untangling science & engineering
TRANSCRIPT
Untangling Science and
Engineering Practices
Dr. Cary Sneider
Associate Research Professor
Center for Science Education
Portland State University
Image courtesy of NASA
It’s Not Rocket Science And it never was…
Image courtesy of NASA
It’s Not Rocket Science … It’s Rocket Engineering!
Image courtesy of NASA
Homer Hickam understood that the way to space was through engineering. The book Rocket Boys and movie October Sky tell his story.
Cary Sneider thought the way to space was through the science of astronomy.
Homer worked for NASA! Cary didn’t.
STEM Careers • NASA employs ten engineers
for every scientist.
• Nationwide there are four
positions in engineering for
every one in science.
• There are more jobs for
computer engineers than all
other fields of engineering
and science combined.
Image courtesy of NASA
It’s essential for engineers
to be comfortable with
• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Mathematics
Image courtesy of NASA
Much of what we teach as “Science” is
actually “Technology and Engineering”
Electricity
Simple Machines
Communication
Medicine
Energy & Power
What is Technology?
Engineers create products, processes, and systems to meet peoples needs and wants.
Technology is NOT just computers and cell phones.
Technology includes pencils and paper, ourclothes, and the food we had for breakfast.
What is Engineering?
Engineering is a process for
solving problems that results in
new or improved technologies.
Engineering is not just a
process for producing widgets!
Technology and Engineering…
Make science and math come alive
Help students understand their world.
Opens doors to career opportunities
Are especially interesting to boys and girls because they can help people.
Drive our economy.
Are important life skills.
Image from Engineering the Future curriculum, courtesy of Its About Time.
Technology and Engineering Activities in schools invite students to…
Create
Invent
Innovate
Redesign
Iterate
Optimize
Work in teams
Value diversity
Integrate disciplinary learning
Image from Engineering the Future curriculum, courtesy of Its About Time.
Engineering in the NGSS is
1. A Core Idea
2. A Practice
3. Crosscutting Concepts
4. Embedded in all the other
disciplines.
Image courtesy of the Museum of Science, Boston
NGSS Engineering as a Core Idea:
The Engineering Design Process
Science and Engineering in all practices
All eight practices can be used in the service of science or engineering. In each case ask yourself:
Are we trying to understand how the world works? If yes, it’s SCIENCE.
Are we trying to solve a problem? If yes, it’s ENGINEERING.
Image courtesy of the Museum of Science, Boston
1. Asking questions & defining problems
Are we trying to understand how the world works? If yes, it’s SCIENCE.
Are we trying to solve a problem? If yes, it’s ENGINEERING.
We need to modify our landing craft so that it will not
crash on a planet with a dense atmosphere.
Image of Venus courtesy of NASA
2. Developing and using models
Are we trying to
understand how the
world works? If yes, it’s
SCIENCE.
Are we trying to solve a
problem? If yes, it’s
ENGINEERING.
Modify the model of our spacecraft until you have
optimized the design. (What is the most important
criterion?)
Source: www.exploratorium.edu/science explorer
3. Planning and conducting investigations
Are we trying to understand how the world works? If yes, it’s SCIENCE.
Are we trying to solve a problem? If yes, it’s ENGINEERING.
Investigate an
electromagnet.
Image from Wikipedia Commons
4. Analyzing and interpreting data
Are we trying to understand how the world works? If yes, it’s SCIENCE.
Are we trying to solve a problem? If yes, it’s ENGINEERING.
Record and graph your data.
5. Mathematical and computational thinking
Are we trying to understand how the world works? If yes, it’s SCIENCE.
Are we trying to solve a problem? If yes, it’s ENGINEERING.
Use what you learned to determine the
specifications of an electromagnetic
crane that can hold 1 ton (200,000
paperclips).
Image by Cyril Methodius Jansky 1914 Public Domain
6. Constructing explanations and
designing solutions
Are we trying to understand how the world works? If yes, it’s SCIENCE.
Are we trying to solve a problem? If yes, it’s ENGINEERING.
Develop at least two alternative designs for an
electromagnetic crane that will hold one ton. Present
your design to your client.
Cranes by James Bolton.
http://jbtechnologicaldesign.blogspot.com/
Related Performance Expectations
MS-PS2-3. Ask questions about data to determine the
factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic
forces.
MS-PS2-5. Conduct an investigation and evaluate the
experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist
between objects exerting forces on each other even
though the objects are not in contact.
How would you use this
activity to prepare
students to accomplish
the above?
7. Arguing from evidence
Are we trying to understand how the world works? If yes, it’s SCIENCE.
Are we trying to solve a problem? If yes, it’s ENGINEERING.
Which part of the students’ conversation is
science? Which part is engineering?
Image courtesy of the Museum of Science, Boston
8. OBTAINING, EVALUATING AND
COMMUNICATING INFORMATION
What is the purpose of the information? Is it to learn about some aspect of the natural world? If so it’s science.
Is the purpose to learn how to solve a problem or meet a goal? If so it’s engineering.
1891 Patent for a putt-putt boat. Public domain.
Image courtesy of NASA
Two More Core Ideas from the
Framework
A. Interdependence of
Science, Technology,
and Engineering
B. Influence of Science,
Technology, and
Engineering on Society and
the Natural Word.
In the NGSS Engineering is Embedded
in Other Science Disciplines
MS-PS2-1. Apply Newton’s Third Law to
design a solution to a problem involving
the motion of two colliding objects.
MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design
solutions using a systematic process to
determine how well they meet the
criteria and constraints of the problem.
Sample Problem: What can be done to
reduce concussions among young
soccer players? What are the criteria
and constraints for successful solutions?
(Image courtesy of US Airforce)
(Image courtesy NB Department of
Health and Human Services.)
The “Science” of rocketry often stops with Newton’s Laws
The balloon model
demonstrates Newton’s third
law of motion—Every action
has an equal and opposite
reaction.
Engineering is Embedded in Other
Science Dsciplines
The “Engineering” of rocketry poses more
questions
How can we get it to fly straighter?
Or faster?…
If we change the materials in the
balloon, how will that affect its
performance?
What can we learn from the
balloon model that will help us
design a bigger rocket?
Engineering and Authentic Science
From Tools to Bridge Science and Engineering, MRavel 2015 June
Theory Experiment Analysis
Improve
Model Prototype Test
Improve
Science
Engineering
Engineering and Authentic Science
From Tools to Bridge Science and Engineering, MRavel 2015 June
Theory Experiment Analysis
Model Prototype Test
Improve
Science
Engineering
Conclusion
“As far into the future as our imaginations take us, we will face challenges that depend on the development and application of technology. Better health, more abundant food, more humane living and working conditions, cleaner air and water, more effective education, and scores of other improvements in the human condition are within our grasp. But none of these improvements are guaranteed, and many problems will arise that we cannot predict. To take full advantage of the benefits and to recognize, address, or even avoid the pitfalls of technology, Americans must become better stewards of technological change.”
—Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Know More About Technology (NAE and NRC, 2002 page 12)
Questions?
Image courtesy of the Museum of Science, Boston