Course: Explore Engineering

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Topic outline

General

Explore Engineering

In this course, you will learn more about engineers and engineering.

You will see some real engineers, past and present.

You will learn about the design process engineers use and explore some amazing engineering structures.
- Download a copy of this course. File 5MB Moodle backup
Topic 1

Glossary

This glossary will be a collaborative collection of words. Feel free to reference the definitions as you work on the activities in this course.
- Models and Designs Glossary
- Note: the XML file for this glossary will need to be imported again when you restore this course. It is in the course files of this class.
Topic 2

What is an Engineer?

In this section you'll dig deeper to find out about the different types of engineers. You'll be surprised by the variety!
- Directions:
  
  1. Select the link below titled "What is an Engineer?" and scroll to the bottom left corner where you'll see an image that looks like this:
  
  2. Select that image and read at least 5 of the CAREER PROFILES.
  
  3. Finally, add to the forum titled "Five Fantastic Facts You Learned!"
- What is an engineer? URL
- Five Fantastic Facts You Learned! Forum
Topic 3

What is an Engineer? Show what you know!

Now that you've learned something about different engineers, it's time to show what you've learned.

Choose one of the following activities:

1. Choose the engineering career you find most interesting. Create a Glogster presentation showing what you know about this engineering career;

or,

2. Interview an actual engineer about her/his job. Create a 3-5 minute Flip video to share.
- Link your Glog or video here Forum
Topic 4

5 Step Design Process

In this section you'll view learn more about the 5 Step Design Process.

Directions:

1. View the panoramic collage above.
2. Answer the forum question below titled Which Step is most challenging?
3. View 1 of the 3 video clips linked here. You'll need to select the Video Activities tab at the bottom of the page. Pay attention to the 5 step design process.
4. Complete the activity titled Engineering Design Process.
- Which Step is Most Challenging? Forum
- Engineering Design Process Questions Assignment (2.2)
Topic 5

Engineering Wonders

The world is full of amazing structures created by engineers. It is the work of civil engineers to oversee the construction of things like buildings, roads, canals, and bridges. In this section you will get the chance to learn about some famous engineering wonders and identify some for yourself using Google Earth.

*Note- you will need to download Google Earth to view KMZ files. Click for a free download.
- Click on the Engineering Wonders link below to learn about some structures that were amazing feats of engineering in their day. These are some of the structures chosen by the American Society of Civil Engineers as some of the "Wonders of the Modern World."
- Engineering Wonders File
- Activity: Create your own Google Earth tour. Work with a partner to research some more wonders of engineering. Choose a topic, maybe "Engineering Wonders of the Ancient World" or "Engineering Wonders of the 21^st Century". With your partner, create a Google Earth presentation sharing 3-5 wonders of engineering. When you are finished, upload the KMZ file below.
- Upload KMZ files here Forum
- How to add a KMZ (Google Earth) file to Forum post URL
Topic 6

Engineers of the Past

People have always participated in engineering and scientific inquiry to improve their lives. In this section you will learn about how some Native American tribes created and used engineering design and the scientific process.
- Directions:
  For this activity, you'll have two windows open. One will be the text you'll read and the second will be the questions you'll answer. Having both open will allow you to toggle between the two.
  
  1. Read the page titled Plains Indians.
  2. Select the tab (on that same page) titled Bison. Read those 2 pages. Focus on all the ways the Plains Indians used the bison.
  3. Finally, answer the questions.
- The Plains Tribes URL
- The Plains Tribes and the Bison Assignment (2.2)
- Now that you know something about the people of the Plains, it is time to explore some of the other Native American tribes and see how they used engineering design and scientific inquiry.
  
  Click on the Ancestral Engineering link below. Survey the other Native American tribes by clicking on the area of the map where they lived until you find one you are interested in. Then read about how these early engineers created structures or travel routes or other systems to improve their lives.
- Ancestral Engineering URL
- Now it's time to show what you know about the different Native American tribes and engineering. Show what you have learned by creating two of the three thinking map options.
  
  1. Create a Flow map showing the sequence of an engineering process of one of the tribes.
  2. Create a Multi Flow map showing cause and effect of a particular tool or process used by a Native American tribe.
  3. Create a Double Bubble map comparing and contrasting two of the Native American tribes or two tools or processes used by different groups.
- Upload your Thinking Maps here Assignment (2.2)
- How to include 2 maps on 1 file URL
- How to print to PDF and upload URL
Topic 7

Final Asssessment
- Now that you have finished the activities in this Moodle Course, it's time to share your learning. Create a "Top Ten List" of things everyone should know about engineers and engineering. Use any of the tools we've used in class or see me about other options. When you are finished, upload or link your project below on the Final Projects forum.
- Final Project Forum
Topic 8

Teacher Resources

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