It presents discussions of current research levels and offers recommendations aimed at advancing P-12 engineering education research, including directions informed by national agency guidance.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky