Creativity continues to be an important goal for 21st century learning. However, teachers often have difficulties fostering creativity in their classrooms. Current creativity research suggests that the act of making can enhance the teaching of creativity. Hands-on engineering design lessons are ideal contexts for studying this effect. Through…

The topic of alternative energy is not only relevant to a multitude of issues today, it is also an effective vehicle for developing instruction that applies across a variety of content disciplines and academic standards. Since many of the issues associated with alternative energy are open-ended, alternative energy also lends itself to…

Discusses how, in two three-week sessions, the Terre Haute (Indiana) college offers selected students a hands-on approach to all aspects of engineering from design and lab work to technical writing. Describes a group project requiring students to study and experiment with simple research problems. Lists 20 project ideas. (MVL)

Women Inquire into Science and Engineering (WISE) is a 22 minute audio-visual (slide/tape) program for students in grades six through twelve. Its purpose is: (1) to apprise students of the opportunities for them in the Inquiry Into Science and Engineering Class and encourage them to take the prerequisite math and science courses; and (2) to…

The intent of Women Inquire Into Science and Engineering (WISE) project was to develop recruiting and counseling procedures to increase the number of female high school students' interest and participation in the Inquiry Into Science and Engineering Class where classroom instruction and hands-on experience working with scientists and engineers are…