Preparing our Children for Success in the Knowledge Age Glenn Ellis Associate Professor Picker Engineering Program Smith College

Why hire a U.S. engineer at 5x the cost? $$$$$ $ $

Knowledge workers must:

Knowledge workers must: Have deep conceptual understanding and creatively generate new knowledge and products.

Knowledge workers must:

Have deep conceptual understanding and creatively generate new knowledge and products.

Knowledge workers must: Have deep conceptual understanding and creatively generate new knowledge and products. Critically evaluate what they read, express themselves clearly, and understand scientific and mathematical thinking.

Knowledge workers must:

Have deep conceptual understanding and creatively generate new knowledge and products.

Critically evaluate what they read, express themselves clearly, and understand scientific and mathematical thinking.

Knowledge workers must: Have deep conceptual understanding and creatively generate new knowledge and products. Critically evaluate what they read, express themselves clearly, and understand scientific and mathematical thinking. Possess integrated, contextualized, usable knowledge.

Knowledge workers must:

Have deep conceptual understanding and creatively generate new knowledge and products.

Critically evaluate what they read, express themselves clearly, and understand scientific and mathematical thinking.

Possess integrated, contextualized, usable knowledge.

Knowledge workers must: Have deep conceptual understanding and creatively generate new knowledge and products. Critically evaluate what they read, express themselves clearly, and understand scientific and mathematical thinking. Possess integrated, contextualized, usable knowledge. Take responsibility for their own lifelong learning.

Knowledge workers must:

Have deep conceptual understanding and creatively generate new knowledge and products.

Critically evaluate what they read, express themselves clearly, and understand scientific and mathematical thinking.

Possess integrated, contextualized, usable knowledge.

Take responsibility for their own lifelong learning.

Instructionism

Knowledge = facts and problem solving procedures

Located here

Knowledge transmitted

Simple stuff first

Test to measure knowledge acquired

Three key findings on learning

Fish is Fish I wonder what happens on land? From Fish is Fish

Fish is Fish Now I know what a bird looks like. From Fish is Fish

The world is flat.

The world is round.

World world

If students’ initial understanding is not engaged, it won’t change.

If students’ initial understanding is not engaged, it won’t change.

Experts and novices do things differently

2. Students must understand facts and ideas in the context of a conceptual framework that facilitates retrieval and application.

3. Students need to take control of their own learning by defining learning goals and monitoring their progress in achieving them.

Girls and Engineering Don’t understand it. Not interested in it. Not for them.

Don’t understand it.

Not interested in it.

Not for them.

Engineering is the application of math and science to serve humanity .

A Parable for our Time? Ibeaca, Spain (1970s)

Grand Challenges (NAE) Make solar energy economical Engineer new medicines Advance personalized learning Reverse-engineer the brain … and 10 more.

Grand Challenges (NAE)

In the K-12 classroom…

Knowledge Building in the Classroom

How are plants and animals different?

How are plants and animals different? Authentic problems Discourse for sustained idea improvement based upon authoritative sources Community knowledge, collective responsibility Students find their way

Seeding Knowledge Building

Story that Engages the Imagination Somatic Mythic Romantic Philosophic Ironic

Story that Engages the Imagination Somatic Mythic —binary opposites, mystery… Romantic —limits of reality, heroes … Philosophic —search for authority and truth… Ironic

Summary Knowledge society requires education to change. We must engage preconceptions, organize learning, and have students take control. Authentic engineering that serves humanity engages women. Consider knowledge building and narrative.

Summary

Knowledge society requires education to change.

We must engage preconceptions, organize learning, and have students take control.

Authentic engineering that serves humanity engages women.

Consider knowledge building and narrative.

I really didn’t mean to say or imply… Lecture is bad or activities are good. Forget content. There are any cookbook solutions. These are my ideas.

I really didn’t mean to say or imply…

Lecture is bad or activities are good.

Forget content.

There are any cookbook solutions.

These are my ideas.