Engineering for Classroom Teachers
(“Civil & Environmental Engineering in Our World”)
Course Overview:
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department in the College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will offer a three credit graduate course designed to enable 6-8th grade teachers to deepen their knowledge of science and engineering concepts and develop hands-on classroom activities with respect to the Massachusetts Engineering/Technology curriculum frameworks. The areas of focus for this content institute will include the following major areas found in both Civil Engineering and the grades 6-8 Engineering/Technology curriculum frameworks: engineering design, the Infrastructure, Foundations, Structures, Bridges, Environmental (water quality), Transportation Safety, and Civil Construction Technologies.
The institute will feature lectures by expert faculty, hands-on labs and field activities, utilizing internet resources and software, and development and/or review of classroom resources.
A one day “callback” day in November will allow teachers to present projects that they develop and implement in their classrooms.
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Coordinator: Kathleen Rubin, Asst. Dean, College of Engineering
131 Marston Hall
413-545-4757
rubin@ecs.umass.edu
Course Faculty:
Dr. Alan Lutenegger, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UMass Amherst
Dr. Segio Brena, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UMass Amherst
Dr. Sarina Ergas, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UMass Amherst
Dr. Mike Knodler, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UMass Amherst
Mr. Chris Emery, Adjunct Lecturer, School of Education, Teacher (retired); |
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Description:
The purpose of this course is to introduce middle school teachers to the concepts of engineering complex systems. Major topics include: engineering design and systems, the infrastructure, water quality, foundations, forces and structures, bridges, civil construction materials and methods, traffic and safety. Each topic area will be supported by several instructional modules which include the presentation of background material, lab activities and discussion. Course concepts will be related to the National Science Education Standards (NRC) and Massachusetts Frameworks for Technology/Engineering (Mass. DOE). Coursework – assignments and activities – will be designed to both reinforce participant understanding of the content, and to provide a foundation for the development of grade-level appropriate curricula for use in the teachers' schools.
Objectives:
Learn what Civil Engineers do and how they do it.
Learn how to approach the design and analysis of complex Civil Engineering systems.
Learn about the Infrastructure of the U.S.
Learn about foundations systems used for bridges and buildings.
Learn about structures and forces
Learn about water quality.
Learn about transportation safety
Learn how to use Bridge Design software.
Learn effective methods for transferring this content into a diverse classroom.
Learn how to use this content to satisfy engineering curriculum
frameworks.
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