This paper describes a professional development program developed for middle and high school
teachers, counselors, and administrators designed to provide information about grades 6–12
engineering curricula, engineering career paths, the Kansas State University College of
Engineering, and student preparation for the study of engineering. The program, Engineering
Education Experience (E3) was developed at Kansas State University, a midwestern university
with a comprehensive engineering college. The program was created to support the University
Engineering Initiative Act (UEIA). The UEIA, approved by the Kansas Legislature in 2011,
provides funding for the state’s three engineering colleges to increase the number of engineering
graduates in the state. In support of this plan, Kansas State University College of Engineering
created E3 to inform 6–12 teachers, administrators and counselors of engineering as a topic of
study and career path with the intent of reaching middle and high school students. The program
was offered to teachers as a summer professional development workshop.
During the summer of 2012, the Kansas State University College of Engineering hosted two 3-
day engineering education workshops for teachers. Topics of lessons and activities included (a)
engineering design, (b) problem-solving, (c) biological and environmental engineering, (d)
nanomaterials, and (e) wind power. Activities and discussions allowed teachers to extend their
knowledge of STEM topics and to meet with College of Engineering administrators, faculty, and
students.
Sixty-six teachers, counselors, and administrators participated in the E3 workshops. Participants
included middle and high school math, physical science, biological science, and gifted teachers,
along with counselors and administrators. Participants received 20 hours of professional
development credit. A pre-workshop survey assessed their existing knowledge of engineering
and what they hoped to learn from the workshop. Participants also completed a post workshop
evaluation survey. A majority of the responses were favorable to the E3 workshop, with 98.5%
of participants rating overall quality of the presenters/sessions as very good or excellent.
Participants indicated satisfaction in presentations of the many areas and applications of
engineering, variety of programs, and careers associated with engineering, and engineeringrelated
activities for the classroom. This paper includes discussion topics and lesson plans
developed for the E3 program and used during the workshop, including hands on and
collaborative activities related to biological and environmental engineering, nanomaterials, and
wind power.
