Curriculum

Intro to Aerodynamics

Week 1

Participants are initially introduced to the Engineering Design process through the designing and construction of their own pinwheels. Through this simple project, the instructor introduces different principles like aerodynamics, friction, drag and thrust, in order to help build learner confidence. Participants are also introduced to different engineering fields, the history of engineering, and how issues like climate change, relate to engineering.

Intro to Energy

Week 2

Participants continue exploring the Engineering Design process in this week's lesson. They work in groups to follow each of the design steps, and ultimately build a "drawing pendulum". By swinging the pendulum and the attached drawing element over a piece of paper, participants make their own pieces of artwork. This lesson also teaches the basics of momentum and potential/kinetic energy and incorporate elements of art, thus reinforcing the idea of STEAM instead of STEM.

Intro to Lever Systems

Week 3

Participants dig deeper into the six steps of the Engineering Design Process, and learn about lever systems through the lever-like movements of the catapult. As a class, they identify the problem a catapult can solve, then break up into groups and conduct research online. Next, they analyze the materials, and sketch out the catapult they want to build, using appropriate scale and labels. They each build a catapult, and then demonstrate how far their respective creations can launch a pom-pom. Finally, they discuss ways to improve their results.

Intro to Strong Structures

Week 4

Participants are given a competitive challenge where they are told to build a structure that can hold a very heavy object- using only dowels, tape and rubber bands. They compete to determine whose structure holds up the object longest. Through this activity, participants get an introduction to civil engineering and the importance of triangles and other shapes in structures and buildings. This challenge promotes interpersonal communication, application of the design process, and an understanding of geometry.

Storytelling and Empowerment

Week 5

Participants watch a documentary film that inspires young girls and people of color to take on engineering and solve problems in their everyday lives. They then answer a quiz in order to reinforce the design process, where each person is required to organize the Engineering Design steps in the right sequence, and reflect on their own experiences with process. The instructor encourages interaction, conversation, and collaboration during the screening of the movie.

Pop Culture and ED

Week 6

Participants watch clips from "Big Hero 6" and then engage in an online collaborative quiz (like a Kahoot) to identify the engineering principles and practices that are displayed in each of the scenes. This teaches the participants how to interpret the Engineering Design Process via relatable pop culture. "Big Hero 6" is selected since it shows a diverse mix of characters and celebrates ethical engineering, which is an important to conclude the program with.